Music helps elevate spirits of Cuddalore Prison inmates
The Hindu
Inmates in Cuddalore Central Prison are using music to beat the blues and find healing. 15 life convicts have taken up music-related activities with a variety of instruments available. The initiative was launched by Director-General of Police, Prison and Correctional Services Amaresh Pujari to rehabilitate inmates and help them re-integrate into society. Music has been documented in helping with mental illnesses and providing a healing touch. The inmates are now deeply involved in their musical pursuits and imparting their skills to others.
For the past few months, the long corridors behind the fortified walls of the Cuddalore Central Prison at Keppar Malai have been reverberating with the sound of music. As many as 15 life convicts behind bars have taken to music to beat the blues.
A room has been dedicated for music-related activities at the prison complex. With a variety of musical instruments including a keyboard, tabla, violin, guitar and flute available, the 15 inmates who are proficient in singing and interested in playing the instruments are now able to indulge in their interests. The brain behind this initiative is Director-General of Police, Prison and Correctional Services Amaresh Pujari.
According to a senior Prison Department official, “Over the years, the prison authorities have focused on imparting skills to the inmates to make them employable and facilitate their merger with the mainstream workforce on their release. A few Central Prisons including Puzhal in Chennai and the Coimbatore Central Prison have introduced music classes for inmates and the initiative was launched in Cuddalore too,” he said.
“As many as 15 life convicts evinced interest and special music classes were organised in Chennai and Coimbatore to train the inmates in singing and playing instruments. Music helps in overcoming frustration and anger and helps the convicts de-stress. The idea is to rehabilitate the prisoners by bringing out their hidden talent to help them re-integrate into society. They could also join a music troupe once they are released,” he added.
The vocational skill development programme in the Cuddalore Central Prison has helped hundreds of inmates to become carpenters, tailor and bakers. Apart from this, several inmates are involved in growing fruits and vegetables on the sprawling prison complex, the official said.
The prison was witness to a musical concert by the inmates during the Independence Day celebrations recently. The convicts rendered various soul-stirring melodies of the maestro Ilayaraja and the audience was left mesmerised.
Music has been documented in helping with the recovery of several mental illnesses. The inmates, officials said are now deeply involved in their musical pursuits. They have also been imparting their skills to other inmates, he added.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.