The inmates of Guwahati Central Jail, who wished to start life anew, wrote their examinations in a first-time experiment in Assam.

Some of the inmates, who include former hardcore militants, were plain nervous appearing for an examination after long years, while others were just amused.

Eighteen inmates of the jail appeared in the two-day examination inside the jail campus recently, after finishing a six-month course conducted by the K K Handique State Open University.

Ankuran Dutta of the Open University said that there was tremendous enthusiasm among the inmates and most of them exuded confidence that they would fare well.

They appeared for examination for English, Mathematics, Social Science, Electronics and Advanced Mathematics.

The candidates for the last two subjects intended to seek admission in the Bachelor of Computer Application course in the same university.

''The course is free of cost and includes all the study materials including pen and paper for the examinees are being supplied by the institution," Dutta said.

''We have got feedback that by seeing the inmates study; other prisoners have also shown interest.

"This will probably change their lives and once they are out of jail they can pursue a decent profession," Dutta added.