Jail dept stall at Ente Keralam trade fair attracts visitors
Thiruvananthapuram: As part of state govt's fourth anniversary celebrations, the jail department set up an exhibition stall at the
Ente Keralam trade fair
, sparking curiosity among visitors. The main attraction is the replica of the interiors of the jails.
The entrance is modelled after the Poojappura Central Jail.
The twin gallows from Kannur Central Jail are a major highlight of the exhibition. They evoke curiosity among the viewers. A real execution scene is depicted here using an original hanging rope and a dummy figurine. The twin gallows, capable of hanging two people simultaneously, are the centre of attention at the fair.
There are three cells at the stall - a regular cell, a dark room used in the past and the AKG memorial room, all of which visitors can explore.
To help the public understand, prison rules and acts are also displayed at the exhibition.
A miniature model of the Poojappura Central Jail, which spans about nine and a half acres, along with a visual representation based on the movie Mathilukal, adds uniqueness to the exhibition.
The inmates themselves prepared the model jail under the supervision of department officials.
Various weapons, a modern meeting centre for prisoners to communicate with relatives, cells and barracks are also arranged at the stall.
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New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- New Indian Express
A stroll through the corridors of Central Prison
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Weird and freaky as it may seem, many wonder what it feels like to be incarcerated. For those curious to get a first-hand experience, the Central Prison recently opened its doors — not at its sprawling premises in Poojappura, but at the 'Ente Keralam' expo, which concluded at Kanakakunnu on Friday. We stepped inside a recreated prison environment to experience being locked up in a dingy, dark, almost suffocating space under strict surveillance. The experience was — perhaps the eeriness was what drew in several eager visitors. The entire facility was reproduced at the expo by the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services. This prison once locked up several political veterans, including A K Gopalan. In its earlier location at Fort, the legendary thief Kayamkulam Kochunni was imprisoned until his execution. At its current site in Poojappura, records of inmates are sparse, but notable figures such as Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (released in 1943) and activist Rosamma Punnoose (released in 1942) are believed to have served time there. Notably, the film adaptation of Basheer's work Mathilukal was shot on the premises. Superintendent Sajeev S, Central Prison and Correctional Home, says the expo initiative was to give people a glimpse within the highly secured walls. 'The effort to recreate the prison was a joint one — by prison staff and inmates — and it took nearly a month to set up the 4, structure, based on the original facility that is spread out across nine acres at Poojappura,' he says. The actual prison remains off-limits to the public, but its outreach initiatives bring many of its projects to the community — such as the petrol pump at Poojappura managed by inmates, the nearby cafe, and the restaurant on jail property towards Jagathy. Particularly popular is the Freedom Food project, which played a key role during the 2018 flood relief efforts.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
New ear resolution: Sanjoy Narayan on the iconic Sennheiser HD 600 headphones
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The Hindu
21-05-2025
- The Hindu
Installations shine at Ente Keralam expo celebrating fourth anniversary of LDF government
Inside a giant red and orange tent with dark blue doors resembling a prison but stripped off its sombre tones, there are multiple partitions with the model of the Central Prison and Correctional Home in Thiruvananthapuram placed at the centre. The cyan walls are filled with details about prisons and punishments from around the world. Replicas of cells where once Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and revolutionary Communist leader AK Gopalan were imprisoned are among the exhibits put up by the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services at the Ente Keralam exhibition. The expo, currently on at Kanakakunnu premises in Thiruvananthapuram, is part of the fourth anniversary celebrations of the ruling Left Democratic Front government. On the far left corner of the tent is a section titled Gallows, with working model of a gallows and two dummy convicts set on it. One of the officers explains how capital punishment is carried out in the country and even demonstrates it using the replicas, evoking emotions of shock and awe among the visitors. Still models describing how prisoners communicate with visitors and the outside world, procedures of a video conference court, a condemned cell for prisoners awaiting their death sentence etc are showcased too. Visitors can also watch a 10-minute performance of Mathilukal, famous love story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. At the expo, spread across 75,000 sq ft, public can walk through around 250 stalls put up by different departments under the State government, such General Education, Women and Child Development, Tourism, Food Safety etc. 'The exhibits are enjoyable and informative. You can also have delicious food served by Kudumbashree,' says Sarath SB, one of the visitors. An installation by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) provides an informative virtual tour of the Idukki dam using a VR headset. The tour describes the architecture of the dam and the processes involved in generating electricity. KSEB is also organising an online quiz for the public. Kerala State Film Development Corporation is screening classic Malayalam movies including Oppol (1981), Chemmeen (1965), Kummatty (1979) etc at the venue. An area specifically dedicated to Kerala Fire and Rescue Services has rescue exercises for visitors to try. A Burma bridge, constructed at the venue, which is used by safety workers in real-life situations, has been attracting children. They wear helmets and safety harness while doing these rope drills. The objective is to educate people to not panic if they ever have to pass through a rope bridge. The expo has showcased traditional crafts as well. Anil Kumar, a potter from Neyattinkara attending the event, says, 'My aim is to help the current generation understand my craft and encourage people who want to do it.' For students An overrunning theme of substance abuse awareness among students is visible across exhibits by different departments. The stall by Kerala Excise has a boxing arcade machine and an archery game with a message to say no to drugs. The projects exhibited by school students range from robots to machines separating dry and wet garbage. Agnivesh K, a class IX student of Government Model Higher Secondary School, Varkala, with the help of his teammates, has presented a replica of Newton's cradle and a few other exhibits explaining reflection of light and so on. 'We were encouraged by our teachers to come here. This was our first exhibition, and we will participate in more such events in the future,' says Agnivesh. Food fete The food stalls serve dishes from different parts of the State. Kudumbashree units, for example, are serving dishes such as Vanasundari chicken, kappa and fish curry, paal kappa and beef roast, among others. Eats such as chapathi, idiyappam, puri, chicken chaps, chicken fry and so on prepared by the food production unit of Central Prison are also available. Cultural events are also organised at the Nishagandhi auditorium till May 22. The expo is on at the Kanakakkunnu palace premises till May 23. Time: from 10 am to 9 pm. Entry free.
