This book tells of the transformation of one of Asia's largest jails - Tihar Prison. Before Kiran Bedi became the warden of Tihar in 1993, it was a hellish place where 8,300 inmates in a prison designed for 2,500 lived with corruption, gang wars, illness, filth and hopelessness. Today, many thanks to her stunning reforms; it is more an ashram than a prison. Half the book is devoted to a detailed account of the situation Bedi found when first appointed. The other half is devoted to describing the process of "Human Interaction" that she emphasised was the key to bringing about the transformation. By the time Bedi left there were councils in each ward, self-governance by prisoners, daily activities like yoga, literacy programmes, playrooms for children, a university course and most important of all, vispassana mediation. Bedi describes the tools she and like-minded colleagues used to bring order and peace out of chaos and despair. Interspersed with the conversations from inmates, this book is a powerful story of redemption, faith and hope for a better future. It can serve as an inspirational guidebook to all who wish to overcome enormous obstacles.

This book tells of the transformation of one of Asia's largest jails - Tihar Prison. Before Kiran Bedi became the warden of Tihar in 1993, it was a hellish place where 8,300 inmates in a prison designed for 2,500 lived with corruption, gang wars, illness, filth and hopelessness. Today, many thanks to her stunning reforms; it is more an ashram than a prison. Half the book is devoted to a detailed account of the situation Bedi found when first appointed. The other half is devoted to describing the process of "Human Interaction" that she emphasised was the key to bringing about the transformation. By the time Bedi left there were councils in each ward, self-governance by prisoners, daily activities like yoga, literacy programmes, playrooms for children, a university course and most important of all, vispassana mediation. Bedi describes the tools she and like-minded colleagues used to bring order and peace out of chaos and despair. Interspersed with the conversations from inmates, this book is a powerful story of redemption, faith and hope for a better future. It can serve as an inspirational guidebook to all who wish to overcome enormous obstacles.