Inspector General Zahur Haider Zaidi, recently convicted in the Kotkhai custodial death case, once recounted his transformative experiences during his incarceration. Zaidi, who spent 1,589 days across three prisons, including Model Burail Jail in Chandigarh, used his time behind bars to educate fellow inmates and reflect on the dehumanizing aspects of prison life.

At a roundtable consultation on the “Reintegration Policy and Rehabilitation Scheme for Women Prison Inmates” in June 2023, Zaidi narrated an incident involving an inmate nicknamed “Sadda” (rotten). Convicted of double murder at the age of 20, Sadda had been stripped of his identity, known only by his derogatory nickname. When Zaidi began teaching inmates, Sadda, then 27 and illiterate, became determined to reclaim his name and dignity.

In just six weeks of education, Sadda developed a sense of self-worth and demanded to be addressed by his real name. Zaidi recalled an impactful moment when Sadda stood up to a jail warder who referred to him by his nickname, asserting his identity for the first time.

Zaidi also shared his personal experience of being nicknamed “Tuntuna IG” during his imprisonment, highlighting how the prison environment erodes individuality. His reflections on identity and dignity underscore the need for comprehensive rehabilitation programs that restore inmates’ humanity.

The consultation, organized by the Institute of Correctional Administration (ICA) and Punjab's Department of Social Security & Women and Child Development, sought to draft recommendations for reintegration and rehabilitation policies for women prisoners, aligning with Zaidi’s advocacy for educational initiatives in prisons.