Art therapy: Kaushambi jail inmates find solace in colours & brushstrokes
Prayagraj: At the crack of dawn, 26-year-old
Manish Kumar
, one of the 800 inmates at Kaushambi district jail, unleashes his creativity. Armed with colours of hope and brush, he brings his imagination to life, conceptualising sketches and designs that leave a lasting mark on the jail's walls.
Manish finds solace in working with colours. Notably, Manish shares his knowledge with fellow inmates, who typically engage in various activities such as farming, computer learning, crafting, agriculture and sewing to productively pass their time in jail.
The undertrial has introduced his fellow inmates to diverse art forms, highlighting the effectiveness of wall slogans. He encourages them to try sketching, painting, and mastering techniques like colour combinations and shading.
T
hrough their collaborative efforts, the prison walls are being transformed into lively and dynamic works of art like vibrant murals and hard-hitting slogans like 'stree ki unnati par hi rashtra ki unnati nirbhar hai' (The progress of a nation depends on the progress of women) and 'vyakti apne vicharon ke siwa kutch nahi hai, vo jo sochta hai ban jata hai' (A man is nothing but his thoughts; he becomes what he thinks).
Ajitesh Mishra, superintendent of Kaushambi district jail, told TOI, "Manish, a resident of Charwa, was lodged in Kaushambi district jail three months ago under Posco charges. About a fortnight ago, Manish approached the jail authorities with a unique request — to allow him to transform the prison walls into vibrant and lively spaces. He also requested art supplies, including paint and brushes."
"Inmates are showcasing their creativity by working on various murals and artworks to transform the prison's interiors...
The prison walls are being decorated with vibrant graffiti, featuring sketches of freedom fighters, forest scenes and wildlife. The inmates have also created artwork to beautify the walls, bringing them to life with their creative expressions," Mishra added.
Considering it as a way of expression, Manish is spending five to six hours daily painting the graffiti, a jail official said.
Manish feels painting serves as a great way to disconnect from the outside world, requiring intense focus and effort.
He also appreciates the productive nature of this creative outlet.
"They should feel motivated and become better people after their release," said a senior jail official, adding, "They have seen a drastic change in their personality and their approach after they took up art".
"We think most of them need a platform to channelise their energies in the right direction," said a senior jail authority, adding, "Once these prisoners learn skills in different artwork, they could be able to transform their lives and become self-reliant after release."
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