Music may prove to be their salvation and perhaps give around 40 inmates of the Sabarmati Central Jail the chance of a decent livelihood.
Music may prove to be their salvation and perhaps give around 40 inmates of the Sabarmati Central Jail the chance of a decent livelihood.
The jail authorities are training some 40 inmates to form a band on the lines of the police band. Prior to the initiative, which has been on for four months, the jail did not have an in-house band.
Another aim of the 'band' training is to ensure that the inmates learn skills that may help them stand on their own feet once they are out of gaol.
"We are at present providing them with the basic training for forming an in-house band. The other, key motive is to help them in their rehabilitation programme once they are released," said PC Thakur, ADGP, prisons.
Of the 40 inmates, 22 have already been trained and of these 10 are being sent out to perform during the morning parade. The city police band has extended its help in training the inmates.
"A band police inspector and two of his trainers come to teach these inmates," said DJ Vankar, senior jailor, Sabarmati Jail. Vibhakar Bhatt, who teaches music to the jail inmates, said that so interested are the inmates in the programme that they often end up practising on their own once the official practice
is over.
"Right now they perform during the ceremonial parade and can play the national anthem and the national song. They also perform during the various functions of the jail like the morning prayer meeting," said Bhatt. Vankar said, once fully trained, the jail authorities may think of sending the musicians to perform at other events like marriage ceremonies, for a fee. "But right now this is just a thought," he added.
This inmate is a good musician
Pravinbhai Kachrabhai, 41, has been incarcerated in Sabarmati Jail for 13 years on the charge of murder. When he started his term, he only knew how to play the harmonium. "In jail I learned to play other instruments. Now, with the initiative to form a band, I have mastered many instruments," he says. He said he learned how to play the music instruments available in the jail and even formed a performing group of his own, when he was out on parole. Ask him if music has helped change his life and he replies, "There are times when I get depressed and think of my home and family. At that time playing one of the instruments is the best way to get out of my blues," he says.
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