The hands that hurt, the voices that heal: Shivamogga Central Jain inmates present songs on Bhadravathi Akashavani
For listeners of Bhadravathi Akashavani, Sunday (June 7) afternoon brought something extraordinary — a music programme called ‘Jailu Hakkigala Gaanasudhe’, presented by inmates of the
For listeners of Bhadravathi Akashavani, Sunday (June 7) afternoon brought something extraordinary — a music programme called ‘Jailu Hakkigala Gaanasudhe’, presented by inmates of the Central Prison in Shivamogga as part of an initiative to foster rehabilitation among the convicted. Thimmappa, an inmate who was a teacher earlier, presented N.S. Lakshminarayana Bhat’s song Manavaredeyali. A line in the song conveys a profound truth: The hands that rise to kill also know how to show love. Through this choice, he subtly reflected the programme’s own purpose. Notably, Thimmappa had previously auditioned for a popular music competition on an entertainment channel and performed on radio programmes.
Dadapeer, a native of Davangere, presented B.R. Lakshman Rao’s Amma Ninna Yedeyaladalli. He remembered his mother, who struggled throughout her life to support the family alone, and died shortly after he was imprisoned. Speaking candidly, he acknowledged that he had committed an act in a fit of rage that brought him to jail. He was emotionally charged as he recalled that his mother died since she could not bear the turn of events that landed him in jail. Chandra Hemmadi, a former journalist, rendered T.P. Kailasam’s Koliyale Ranga. Anand, an agricultural labourer imprisoned more than nine years ago, chose a song honouring farmers who toil in fields regardless of scorching summers or heavy rains.
Thippeswamy sang Prof. K.S. Nisar Ahmed’s Jogada Siri Belakinalli, while Ravi Kumar presented a work by Da.Ra. Bendre. As part of the introduction, the inmates shared their backgrounds. Several acknowledged acting in moments of rage and anger, but expressed a collective desire to reform and reunite with their families. All of them appreciated the staff at the jail and the facilities available for them. Chief Jail Superintendent P. Ranganath explained the prison’s broader rehabilitation efforts, saying, “We conduct various cultural programmes involving inmates, including poetry collections, theatre, and literary activities. Inmates engage in yoga and meditation daily and use library facilities. We also encourage skill development initiatives.” The prison houses over 850 inmates.
S.R. Bhat, programme head of Akashavani Bhadravathi, described how the initiative came about. “During a visit to the prison with our staff, we were impressed by the talent we encountered. We identified at least 20 skilled singers and decided to provide them with a platform,” he said. The programme will go on air every Sunday throughout June between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with Akashavani staff broadcasting live via telephone from the prison and interacting with inmates as they perform.
The BriefWire