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Murder convict serving life sentence tops open university exam in Assam
The convict, Arupjyoti Deka, secured the 80.3% average marks in the examination. He entered the Mangaldoi jail in Darrang district in 2012.
Arupjyoti Deka, a murder convict serving life sentence at the district jail Mangaldoi in Assam topped an open university exam while six other inmates also performed well in the Bachelors Preparatory Programme, which is equivalent to Class 12 exam.
The results of the examination conducted by the Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University were declared on August 24.
“I scored the highest 90 marks in Economics,” said Deka, who secured the highest 80.3% average marks in the examination. It has been more than six years since he entered the Mangaldoi jail in Darrang district in 2012.
The 32-year-old said always wanted to study. “I was in class 12 when this incident happened. I had to leave my studies midway,” he said refusing to talk about the crime which happened in 2005. “There is no point talking about it now,” he said.
With a lot of time to spare in jail, Deka took to books. “I had so much time that I thought it is best to utilize it reading,” he said. “I like to read Assamese literature,” he said and claimed that famous Assamese novelist Homen Borgohain is his favourite author.
“I read English books too. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is my favourite,” said Deka who is also the librarian of the jail library and the secretary of a wall magazine, Kar Lipi (Jail script) published by inmates.
Deka and some of the other inmates put in a request that an open university centre be opened in the jail, which finally happened in 2016. Classes were held on weekends as teachers of different subjects would visit to teach the few who had enrolled themselves.
According to jail authorities seven inmates are enrolled in the centre now out of the total jail population of 211. Jail authorities say Deka has been helping others to learn how to write.
“Since he came in, he has been helping those who do not know even how to write their names,” said MN Sarma, Jail Superintendent adding how Deka also tells the inmates of the pitfalls of anger. “Anger got me here. That is what he tells them,” Sarma said.
Deka now wants to enroll as for undergraduate studies. “I have seven more years to go in jail. I want to now study for BA,” said Deka who is now looking forward to reading the more than ten books he got as gifts for his impressive show in the exams.
