In a compound bound by stern iron grills, softened by the soothing saffron sheets covering them, Mr Chauhan is among a select set of 25-30 Tihar prisoners getting their first Reiki lessons. Call it soul food, if you please. For, this time Reiki (Japanese for "universal life force energy") - a natural mind-healing meditation technique that has gained much ground in Indian metros - is targeting prisoners, "a bunch of people desperately trying to fight guilt, depression and a sense of isolation." "Changing their thought patterns" is what the Indian branch of the U.S.-based International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT), run by world famous Reiki master, Mr William Rand, which organised the session at Tihar, hopes for. "The response has been overwhelming," a beaming Mr Ravinder Raj of ICRT, who mooted the idea. Seated on the ground, the prisoners - only a couple of hardened criminals and the rest under-trials - hang on to every word and gesture of the three Reiki masters present at the session. And so do prisonofficials, seated on chairs in the same compound. "I feel nothing, none of the aura, or energy that you talk about. Help me," is the initial reaction of Mr Chauhan, who has been in Tihar for 19 months as an under-trial. But as a Reiki master steps forward, as if holding an invisible ball of energy in her hands, Mr Chauhan closes his eyes and tries again.

"Because they are surrounded by strangers, you will find prisoners constantly complaining to god. If such negative thoughts can be changed into something positive, we welcome it wholeheartedly," another inmate said on condition of anonymity. Ms Faye Kozikott, one of the three Reiki teachers at the session, agrees, "I was apprehensive and a little nervous about having to teach Reiki to convicts. But surprisingly, I found the inmates extremely receptive." Given Tihar's history of jail reforms though, it shouldn't come as a surprise, with the jail, which houses 10,625 inmates, having introduced meditative practices way back in the early 90s. "It brings a tremendous change in their (prisoners') attitudes, no doubt," says deputy superintendent, Mr BS Jarial, who has been posted in Tihar for 20 years.

"Though, of course, the more educated ones are more receptive," he points out.

In fact, up to September 2000, the Vipassana classes - involving meditation and self-observation - had drawn more than 7,000 participants and the Art of Living courses - involving breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and spiritual discourses - had drawn up some 5,000 inmates. And now there's Reiki.

There will be many more Reiki sessions, promises Mr Raj of ICRT. As he prepares to leave the Tihar compound through a giant green iron gate with a dove painted on it, 38-year-old prison inmate Satish Fauji comes rushing with an impassioned appeal.

"Sir, these healing practices, they are like medicine for us. Our soul food. Our way to stay in touch with the world. Please don't stop, sir."