The Hindu : Karnataka News : When cymbals replaced shackles

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

When cymbals replaced shackles

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

All smiles: A section of the audience at the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations organised for inmates of Central Prison in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: They laughed, danced and sang and leaving aside the misery of prison walls. The inmates of Bangalore Central Prison celebrated the Rajyotsava with all gusto along with judges, lawyers and law students on Thursday.

Their enthusiasm was reflected in the skilful presentation of the traditional kamsale by Subramani and seven others. This eight-member group, who were trained by folk artistes of the Janapada Loka, gave a wonderful display of the dance form set to the rhythm of cymbals and folk songs.

Matching the group’s performance was the women inmates’ commendable presentation of the song “Veeravanite Onake Obawwa” from the film Naagarahavu.

These performances were a part of the “Namma Mana Nimagagi” programme organised jointly the Prisons Department and the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph participated in the programme.

The programme, with a judicious mix of songs, skits, and dance performed by law students, lawyers and prisoners, began with a take on plea bargaining and Right to Information Act by students of National Law School of India University as an awareness campaign.

The Bangalore women advocates’ troupe came up with a skit Aparadhi Naanalla (I am not a criminal) written by Papa Pandu fame M.S. Narasimhamurthy. Equally entertaining was the presentation of “Baalu Belagitu” by B.E.S. Law College students.

The audience appreciated the bhajan Lingayya Maatanadu on Tontada Siddalingayya Swamiji sung by Bhimanayak and company. Another group presented the kolata while their colleague Ramesh presented a one act play on Duryodhana.

The performances moved Mr. Thakur as well as Mr. Joseph. “I am very delighted to see performance of the inmates,” Mr. Thakur said added that the programme would in sending the right signal among prisoners that society cares about them.

Recalling his days in Kolkata Central Jail during pre-Independence days, Mr. Thakur said: “Prisoners should not be tortured physically or mentally; I have experienced it.”

Speaking Kannada, Mr. Joseph said the programme was a part of an effort to make society accept reformed prisoners.

Executive chairman of Karnataka Legal Services Authority and Karnataka High Court Judge V. Gopala Gowda and Additional Director-General of Police and Inspector-General of Prisons S.T. Ramesh spoke.

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