The Quiet Turn: From Sentence to Self-Reflection
A Day of Reflection, Transformation, and Humanity at Ballari Central Prison
28th June 2025
Central Prison, Ballari
- Janapara Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru
- Prabhavati Foundation, Bengaluru
- Kalpaka Foundation, Bengaluru
28th June 2025
Central Prison, Ballari
Supported by: Karnataka Forest Department
- Janapara Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru
- Prabhavati Foundation, Bengaluru
- Kalpaka Foundation, Bengaluru
The Journey Begins – A Drive with Purpose
On the evening of June 27, 2025, the Kalpaka Foundation team, led by Founder Shri Vinay Venkatesh, Secretary Smt. Jyothi Elluru, two dedicated social workers, and Kalpaka volunteers departed from Bengaluru, heading toward Ballari.
This wasn’t just a visit. It was a quiet, determined journey toward healing, awareness, and the human spirit.
After a purposeful six-hour drive, they reached Ballari by 11:00 PM—carrying not speeches but compassion. They came not to judge but to listen. Not to reform but to remind that transformation is still possible.
The next morning, they would walk through prison gates—not to close doors, but to open hearts.
Arrival at the Gates – The Sign That Spoke Volumes
By 11:00 AM the next morning, the Kalpaka team arrived at the gates of Central Prison, Ballari, accompanied by:
- Dr. M. Mahesh Chikkalluru, State President, Janapara Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru
- Smt. Prabhavati K. R., President, Ahilyabai Holkar Women’s Co-operative Society, Bengaluru
- Smt. Savithramma, District President, Ahilyabai Holkar Women’s Co-operative Society, Mandya
- Smt. Lavanya M., President, Prabhavati Foundation, Bengaluru
- Shri BK Patil, President, Kurubara Sangha
- Mysuru Anand, Renowned Humorist
- Smt. Umme Tasmiya, Assistant Superintendent, Central Prison, Ballari
- Smt. Latha R., Superintendent, Central Prison, Ballari
As the team stood before the prison gates, a powerful sign etched in bold greeted them:
“Hate the sin, not the sinner.”
It was a reminder that this place wasn’t only about punishment but about potential, redemption, and transformation.
Security, Seals, and a Moment of Laughter
Security was thorough. Male visitors had their wrists sealed to ensure identification upon exit. Even chewing gum was denied entry, mistakenly perceived as contraband.
Mysuru Anand lightened the moment by flashing his sealed wrist and saying:
“I got a seal too—guess I’m a tough guy now! I’ll go outside and say, ‘Ey, I’ve been to prison too!’”
Laughter echoed before the program even began, but the tone would soon shift from amusement to reflection.
Inside the Walls – A Sea of Young Faces
Inside the hall, over 100 inmates, most in their early 20s and some elderly sat quietly on the floor. Some looked curious. Some looked distant. But what moved the guests most were the painfully young faces—too young to have known such hardship already.
The session began with a symbolic act—watering a plant—A symbol of what this day could become: Growth, even inside prison walls.
Voices That Tried to Plant Seeds
Shri Rajesh Hosamane opened the session with a voice of truth:
“Drugs take away your clarity, your judgment, your life. But you have the power to choose differently.”
He reminded them of Nelson Mandela:
“From prisoner to President — Mandela’s journey reminds us that no starting point defines your future.”
Smt. Prabhavati K. R. looked at them with motherly concern:
“You’re all so young. Don’t let this moment become your identity. Change your thoughts. Change your path.”
Smt. Lavanya M. spoke of the eagle that breaks its beak and sheds its feathers to fly again:
“Transformation is painful. But it gives you wings. Read. Reflect. Rise.”
A Voice From Kalpaka
Then, our founder, Shri Vinay Venkatesh, stood up. He didn’t need many words:
“You have what we struggle to find outside: time. Use it to rebuild your inner world. That’s a kind of freedom, too.”
There was quiet. And then, warm applause.
Dr. M. Mahesh Chikkalluru – Humor, Healing, and the Divine
Then came Dr. Mahesh Chikkalluru, who balanced spiritual truths with humor:
“There are only three places where God truly lives,” he said.
- In prisons, where life forces people to think of God
- In hospitals, where people pray to save their loved ones
- In samadhis, where Lord Shiva rests in silence
He urged the inmates:
“Treat your time here as seva—a service. Accept your past. Admit your wrong. Face your time. And walk out as better human beings.”
Comedy Meets Compassion – Mysuru Anand’s Moment
The final speaker, Mysuru Anand, had the inmates laughing with every line. His sharp humor, local flavor, and lightness were a balm. But as his time ended, his voice softened.
He looked around and said with emotion:
“I’m not worried about the older inmates—they’ve seen life. But many of you…
You’re just boys. Some of you look like my own son. This is not your place.
Please…
come out of here as better men. I pray for each of you.”
Silence filled the room. And then, quiet claps… and tears.
A Closing That Wasn’t the End
When the program ended, the inmates did not wait for Smt. Latha R., Superintendent, to approach. They gathered—not to complain, but to plead for a second chance. Some asked if their good behavior could be noted. Others simply wanted to be heard—to speak, to be seen, if only for a minute.
One voice, almost a whisper, broke the silence:
“Please… come again tomorrow.”
Not an invitation. But a cry to be remembered. A plea not to be forgotten behind these walls.
Even the prison officials were moved.
They assured the group that Smt. Latha R. would return on July 2 for another session.
Before the Gates Closed Again
“Walking out… I realized what freedom feels like.
The same way they must dream of it—every single day.”
Outside the gate, the team took a final group photo—not just for memory but as a symbol of something larger. A promise to continue this work.
Final Reflection – From Our Heart at Kalpaka
This wasn’t just a visit. It was a moment of truth for them and for us.
We didn’t enter Ballari Central Prison to preach or to correct. We entered to listen, to share space, and to remind every person we met: You are not defined by your past mistakes.
Alongside Prabhavati Foundation and Janapara Sahitya Parishat, we carried no judgments—only presence, compassion, and the hope that even a brief encounter can light a spark.
At Kalpaka, we believe That Transformation doesn’t always require a second meeting—sometimes, it begins with just one moment of being seen. We may not return.
But we leave behind something that does: dignity, connection, and the silent power of being remembered.