Siddique leaves prison next month with 'The autobiography of a thief'

KANNUR: There were no locks that Siddique couldn't open. He started stealing at the age of eleven. He's been involved in more than 500 cases since he was apprehended by the police at the age of fourteen, resulting in a 20-year imprisonment. All in all, it took 34 years to traverse the darkness. Finally, thief Siddique understood the need to open human minds! Thus, 'The Autobiography of a Thief' was written and it was released by Jail Superintendent Dr P Vijayan.

A K Siddique, a 58-year-old resident of Thalassery is now dreaming of a new life beyond the confines of cell C 309 at Kannur Central Jail. "Stealing from others is a grave mistake. That path no longer appeals to me," Siddique attests. Before turning 18, he was a skilled thief. When he entered jail at the age of 14, he was paid 64 paise for prison work. Now, he receives 220 rupees. He is set to be released from prison next month. Siddique asserts that everything in the book is true. He aspires to lead a family life and intends to start a bakery, having learned to make bakery products while in prison.

A fellow inmate named Rafeeq, who spent nine months with him in Kannur Sub-jail sowed the seeds of remorse in Siddique. After leaving jail both of them worked in a hotel in Mangalore. However one day Rafeeq went home and never returned.

It was discovered that Rafeeq's family had forcibly taken him somewhere. This drove Siddique back to his thieving ways. When he was apprehended again and returned to jail, he remembered Rafeeq. Contemplating their past, the desire to become a better person sprouted within him. The prison cell became his writing room, where he recorded all his experiences in a notebook. During his last parole, he approached novelist K K Sudhakaran with his writings. Several of Sudhakaran's novels are available in the prison library. The book primarily explores the thoughts of thieves who are awake when most people are fast asleep. It also delves into the heart-wrenching story of Siddique's isolated childhood within a joint family and recounts tales of revenge, retribution, and love.

"One morning at six o'clock, Siddique arrived. He was a polite man, carrying a bag on his shoulder. He introduced himself saying, 'I'm not familiar with the police, the court or jail.' I was taken aback. Reading his notebook left me astounded. That's why I wrote the introduction."

-K K Sudhakaran, Novelist

"In the case of a school lockout, the principal provided false testimony. It was alleged that Rs. 45,000 had been stolen. I never received a penny from the school. The police were well aware that the principal had taken the money home the day before. So, am I the thief? Even if no gold was stolen, many homeowners can vouch that a significant amount of money was taken."

-A K Siddique