A song that could charge inmates of District Jail, Dasna with extraordinary creative power 7 years ago, has taken a rebirth.

The story began in 2016 with Tinka Tinka Foundation, a trust devoted to work on prison reforms. This year, the song titled Tinka Tinka Dasna was composed and written by Dr. Vartika Nanda, India’s leading prison reformer and media educator. The song was sung by 13 inmates of District Jail, Dasna. The composition was shot in front of the main wall of the jail and was later adopted as the theme song of this jail. 7 years later, the song has been recreated by Mahendra Prajapati, an inmate lodged in Central Jail, Sabarmati in Gujarat. This has become part of Tinka jail Radio Podcast, the only podcast in India dedicated to prison reforms. (https://youtu.be/1peFIr__32A)

The song aims to bring and foster creativity and music in the premises of the jail. It is a driving force of change for many inmates in the prison. As all 13 inmates were part of the creative process, it helped them reform their thoughts, ideas and vision of life. Tinka Tinka Foundation believes in transforming prison spaces through creativity and “Toote apni aas na yeh hai apna Dasna” is a crucial element of a bigger project of showing a guiding light to these inmates.

Tinka Tinka Dasna was a longer project that created several milestones, including a special book revolving around inmates serving life imprisonment. Authored by Dr. Vartika Nanda, this book is a vital resource to understand -the authentic realities of prisoners in India. The tale follows the lives of five inmates of Dasna Jail and their accounts of how they have changed as individuals. The book narrates the accounts of inmates like Dr. Rajesh Talwar, Dr. Nupur Talwar, and Surinder Koli and makes the readers understand how the jail environment has made them search for a new meaning in life.

You can find the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/9kLPhAj

Dr. Vartika Nanda heads the Department of Journalism, at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. She is the official storyteller of Kissa Khaki Ka, run by Delhi Police. With her Ph.D on rape coverage, she has devoted her life to prison reforms. Her Tinka Tinka Prison Research Cell is actively engaged in analysing various aspects of prison life.