The long wall got geometrical designs by prisoners.
Dasna jail broke all the myths we had about a jail. Actually till now, we had seen jails only in films. We expected the scenes of dreaded criminals, bad food, stern jailers beating the prisoners and barracks overflowing with shit.
Contrary to that, we found a very neat and clean jail campus where bad elements were guarded by the convicted ones in yellow dresses.
Food was off good quality and prisoners were given the jobs of their choice such as gardening, painting, stitching, legal help, making tea, helping jailers in other admin jobs.
We have been told that there are bad elements and everything is not perfect in any jail but Dasna jail authorities were trying hard to engage the prisoners in different activities.
We met Ajay, Krishna, Vivek and Amit here who were known as artists in the jail. They were to help us.
We chose an area known as circle in the jail. It’s literally a circle where deputy jailers sit and work. It’s hexagonal in shape. It is then circled by walls….as usual…Huge walls.
Various design carved by prisoners.
Probably those shapes inspired Meenakshi to make geometrical designs on the walls. Triangles, rectangles, circles and then prisoners were asked to improve and make their own designs.
The painters picked the brushes and colors. Others started watching it curiously. One of them was Anuj nicknamed Majnu Bhai by his friends. Meenakshi went to him and asked, ‘‘Why don’t you paint?’’
”No madam, Iam a powerlifter, never painted in life.”
”Try once.”
”No No..Iam fine.” Meenakshi pursued Majnu bhai relentlessly.
The power lifter’s hands were shaking when he dipped the brush in the color and started painting.
Anuj’s hands were shaking when he painted
Seeing him many others came forward to paint. Arun, Sanjeev, Amit….it was difficult to keep the track of names and their crimes.
By that time Ajay, Krishna and Vivek took the charge of guiding them with colors and Meenakshi decided to paint two fishes in the hexagonal structure.
Meenakshi’s trademark signature.
In between Jey was constantly talking to them and encouraging them. Many prisoners asked, ”Which NGO you work for and what is the message of these paintings.’’
We said, ‘We work on our own. The message is simple…you all are artist.’
One of the old prisoners looked at the paintings for a long time and said, ‘This is modern art……you can interpret them on your own way.’
We asked him, ‘Are you an artist?’ He smiled and walked away without saying a word.
In the male ward we painted a 50 ft wall with the help of prisoners.
When we finished, every prisoner wanted to get a photograph with us. The photo session went for 30 minutes and in between they told their stories.
Kidnapping, murder, fraud cases, dowry killings and what not..Mostly done in the heat of the moment, we felt. The agony, the regret was in their eyes.
Time for the group photo.
It was time to leave. We packed our colors. Ajay who is finishing his five year jail on 23 February said, ‘I want to be an artist. Guide me please. ‘
The power lifter Anuj came with us to the main gate and said, ‘Take me with you. I will leave guns and paint with you guys.’
It was an emotional moment for all of us. They were emotional at that moment….maybe they were violent at some moment which landed them here.
We learnt an important lesson that day : Each moment is crucial in our lives. Moments are important in life. Moments make you what you are.