By Ananya Sharma
When you walk past Tihar jail you would be taken in awe by a beautifully painted wall. The wall exhibits a poem by a woman incarcerated behind it. Tinka Tinka Tihar is a collection of poems written by 4 women inmates of Tihar jail. The wall art is inspired by one of the poems penned down by Seema Raghuvanshi, which has been published in the book.
In 2013, Dr. Vartika Nanda had the very first meeting with the women inmates of Tihar jail, a result of which 4 of them were chosen to write poems about their lives in jail.
Overview:
Tinka Tinka Tihar is a prominent book in the field of prison reforms and justice. The book is a critically acclaimed piece of literature that captures the authentic reality of the lives of those who are incarcerated in Tihar jail. The book comprises poems written by women lodged in jail number 6 of Tihar.The book is edited by Dr. Vartika Nanda (prison reformer) & Vimla Mehra (DG, Delhi Prisons, Tihar. The book was first released in 2013 by the union home minister. After a span of 10 years, the second edition of the book has now come and was released in a big ceremony in Tihar jail, by DG Prisons Sanjay Baniwal (IPS). The poetry in the book are of those who are often forgotten or looked away from by the world outside that beautifully painted wall.
The content of the book was thoroughly researched by Tinka Prison Research Cell. The cell gathered insights on prison life in Tihar Jail and collected data that adds to the authenticity of the book.
Tihar Theme Song: https://youtu.be/SZHlOMUnYrs?si=CZ4EtyrpzhfvoD1U
Tinka Tinka Tihar is a movement that is not limited to the book, but also spans out to a theme song and the wall art in Tihar jail.
How was the book celebrated?
The release of the second edition of Tinka Tinka Tihar in the jail premises has encouraged inmates to pen down their feelings more often. The release of the book was followed by the release of a podcast which gave a platform to the voices from Tihar jail. Tinka Tinka Podcast has been broadcasting untold stories from the prisons ever since.
Journey of Tinka Tinka Tihar: https://youtu.be/vUAClla_WlU?si=LmMhXCwgL06IhL2_
Who should read the book?
The book is a pioneering piece of work that dwells deeper into the nuances of prison reforms and the legal framework surrounding it. It is a must read for aspiring and practicing lawyers, legal scholars, journalists, police officials and for those who work in the field of social justice and reforms.
About Tinka Tinka Foundation ( TTF)
Tinka Tinka Foundation is a public charitable trust dedicated to prison reforms in India. The organisation utilises multiple platforms to create awareness and bring change to the living conditions in jails through Tinka Tinka books, music, Tinka jail radio, and the establishment of Tinka Tinka Prison Research Cell. Dr. Vartika Nanda, an eminent prison reformer and media educator, is the founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation. The organisation also broadcasts Tinka Tinka Jail Radio podcasts. These are the only podcasts in India catering to prison reforms and bringing stories of hope, creativity and change from the prisons of our country. Tinka Tinka Jail Radio podcasts are available both on YouTube and Spotify.
Dr. Vartika Nanda has written a series of books, including “Tinka Tinka Dasna,” “Tinka Tinka Madhya Pradesh,” and “Tinka Tinka Tihar,” which delve into the conditions and challenges within prisons in India. These works offer a thorough documentation of real-life prison experiences and provide a realistic portrayal of the lives of inmates in these facilities.
Relevant links:
Book on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/8ucs5hk 10 years of Tinka Tinka Tihar: https://youtu.be/C1EbkhUVf6s?si=T9vlewjWnuM5rwKK NDTV: https://youtu.be/lGrsGC2zyHk Tinka Tinka Tihar, Journey through pictures: https://youtu.be/_00Rn9S1-jY?si=BiBjEyPwz7rwQeso Tinka Tinka Jail Radio: https://youtu.be/aYJcj0PVWiI?si=7Z_Z9UlLVjjWIeRq Dr. Vartika Nanda’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@vartikananda76/about Dr. Vartika Nanda’s website: https://vartikananda.com/ Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms’ Website: http://tinkatinka.org/