Bobby came close to tears at the end of a play in which he and 24 other co-prisoners of city correctional homes acted for the first time in their lives.
The prisoners gave all the credit to Rohit Pombra, director of the first-ever English play 'Begum Samru' staged by inmates of any correctional home in the country, for making their lives worth living.
"Our goal is to help them change themselves through art and culture and don't make them feel as pariahs and ostracized, let the world see a different side of them," Ranvir Kumar, IG Correctional Homes, told PTI.
Bobby, who enacts the role of a Bishop who plays catalyst in the life of Begum Sumroo, said after last evening's performance, "I have appeared in 5-10 minute skits earlier, but never thought I could be trusted and taken into confidence. I had almost given up on hope. Now it is a moment of recknoing it seems."
The inmate, who is serving a 10-year term, said he had heard about convict-turned-actor Nigel Okara, giving a performance as lead actor in Tagore's 'Balmiki Protibha' and film 'Muktodhara'.
"As Balmiki Pratibha is being staged all across the country, we hope the same thing happens to Begum Samru too; we can show people elsewhere what we are up to," Bobby said.
