Dreams that are made true behind prison bars!
Jai Bhagwan, an inmate incarcerated in District Jail, Jind, was a singer before his imprisonment. His long-held dream of releasing his own audio album has become a reality during his time in prison. Tinka Tinka Foundation, a public charitable trust dedicated to prison reforms, has released a song written by him. Jai Bhagwan, an undertrial inmate, was among the eleven prisoners selected as radio jockeys in this jail in 2022 by Dr. Vartika Nanda, prison reformer and founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation. Tinka Tinka Jail Radio is part of a broader unique exercise initiated by Tinka Tinka Foundation, introducing prison radios across the state of Haryana.
Jai Bhagwan’s song delves into themes of hope and creativity within the confines of jail. Following the training of inmates and the subsequent launch of the prison radio, a chosen team of inmates, including Jai Bhagwan, were tasked and exhorted to create their own stories and content for Tinka Prison Radio. Jai Bhagwan chose to write songs.
How did this experiment begin?
In an innovative move, this song was shared with District Jail, Dehradun in Uttarakhand, breathing new life into the composition. Sanjeev Kumar, Superintendent, District Jail, Jind, and Pavan Kothari, Jailer, District Jail, Dehradun, provided crucial support to facilitate this collaborative effort. The responsibility of composing the song was entrusted to Dr. Suchit Narang, an inmate lodged in District Jail, Dehradun. He along with two other inmates, Arun and Rohit, displayed extraordinary ingenuity to compose the lyrics. This collaborative effort bridged two jails from different states, resulting in a beautiful creation. This song has been released on Tinka Tinka Jail Radio podcast episode 77.
Who is Suchit Narang
Dr. Suchit Narang, an undertrial inmate, is visually challenged and has been in prison since 2018. He was selected as one of the radio jockeys for Tinka Jail Radio. Dr. Narang is the creative mind behind the theme song of Tinka Jail Radio, released on May 31, 2023 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L19FMAoUcME). This theme song now opens and concludes every episode of Tinka Jail Radio. It is heard by a large number of prison inmates across several jails in India, motivating them to engage in similar pursuits. He was recently awarded the Tinka Tinka India Award under the ‘Special Mention’ category in December 2023, on the eve of the international human rights day. He was chosen for his extraordinary contribution to prison life through jail radio.
Musical experiments in prison
Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF) is credited to introduce prison radio in the jails of District Jail, Agra, jails of Haryana and Uttarakhand. Tinka Jail Radio (TJR) has been instrumental in bringing positive change in prisons. It is a powerful tool for inmates across India to exhibit their talent. Resultantly, several musical compositions have been released through Tinka Tinka’s musical experiments behind the bars.
TTF released the corona related song of Sheru, an inmate of Central Jail Ambala, which received appreciation by the Union Health Minister on his various social media platforms in May, 2021. Another song composed and sung by RJ Kashish of Panipat Jail was released on Nelson Mandela Day in July, 2021. A song on Corona sung by inmate-turned-RJ Jitendra of District Jail, Rohtak, was also shared by the Union Health Minister. Tinka Tinka also facilitated 10 inmates of District Jail, Karnal, to release the prison’s theme song. Tinka Jail Radio podcast episode 26, released on the festival of Janmashtami, featured a special Ragini, a Haryanvi folk song, sung by three inmates of Central Jail (I), Hisar. Such musical creations in jails have been widely discussed at international forums including Madrid (Spain), Barcelona (Spain) and Oslo (Norway).
Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF) and Tinka Jail Radio
Conceptualized by prison reformer and media educator Vartika Nanda (www vartikananda.com), Tinka Jail Radios empower inmates with communication tools in prisons. These radios proved invaluable during the Covid-19 pandemic and are now considered essential in prison reformation efforts. Tinka Jail Radio Podcasts, initiated by TTF, stand as the only podcasts in India dedicated to prison reforms. These podcasts, launched first in 2020, shed light on inmates’ significant contributions for the incarcerated. With n financial support, Tinka Jail Radio podcasts aim to connect prisons across India. With nearly 1400 jails in the country, numerous inmates have made extraordinary contributions to the development of jail life, yet these stories are often overlooked. TTF has published three books on prison reforms, considered authentic portrayals of prison life in India. Interestingly, Tinka Tihar Tihar completed 10 years this September and its second edition launch in Tihar jail was a gala event. www.tinkatinka.org