Prisoner earns degrees and freedom from life sentence

Prisoner earns degrees and freedom from life sentence

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru: While the Mangaluru : It is common to note prisoners facing life sentence to get depressed,  just brood and waste away their life.  But,  Padmanabha Chatrappady of Guthigaru village in Sullia taluk, who was awarded a life sentence is different. He worked to get his sentence remitted, and earned degrees while he was doing in jail. Padmanabha earned a PUC, BA, BEd (Hindi), diploma in journalism, MA in Political Science and an MA in Journalism -- all through correspondence from prison.  If things go as planned, he will have two more - an LLB degree and a PhD.

 Padmanabha, was sentenced to life in 2000 for the 1996 murder of Shivaprasad Mundodi. Padmanabha was 18 years old then and had just finished his SSLC. After 15 years, he got remission of sentence from the governor on September 16. Now his aim in life is to settle down, pursue some more degrees and do social work.

He claims he was a victim of a crime he didn’t commit. He said his  father committed the murder and as a bystander, I wanted to prevent it. Unfortunately, was dragged in for abetment,  he said. His father Balappa Gowda was released in 2006 after reaching 65 years and passed away a year later.

His aim to do LLB came to nought as the course required 60% attendance through correspondence. He got admission to do it at Mahajan College, Mysuru in 2004 but the jail authorities refused to provide him an escort. Now, he can complete the law degree since he is free and can attend classes.  His intention to pursue Law was to help victims of injustice. His PhD on the subject ’Punishment and Reforms’ is also in the final stages and his guide is Prof K J Suresh from the department of political science in the Karnataka State Open University.  He is making efforts  with his guide on how to complete it in two years.

Padmanabha’s good behaviour earned him parole ranging from one to three months since 2001. He used this to do social work. He was lodged at Mysore Central Prison for five years from 2000 and thereafter he was shifted to the Open Air Prison near Devanahalli.  What are his other plans, First, he wants to marry and settle down. Get the degrees he is aiming  and do social work.  He was set up a shop in his village for his livelihood.   Unfortunately, his joy of being free is dented as his mother Susheela, 70, suffers from dementia and cannot comprehend her son is back. Padmnabha has four brothers and currently stays with them.