Prisoners were asked to volunteer for the camp by jail authorities before the camp began, officials said. Vasantji Gala, called Mamaji by the participants, has been organising Vipashyana camps in various jails of the State. ``We want the prisoners to realise their weaknesses and be good men through Vipassana,'' he said.

Participants who spoke before they were given the certificates described their experiences before coming to jail and after Vipassana. ``I have attended seven camps and I feel like a child,'' said Kamlesh, an ex-serviceman convicted to 17 years' imprisonement after he was caught peddling 35 gm of charas. ``Everything else is meaningless I feel,'' he said.

Participants also talked about how they ended up in jail. ``I will touch her feet when I get out,'' said an inmate, jailed for harassing his wife. Jail authorities and other guests were present at the simple function.