Everyone deserves forgiveness, even the condemned.
That is what Anil Prakash, a 61 year old ex-prisoner, strongly believes in strongly.
Mr Prakash has finally taken the straight and narrow road to becoming a better version of himself.
He was born in Suva but raised in Kulukulu, Sigatoka, where his childhood was marked by the absence of his mother.
Living with his father and stepmother presented some challenges, yet he harboured no bitterness.
“The life staying with my stepmother was pretty hard for me,” he says.
“I don’t blame her for anything. I will always look back and thank her for everything because I grew a lot from how I was treated.”
During his troubled times, Mr Prakash’s grandfather provided him with comfort and wisdom. In fact it was he who instilled in Mr Prakash that “everyone needs to eat”.
That sparked in Mr Prakash a passion for cooking.
“He always told me I needed to be a chef, and from a very young age, I wanted to cook.”
“He made me realise that a lot of jobs would go away and be replaced by something else, but cooking would remain forever because everyone needs to eat.
“But I guess it was also because there were times when we went without food.
“So, I had that at the back of my mind, that I had to learn cooking.”
Recognising the importance of self-sufficiency and the universal need for food, Mr Prakash was driven to learn the culinary arts.
He attended Sigatoka Methodist Primary School but his school came to a sad halt at Class 8.
“I only managed to complete Class 8 because back then we needed to pay for school fees and school stuff, and my father couldn’t afford it.
Like many young people, he was led astray by the allure of youthful excitement and recklessness.
His first foray into crime was at the age of 18. He ventured down a path that would shape his future in ways he could never have imagined.
“That crime landed me jail,” Mr Prakash says.
“I remember when I went into prison at 18, I was not scared or nervous. There were a few people who would hassle me inside there but I didn’t bother. I managed to survive.”
As he faced the consequences of his actions, Mr Prakash displayed resilience. He refused to be broken by his harsh environment.
Incarceration became a recurring theme in Mr Prakash’s life. He got caught in a cycle of release and reincarceration. Each stint behind bars brought its own set of challenges, but also opportunities for reflection and growth.
” I regret everything I did. I ended up spending about eight years of my life in prison.
“During my time, I also learnt something from inmates. I learnt that these people had family members who had committed crimes in the past and most of them had been exposed to these things.”
In 2006, Mr Prakash emerged from prison for what would be his final release. Determined to break free from the grip of his past, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.
With the support of mentors and the strength of his own resolve, he began to chart a new course for his life.
In 2008, the Fiji Corrections Services introduced the Yellow Ribbon Project. This would alter Mr Prakash’s perception of life and provide a new starting point from where he could pick up the pieces of his broken past.
“I was looking for employment as soon as I came out and went to do a few cooking jobs here and there.
As one of the first participants in the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Run in 2008, he embarked on a journey that would not only take him around Viti Levu but also send him on a deep personal voyage of self-discovery.
“The commissioner of the prisons at the time assisted me in my first ever Yellow Ribbon Run because we were supposed to run around the island and it would take some days, so I would rest and have tea at various police stations.
“It took 14 days for me to walk around Viti Levu. After that I was nominated the first ambassador of the Yellow Ribbon Project.”
This recognition validated his efforts to turn his life around and served as a beacon of hope for others who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
“When I started my first walk after the yellow ribbon, I committed myself to making seven walks around the island.”
Over the years, he also chased his passion for cooking. He worked in several restaurants expanding his culinary experience.
“When I cook, I forget who I am and what I’ve done in the past,” Mr Prakash says.
In between his stints in restaurants Mr Prakash continued his trips around the island.
“Someone I would like to give thanks to is Justin Ravindra.”
“I am grateful for his assistance. He is my biggest motivator and always challenges me to do better, to be a better person.”
As he embarks on his sixth trip around the island of Viti Levu, he feels the weight of time pressing upon him, yet his spirit remains resolute.
“This year, 2024, I will take my 6th round around the island of Viti Levu.
“This time it feels different, like I’m aging and just recently I’ve been feeling really weak like I’ve never felt before.
“I have just come back from Tailevu. I went to get some herbal medicine and to see someone about my health.”
As he contemplates the possibility that this may be his final voyage, Mr Prakash finds solace in the idea of carrying his home on his back, for home is not merely a place but a feeling of belonging wherever he roams.
He is looking for support in terms of clothing.
So, if you see Mr Prakash, do an act of kindness and extend to him a generous hand.
“I am hoping to do it again, and next year will be my last.
“When I make my last round around the island, I hope to write a little book of all the stories I have collected along the way.”
Mr Prakash says he knows that his story, like the winding path he often travels, has the potential to lead others to a brighter future.
“I tell you this, there is only one straightforward way to a brighter future. You can only stop or keep moving.”
