From Prison to Purpose: How Education Rebuilds Lives of Ex-Inmates

When Lakshman (name changed), 28, walked out of Tihar prison after seven years, the world outside felt unfamiliar. He had to relearn everyday tasks—operating a smartphone, using digital payments, and navigating the rapid pace of urban life. “I felt like I was a decade behind the world,” he recalled. The overwhelming sense of being out of step made him wonder if life inside was easier.

Lakshman's experience reflects a lesser-known consequence of imprisonment: the sentence may end on paper, but reintegration into society is a long and often difficult journey. For many former prisoners, education has emerged as a powerful tool to rebuild their lives. It opens doors to employment, helps combat stigma, and in some cases, enables them to return to the prison system to support those still incarcerated.

Lakshman was convicted in a murder case in 2015 and remained in Tihar until 2022. His father had passed away in 2013, leaving his family financially strained. Inside prison, he began working in the canteen, earning ₹85 per day after six months, and sent part of his earnings to support his sister. During his years in custody, he witnessed the psychological toll of prison life, including fellow inmates dying by suicide. “The thought crossed my mind too,” he admitted, but staying engaged in work and education helped him remain focused.

He completed Class 12 and pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree while in prison. He also enrolled in BetterLife Prison School, a programme offering functional literacy and foundational education. Today, Lakshman works as a field lead with Project Second Chance, an initiative of the TYCIA Foundation that provides education, mental health support, life skills, and legal assistance to prisoners. His work includes gender sensitisation workshops for young inmates convicted of crimes against women, mental health counselling, and legal support for released prisoners across Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.

“My life’s purpose changed. I dreamt of becoming a police officer or joining the Army, but after my jail term, I wanted to become a social worker. I don’t want anyone to face what I faced,” he said.

Karan Kumar, 27, also found education as a path to redemption. At 18, he was preparing for his Class 12 examinations and studying graphic and 3D animation when a fight between students at his school left another boy seriously injured. Kumar was sent to Tihar in June 2017. The injured boy later died, and Kumar remained in prison until April 2025, with brief periods of bail, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. His case is now closed with no pending court dates.

A pivotal moment came during his first Raksha Bandhan in prison. His elder sister told him she would become a lawyer to help people like her brother. She followed through and now practises at the Delhi High Court. “My takeaway was, if my sister can be so affected by my experience and make it into something positive, why can’t I?” Kumar said.

While imprisoned, Kumar completed Class 12 in 2018, then earned a BA from Delhi University and a Bachelor of Social Work. He also worked with the prison legal cell, learning to draft bail petitions and RTI replies, and trained as a para legal volunteer. Now, he works with the Kunji helpline and Project ALT (Access to Legal Aid Through Tech), providing legal support to inmates and their families. After securing bail, he lived with his sister for nearly a year instead of returning home—a reminder that stigma can come from within one’s own family.

The story of Jeevan Waghmare, 44, illustrates how education can bridge prison and career. Waghmare used his time in custody to gain new qualifications, which later helped him secure meaningful employment after release. His journey, like those of Lakshman and Kumar, underscores the transformative potential of education in breaking the cycle of reoffending and social exclusion.

These narratives highlight the need for structured educational programmes within prisons and robust post-release support. While the justice system focuses on punishment, the process of reintegration requires sustained effort from society, policymakers, and communities. Education is not just a means of personal betterment; it is a critical investment in public safety and human dignity.