Convicted for murder, 35-year-old has earned ₹3 lakh from his paintings in Maharashtra jail | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Convicted for murder, 35-year-old has earned 3 lakh from his paintings in Maharashtra jail

Hindustan Times | ByFaisal Tandel, Mumbai
Jul 16, 2018 04:17 PM IST

The fine arts graduate has earned through sales of his paintings sketched in the prison at Morshi in Amravati district, 660km east of Mumbai.

Like many people, Sudeep Pal also financially supports his family.

One of Sudeep Pal’s paintings.(HT Photo)
One of Sudeep Pal’s paintings.(HT Photo)

The only difference between him and others is that he is lodged in an open jail in Maharashtra in connection with a kidnapping and murder of a minor in 2009.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The 35-year-old fine arts graduate has earned through sales of his paintings sketched in the prison at Morshi in Amravati district, 660km east of Mumbai.

He has sent Rs3 lakh to his aged parents in West Bengal since 2010.

Jail authorities say Pal is a good example of a reformed convict, and his social and emotional paintings have made a mark in the market.

Pal, born on August 16, 1983, hails from Durgapur in West Bengal. He completed his Class 12 from Durgapur and took admission for a fine arts course in Chandigarh.

Later, he studied still photography and videography in Shimla.

Like many other artists, Pal came to Mumbai to pursue his dream and lived as a paying guest in Chembur. The police later booked him in a kidnapping and murder of a minor there.

As an undertrial he was lodged at Thane.

In 2009, the trial court convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment. On February 14, 2009, he was sent to Nashik central prison to serve a life term. Swathi Sathe was the then superintendent at the central jail.

“I was happy when he approached me for a good cause. Though he was convicted, our aim was to keep the artist in him alive and help him pursue his dream,” Sathe said, who is now deputy inspector general of prisons.

“In Pal’s case, we can proudly say that the purpose of jails to reform and rehabilitate convicts is fulfilled,” said Sathe.

Pal’s first exhibition was organised on December 18, 2010.

A year ago, he was moved to Morshi open jail in Amravati for good conduct.

“Pal spends most of his time on paintings. During my night rounds, I find him making paintings. He says the night time helps him concentrate,” said Ashok Malwad, superintendent of Morshi open jail.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On