In a moment of both personal accomplishment and historical significance, Abdul Wahid Shaikh, one of the individuals accused in the 7/11 Mumbai Train Blast case who spent 9 years only to be acquitted by the trial court in 2015 was formally conferred with his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Mahatma Gandhi Mission (MGM) University, Aurangabad. The degree was presented by Prof. Dr. Vilas Sakpal, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, during a solemn convocation ceremony attended by faculty, students, and well-wishers who applauded Shaikh’s perseverance and unique contributions at the intersection of academia,research, and Literature.
For Shaikh, the journey to this day was nearly two decades in the making. In 2005, shortly after completing his Master’s in Urdu Literature from Mumbai University and appearing for the NET/CET exams, he had planned to pursue a PhD analyzing the poetry of Abul Mujahid Zahid. “But before the results could even come out,” he recalls, “I was arrested as Accused No. 8 in the 7/11 Mumbai Train Blast case” What should have been a straightforward path into research and academia was delayed by years behind bars.
Nearly twenty years later, that long-postponed journey culminated on 27 September 2025, when Shaikh walked across the stage to receive his doctorate—though the subject had shifted entirely. “Had I completed a PhD on Abul Mujahid Zahid back then, it would have been significant but not unique,” he says. “Now, after twenty years, I have researched a topic that was never explored before, a large number of people don’t even know there is prison literature in Urdu.”
His doctoral research, titled “Prison Literature: Post-Independence”, is a critical and analytical study of writings produced in Indian prisons;he reviews more than 100 books written in Prison in Urdu. He has divided his thesis into 5 Chapters:
Chapter 1 : History of Prison Literature;Inception and evolution
Chapter 2: Importance of Prison Literature
Chapter 3: Critical Study of Prison Literature
Chapter 4: Analytical and Comparative study of Prison Literature post Independence
Chapter 5: Conclusion
Shaikh’s work addresses a profound gap: while prison writing exists in English—Urdu prison memoirs and writing written in prison has been largely overlooked. During his incarceration, he found only two Urdu books on prison life; after his release, he could locate only seven more before starting his PhD. “How could there be so little literature when so many have been imprisoned who read,think and write in Urdu?” he wondered. His thesis not only documents these works but also analyzes them, uncovering recurring themes, motifs, and the intellectual resilience of prisoners.
Shaikh reflects on the limitations he faced while working on his research. Accessing reading material was often the greatest hurdle—many of the books he needed had long gone out of print, while others were simply unavailable in local libraries. He recalls spending hours searching for rare titles, downloading old PDF scans, or traveling long distances just to find a single reference text. Each book, once found, felt precious, yet the process of gathering them was exhausting. These obstacles, he says, made the work far more difficult, but also deepened his determination to complete the thesis.
Across India, many prisons impose an unofficial ban on languages not understood by the authorities, and Urdu is one of the most affected. Writing, reading, or even communicating in Urdu is often discouraged or actively suppressed. Shaikh’s research is particularly significant because it not only engages with texts produced under these restrictive conditions but also highlights works that were written, preserved, and published despite the barriers. By documenting and analyzing these writings, he demonstrates how prisoners resisted linguistic censorship, asserting their intellectual and cultural agency under a hostile environment .
What makes Shaikh’s research distinctive is his dual perspective as both a writer and a scholar. While imprisoned, he authored Begunah Qaidi (Innocent Prisoners in English), a book exposing the alleged fabrication of the 7/11 case by the Mumbai ATS. Beyond this, he wrote extensively—drafting legal applications and recording details of his own case.This experience allowed him to intuitively understand the context, silences, and nuances embedded in prison literature, providing him with insights that no outside researcher could have captured.
Shaikh’s research also explores how Urdu poetry functions as a tool of Defiance in prison. Renowned across the subcontinent for its adaptability and resonance, Urdu poetry has historically reflected social and political realities. Prison poetry, however, carries a unique weight—crafted under confinement, censorship, and oppression, this poetry is unique and is never documented nor its nuances have ever been studied. Very few works have emerged directly from prisoners themselves talking about their case , not just talking but exposing in its entirety ; apart from Shaikh’s writings and a book by co-accused Siddiqui, most narratives of incarceration have limited itself to Talk about Prison . By analyzing these rare texts, Shaikh highlights both the intellectual defiance and creative perseverance of incarcerated writers.
The literature that emerges from prison is unique because it is produced under conditions where writing, studying, and educating oneself are often discouraged or denied. “Incarceration itself is a battle for survival—forget about writing,” Shaikh says. Yet, in this hostile environment, writing becomes an act of defiance, a primary tool of resistance, and a declaration that thought cannot be extinguished. Across India, even basic reading and writing materials are often withheld, and deliberate steps are taken to prevent prisoners from thinking critically. By documenting these practices and their consequences, Shaikh’s work emphasizes the transformative potential of intellectual engagement, even behind bars.
Globally, programs such as Brazil’s read-to-reduce initiative incentivize prisoners to read and write in exchange for sentence reductions, fostering reform and learning. India, in contrast, has no such incentives. Against this backdrop, Shaikh’s research demonstrates that writing is not only a personal achievement for prisoners but a radical act of resistance against structures designed to silence.
Shaikh reflects on the broader implications of his work. “Many individuals are simply framed, implicated in false cases—just like me,” he says. Among them are intellectuals, writers, and well-read people who are unjustly criminalized by a system that punishes dissent and seeks to silence resistance. Prison should not be seen only as a site of repression or despair; it can also be a crucible for thought, learning, and creativity. Society’s tendency to stigmatize former prisoners as untouchables, irrespective of guilt or acquittal, perpetuates injustice. Breaking this impasse, he argues, is central to both his legal and academic work.
Another motivation, Shaikh says, is to inspire prisoners to write, document, and reflect. “I have taken up this topic partly to encourage prisoners to write more instead of remaining silent,” he says. Through his research and publications, he hopes to demonstrate that even under the harshest conditions, writing can serve as a tool of intellectual and personal emancipation.
Speaking to the media, Shaikh said, “This PhD is not just an academic milestone, but a continuation of my struggle for prison justice. Prison literature is the voice of the silenced, the testimony of those behind bars, and a mirror to our society’s conscience.”
As General Secretary of the Innocence Network, Shaikh has long advocated for the release of innocent persons wrongfully imprisoned and campaigned for humane prison reforms. His academic achievement now adds another dimension to his activism, highlighting how knowledge and scholarship can intersect with social justice.
The convocation was a ceremonial recognition of years of perseverance. Graduates lined up in flowing robes, their names called one by one, crossing the stage to receive their degrees. For Shaikh, the moment was both symbolic and deeply personal—a culmination of years of struggle, intellectual pursuit, and the eventual triumph of human resilience.
In a society where prison writing is often ignored, and where the narratives of incarcerated individuals are mediated or silenced, Shaikh’s work stands out. His PhD is not only a personal achievement but a landmark contribution to Indian scholarship, prison reform, and the understanding of resistance and intellectual life behind bars.
Shaikh points out that the concept of prison literature is profoundly under-researched. Despite decades of research on related subjects, there has been virtually no study of what was written in Urdu within prisons. “In that sense,” he says, “I believe I have brought something new to the table.” His work fills a glaring gap, documenting and analyzing a literary corpus that had largely remained invisible forget about research; there are many books which are not in print since the last three decades , and offering insights into the intellectual and creative lives of prisoners who wrote in Urdu in India.
Shaikh adds that another motivation behind his research is to inspire current and future prisoners to write, document, and reflect on their experiences. “I have taken up this topic partly to encourage prisoners to write more” he says. By highlighting the intellectual and creative potential of incarceration, he hopes to show that the best use of the time that is ample in Prison to write ,for learning, and personal growth, even under the harshest conditions.
