Mangalore: Prisoners-Turned-Actors Narrate their Plight, Plead for Freedom
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jul 6: The concluding ceremony of the 'Jailninda - Jailige Rangayatre' theatrical performances by prisoners of central jails in the state was held at Town Hall here on Thursday July 5.
The three day event saw prisoners of Bangalore, Mysore and Dharwad central jails showcasing their acting skills on stage with different plays. On the last day, the prisoners of Dhaward central jail presented 'Gokarnada Goudashani' play.
Apart from the play, what touched the hearts of the audience was experience shared by the inmates of the prisons. All of them had one common plea to make - to give them a second chance at life and release them from imprisonment.
S V Ramesh of Bangalore central prison said that when he entered Bangalore prison, there were only 116 inmates, but now the number has crossed 5,000. He said the reason for the increase was that after 2006, no prisoner was released on parole, as was usually done on Independence Day and Republic Day earlier.
"Ever since BJP government came to power, they have been busy with their intern conflicts and even the governor does not seem to be bothered about our plight. Earlier, every year prisoners used to be released twice a year on parole, but since 2006, no one has walked out of the prison," he said.
He urged the government to look into their plight and release prisoners who deserve to be let free. "I have a toddler son. I could not become a good son to my parents, let me at least become a good father," he said, bringing tears to the eyes of many in the audience.
On his experience over the last three days, Ramesh said that every role is a different experience. On his role of Basavanna, he said, "Earlier I believed in the caste system, but the role of Basavanna that I played has chased away all ideas of caste discrimination from my mind. Earlier I had played the role of Mahatma Gandhi, which taught me to imbibe his ideals," he said.
Another prisoner, Ganesh Nayak from Mangalore who has been lodged in the Mysore jail explained how his stint in jail had completely transformed him. "I used to be short-tempered. In jail I was given the option to take up either yoga or drama. As I felt I had no acting skills, I chose yoga. It helped me overcome my short temper and taught me patience. Now I can stay calm in any situation," he said.
"Also, in school I used to love drawing, and in jail I got an opportunity to use my artistic skills. I used to smoke earlier, but being in jail I quit that habit. I have been in jail for 13 years waiting to be released on parole, but there's no sign of it," he added. Ganesh gave an inspiring performance as King Lear on the first day of the event.
Another prisoner, Basavraju Oderahalli spoke on similar lines and urged the government to consider their release.
DCP Dharmaiah who was the chief guest said that every person has one or the other talent or skill, but needs the right platform to exhibit it.
'Gokarnada Goudashani', a play by Chandrashekar Patil (Champa), was directed by Hoolugappa Kattimani of Sankalpa, Mysore, and co-directed by Abhinandan Kavale. Prisoners of the Dharwad jail Radhakrshina, Shivashankar Hiremath (who played the role of Gowda), Parushurama Navalagunda, Jagadish Oderahalli, Krishna Paaste, Kashi Vishwanatha Murari, Basavaraju Hugara, Jaffar Sabamullah, Parashurama Moraba, and others were performed in the play
DCP (law and order) Mutturaya presided over the programme.
Mandd Sobhann president Stany Alvares, jailor of district jail P S Ambekar, entrepreneur Mangaldas Gupta and others were present.
'My Companions Died Waiting for Freedom'
Dharanesh, a prisoner of Bangalore prison spoke to the media on the sidelines of the programme and narrated his sorry plight in jail. He said he was imprisoned for no fault of his, and that nobody could prove it. "I had nothing to do with case, yet I was named the first accused," he said with grief.
He also expressed concern over the plight of women prisoners in jail and said that they are in big numbers but have very little space. "Men have the freedom to at least move around with the jail premises, but women are confined to their own four walls. The authorities should do something to set them free or improve their condition," he urged.
He further said, "Some of my companions had served seven years in jail and were waiting to be released on parole, but it never happened. Two of them died waiting for their freedom."
Through media, he urged the governor to consider the plight of prisoners sympathetically.
"We are trying to prove through drama that punishment and stint in jail has changed us, and we should be allowed to live a new life. If not, we might go mad being confined in the four walls of the prison," he said.
He entreated the public to use social media and emails to spread his word and send an email to the governor with a request to release them.