By Pavani Chandhok
Prison can be a place for reformation and creativity, something which people do not even think of but there have been several instances when inmates have displayed tremendous talent and the desire to make a change in their lives. Tinka Tinka Foundation works on this premise. They try to bring out hidden talents and give them creative options so that they come out as better human beings. Musical power is one of them.
The journey of Tinka Tinka using music as a therapy in jails started in 2013 from Tihar jail. Tihar Jail is the biggest jail complex in South Asia. Dr. Vartika Nanda, Founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation composed the theme song of Tihar. History was created in the prisons reform of the country when “Haan ye Tihar hai”, the theme song of Tinka Tinka Tihar was sung by inmates in Tihar jail. Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan released this song in her chamber of Parliament House in 2015.
This experiment managed to infuse happiness and hope in the lives of inmates. Tihar’s theme song was also broadcast by Akashvani. This song was added to the Limca Book of Records in the year 2017.
This effort of Tinka Tinka reached Dasna Jail, Ghaziabad in 2016. 13 men and 5 women inmates sung the theme song in front of the main wall of the jail which was painted by four inmates. 10 memories were carved on the wall in a unique way that no other jail in India would have had this kind of concept. It brought a new hope and vision in the eyes of the prisoners.
The same song was later performed by dancer Shobhana Narayan and singer Kumud Diwan at IIC, New Delhi. An attempt was made to bring this song to the fore of artistic and classical rendition. Kathak and Banaras Thumri were united together to portray the emotions of inmates through dance and music. The Governor of Goa, Mrs. Mridula Sinha was the chief guest of the event.
The caravan moved to Central Jail Agra in 2019. 16 prisoners sung the song composed by an inmate and the song was shot in front of the temple of the jail.
This was the beginning of a new journey which touched the land of Haryana in 2020. Tinka Tinka Foundation launched the concept of Tinka jail radio in the jails of Haryana. There are 19 jails in Haryana, out of which 7 have already been covered.
Inmates of all these jails are auditioned, trained and prepared for broadcasts by prison reformer Dr Vartika Nanda. They are trained to work as RJs. The main emphasis was on their communication skills, voice modulation and energy levels so that they can inspire and boost up inmates who are under depression or loneliness. Tinka jail radio has already started its programmes in Central jail of Ambala and District Jail Panipat and Faridabad. Jails of Karnal, Rohtak, Hisar(I) and Gurugram are also broadcasting their programmes in the second phase.
Sheru from Central Jail Ambala and Jitendra from District jail Rohtak emerged as budding artists in the field of music. Sheru sang a folk song in Punjabi on corona while Jitendra sung prayer to corona in a Haryanvi Ragini. Both the songs have been released by Tinka Tinka Foundation on YouTube podcasts and various social media platforms like spotify. Both Sheru and Jitendra got lots of appreciation for their songs and these songs were also liked and shared by Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on his various social media accounts last month.
The initiative taken by Dr. Vartika Nanda is commendable. The growth of prison radios in Haryana are part of an ongoing study on the Tinka Tinka Model of Prison Reforms. Music in jail is bringing tremendous change in prison life. As the tag line of Tinka Tinka says, we are trying to create rainbows in jails, one can see that actually happening. Dr. Vartika Nanda heads the Department of Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi.
The journey continues.
Pavani Chandhok
#tinkatinka #prisonreforms #vartikananda #musicinjail #jailradio
