Propagating the spirit of Ramzan even behind bars

LUCKNOW: Wrinkles on her face, 86-year-old Sakina Khatoon broke into a smile of gratitude as she bit into a juicy date while reciting prayers at iftaar. Imprisoned at Nari Bandi Niketan, (women’s jail) in Lucknow for a decade, Sakina has never missed a fast during Ramzan in spite of being fragile and unwell.
“Every day when I break my fast, I pray to the almighty that I breathe my last in my home in Ghazipur and that my son, whom I haven’t met since years, performs my last rites,” said Sakina, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Along with her, 60 Muslim inmates of the Nari Bandi Niketan broke their roza and partook of the iftaari prepared for them recently by a city-based cultural organization in the prison kitchen. Dates, fruit chaat, chips, channa, pakori, papad, mangoes and shikanji, the iftaar was reminiscent of their homes. Their joy and iftaari was shared by the 275 non–Muslim inmates and their children as well.
During Ramzan, the fasting inmates are provided with sehri and iftaar by jail authorities, but this day was special.
“I cannot express my gratitude for this noble initiative. May Allah reward them,” said 70-year old Zubeida Khatoon for the volunters.
“What made the roza memorable was that for the first time, all the inmates were made to sit together,” she added in a choked voice, remembering her family.
“These imprisoned rozedars abstain from food and water for more than 16 hours every day. The idea was to make them feel special,” said Meena Soni, from the organization behind the move.
Jailor Harshita Mishra said, “Such initiatives must be appreciated as they break the monotony inside the jails and give hope to those who may never see the outside world again.”