When I was in a Jail!

During my time at Sacred Heart College, I was actively involved in AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation). Part of our social outreach included visiting jails and prisons, where we organized cultural programs for the inmates. These events were meant to entertain and uplift, featuring singing, skits, and reflections on moral values, all conducted with the support of the Department of Prisons.

The inmates we met were a mix of convicts and individuals awaiting trial. Life behind bars was stark, and one particular new inmate shared an incident, that left an indelible impression on me.

Prison meals back then were simple and bland—perhaps nutritious but devoid of flavor. Ragi balls were a staple, served with gravy with fewer spices or masalas. For us, such food might have seemed unappetizing, but for the inmates, it was their everyday reality.

One day, that new inmate arrived. He was given the same meal as everyone else. As he ate, he casually removed the curry leaves from his plate and set them aside—just as most of us do without a second thought. But what happened next stunned me.

In an instant, the inmates sitting beside him leaped towards the discarded curry leaves. He grabbed them, each eagerly popping the leaves into his mouth. His desperation wasn’t about hunger; it was about savoring even the smallest burst of flavor he had been deprived of for so long.

This incident shifted something within me. What we often discard as insignificant—like a curry leaf—can hold immense value for someone else. It was a humbling reminder of how gratitude and perspective shape our appreciation for even the simplest things in life.

Since that day, I’ve carried this lesson with me: never waste food, no matter how small or trivial it seems. For someone, somewhere, even a tiny morsel could be a source of immense joy.