Gandhi in Yerwada Jail

Yerwada Central Jail is a noted high-security jail in Yerwada, Pune, in Maharashtra. This is the largest jail in the state of Maharashtra, and also one of the largest prisons in South Asia, housing over 3,600 prisoners (2005) spread over various barracks and security zones, besides an open jail just outside its premises. Many famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi have been jailed here during the Indian independence movement in 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

The campus is spread over 512 acres, holds over 3,600 prisoners and is one of the largest prisons in South Asia. Within the campus, the main high security jail is protected by four high walls  and is divided into various security zones and barracks  it even has egg-shaped cells meant for high-security prisoners. It has been known for overcrowding and poor living conditions after news reports in 2003 lead to Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MHRC) issuing a notice.

History

Yerwada Central Jail was built in the year 1871 by the British, when the place was outside the city limits of Pune.

During British Raj the jail housed many freedom fighters especially during the years 1930 to 1942, which included Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Netaji Subhas Bose andBal Gangadhar Tilak. In 1924 Veer Savarkar was also kept in this jail. Mahatma Gandhi spent several years in Yerwada Jail during India's freedom struggle, notably in 1932 and later in 1942 during the Quit India movement, along with many other freedom fighters. During his 1932 imprisonment, which started after his arrest in January 1932, he went on an indefinite fast to protest against the Communal Award on September 20, 1932, as a result he the famous Poona Pact was passed which he signed in this jail on 24 September 1932, he was later released in May 1933.

During the Emergency era of 1976-77, many political opponents were detained in this jail like several other jails all over India. Among those detained here were Balasaheb Deoras, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pramila Dandavate, Vasant Nargolkar, Bhikuji Anna and many others.

In 1998, noted social worker Anna Hazare was briefly imprisoned here after he lost a defamation suit, and Bollywood film actor Sanjay Dutt in 2007  and among other noted criminals, scamster Telgi  and former underworld don Arun Gawli started his political career while being lodged in this jail, and is currently serving a life sentence here, in a murder case The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacker, Ajmal Kasab who was jailed in 2008, was hanged and buried here on November 21, 2012.

Yerwada Open Jail

Yerwada Open Jail (YOJ) is situated just outside the Yerwada Central jail within the campus and houses life prisoners, who have amicably completed five years in the central jail. Here they live under basic security, and are not put in prison cells. Over 150 inmates of the open jail grow organic vegetables, over five guntha of land, which are sent to the Yerwada Central Prison and the women’s prison. Besides this, the cow shed has 30 cows, whose dung is used the farming activities.

Programs

A program designed to spread Gandhian principles in Yerwada prison was introduced in Yerwada prison in 2002 by Asim Sarode, founder of Sahyog Trust. As part of the programme, the prison inmates are taught Gandhian principles for one year, at the end of the year, they have to appear for an examination. Admission to the course is optional. Inmates of the jail produce nearly 5,000 clothes daily, supplied to jails across the state, it has its own textile mill and later around 150 inmates, including women, are involved in stitching these clothes. Some of these costumes, like uniforms of superintendents, prisoners, wardens, and guards, were made for Madhur Bhandarkar’s 2009 filmJail.

In 2007, in an effort to promote in Indian medicinal plants, 8,500 saplings of sandalwood were planted within the central jail premises, while 9,000 saplings of Ashoka (saraca indica) in its open jail. An Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) related facility was started at the jail on October 2, 2008, by the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS), and within the following year 55 inmates including six women tested HIV positive.