Meet Titu Chakrabarty, aged 28 years. He had killed his friend and got 67 years jail terms. But inside the Agartala Central jail the tall karate player does not seem much cagey. As free world closed for him for ever behind the red walls, Titu found a new world - the ever widening world of Microsoft---Word, Power point, Excel or Access, thanks to National Informatics Centre and state jail authority.

There are more like him. Rajesh Saha, a mechanical engineer from Bangalore, Bhusan Lal Das, also a mechanical diploma holder, Sanjit Datta, a graduate and former teacher, Haripada Gope a commerce graduate, Ebaidul Rehman, an ex-policeman, Hargovind Singh a former BSF constable with a chutki and big tilaks in forehead et al. They are all serving prison terms for murder not less then 14 years and they are among the 23 convict-students whom the NIC imparts extensive computer training for the last two months in Agartala central jail.

"They are being trained in windows MS office, Data base concepts and other softwares. We also hope to launch a Website on Tripura jails soon. The prisoners will manage this site themselves. Moreover, when the training is complete they will also be able to do the government job works and maintain jail papers", says Dr Gautam Mukherjee ,Technical Director of the NIC, Agartala. It was Dr Mukherjee who having read a news item that Bihar jail inmates attended court trials through video conference first got the idea of introducing computer training in Agartala jail also. He discussed the matter with jail commissioner Lalvohliana, who immediately took keen interest and set the ball rolling. The convicts also loved computers and made a beeline for the classes. Out of about 150 inmates, 23 were chosen as the first batch.

" Lalvohliana saheb visits the class and he is always full of encouraging words for us. We are really indebted to him", says Sujit Saha, a big young convict with a smiling face.

But while some of the young ones like Rajesh or Bhusanlal already had some knowledge about computers, there are elderly inmates like Nityananda Debnath, Kefru Mog or Bijit Pal who got their first exposure to the electronic world inside the prison only.

" We were once clerks in government departments and private concerns and knew typing . But never we dreamt that one day we shall be able to handle computers", says Kefru Mog, a 54 years old tribal. As he speaks, Nityanada Debnath , 50, sits before the monitor adjusting his specs to demonstrate how he can now operate MS office.

Dr Mukherjee who once taught IAS, IPS officers the same subject at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academi of Administration in Mussorie finds some convicts like Titu or Rajesh are extremely good at learning and very receptive.

The computer education among the convicts is viewed not only as a part of vocational training like tailoring, or carpentry. The jail authority and the NIC feel it can play a great role in the holistic approach of bringing reforms among the jail inmates. They maintain that while Arts of Living, Yoga are being taught in jails all over the country to reform the hardened criminals in the heart, exposure to computer like gizmos and world wide web can redirect the intellectual aspirations of the convicts to a positive and more constructive way.

"For example, intelligent and young convicts like Titu or Rajesh would never be satisfied with their regular prison jobs like hand compose or tailoring. And an intelligent convict tends to become more dangerous. They need something that would satisfy their intellectual need. And here comes the computer", says Dr Mukherjee.

There are also plans for introduction of video -conference facilities in the jails so that whenever necessary, trials can be done through it. Cue of this new concept has been taken from Bihar where such trial indeed took place, says the NIC director.

" We have noticed exposure to modern technology or presence of electronic gadgets have some psychological effects even on hardened criminals. They tend to confess or become frank while speaking before the video camera. It in turns help decrease crimes also", he says.

At present there is only one computer. Dr Mukherjee himself and Avik Roy, an NIC engineer, take the computer class twice a week. But since there are many students and training period is only two hours a day, 10 minutes computer access per student is not at all satisfying. However, BK Das, jailor of the central jail informs that in view of the encouraging response from the inmates the commissioner had assured three more computers for them.

But Dr. Mukherjee feels even if the proposed web site is launched on Tripura jails by the convicts, they should not be given uncensored access to internet. There is always a chance of some convicts getting an itching for something adventurous through e-mails to their friends out side the jail compound. The caution is because the people who are now playing keys of a larger world are otherwise considered dangerous people with bloods in their hands.

But right at this moment they are like any other students, as elderly Bijit Pal, who will be released within one and half years, makes a soft enquiry: I hope to open a computer centre when I go out. Will the NIC give us certificates?

“Yes, certainly. We shall take some test and give then certificates so that they find a respectable rehabilitation after their prison terms end", assures Dr Mukherjee.