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Photos: Gurugram’s Bhondsi jail transforms into a centre for creativity
Haryana’s largest and Gurugram’s only prison facility is transforming. The prison, in association with non-government organizations, is running various skill development and vocational initiatives for rehabilitation of prisoners on the completion of their prison tenure. Programmes include weaving, crochet, knitting, painting, working with jute products, stitching, tailoring, chocolate making and arts and crafts. From a jail housing some of state’s most hardened criminals to a place of learning, where inmates are learning skills that offer them a future free of their past. HT’S Parveen Kumar takes a look.
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Ajmer Singh has been in the 87-acre jail for many years but it was only last year that he got the chance to reacquaint himself with the family trade of pottery and sculpting. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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The yarn spinning class is among the most popular ones among inmates. The Khadi Gramodyog, which started the classes in 2016, taught a few inmates who mastered the skill and now impart it to others who volunteer to learn. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Made entirely of wood chips, this wall mural of Mahatma Gandhi was painstakingly created by the same inmates who painted the jail’s exterior two years ago. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Tasked with feeding all of the inmates and security staff, the jail’s bakery has been run by prisoners who learnt baking in workshops. Those who have perfected the art now teach it to other willing students. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Sewing is among the other most popular classes conducted in batches of 8-10 in the prison. The clothes, like all other products made in the jail, are used in-house. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Women inmates, some of whom are incarcerated with their children have been taught how to make chocolate candies. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Tiny pots and vases, a result of work done by inmates. The jail’s 2,395 male inmates and 55 female inmates have taken to the classes as a means of artistic expression. Also quite popular are the quilling classes and the funky jewellery pieces that come from them. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Unlike the vocational training sessions, those attending the ‘Dhun’ classes are chosen based on their voices and basic education. Here, they first learn music and then impart the skill to others. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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