Nalini, “accused no. 1” in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, will soon be an MCA, most probably with a First Class. Serving a life term in a prison in Vellore, Nalini has just completed her three-year-long Master’s in Computer Applications from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), and could well be among the first batch of convicts to receive a post-graduate degree, possibly even at a convocation function.

Nalini’s husband, Sriharan alias Murugan, and Perarivalan — both sentenced to death in the case — have two more semesters to complete before they receive their post-graduation degrees. As both were under-graduates, they had enrolled for the integrated computer course which includes three years of BCA and two years of MCA.

In between serving a prison term and fighting a legal battle for an entry permit into India for her daughter, Megara (15), Nalini, a graduate before she was convicted as the back-up human bomb in the event of Dhanu failing in her mission, has been pursuing her MCA studies at the special camp for women in the Vellore prison.

This month, Nalini completed her last semester. “She is likely to get first division,” said Dr T R Srinivasan, Regional Director, IGNOU. However, the marks for the “take-home” assignments have to be updated in Delhi. Once this procedure is completed, then Nalini would be eligible to receive her PG certificate.

Vellore-based academic counselor N G Karthikeyan, who visited special camps and tutored the convicts, is all praise for his students. “Given the circumstances and the situation, with little access to study materials and libraries, their achievement is really good.”

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