It is not about reformation or therapy but recognising that a prison is a smaller part of the society we live in, at least that is the philosophy behind ‘Siraigalil Kalai’. They believe in slipping in art, not just as a creative outlet for inmates but as a way to deconstruct the limitations for everyone else too.
The heart of this ‘Art in Prison’ initative is about bringing folk art, theatre, botanical cyanotype art, and music into Puzhal-1 Central Jail in Chennai, continuing for a year now. The initiative is led by Sumanasa Foundation and Project 39A in collaboration with Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai and Chennai photo Biennale’s invited photography exhibition was showcased at Madras Literary society on Saturday.
And one of the new additions to the initiative is a book drive that has already received about 500 books, both second-hand and brand new, including short stories, non-fiction, and even works by Rhonda Byrne, all within the first day. It is running until February 28 for anyone to donate in person at Madras Literary Society inside DPI complex or contact Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai on social media for postal address, after which the books will be sent to the inmates of Puzhal jail.
“It is important that they have access to the same books you and I do – fiction, non-fiction, everything,” says Carnatic musician T.M. Krishna from the Sumanasa Foundation. “A book drive is a huge part of any artistic endeavour because a lot of art comes from our awareness, and what we read changes the way we see the world. So, the inmates, like any other part of the society deserve access to books,” he adds.
Well the biggest takeaway for the audience? It was a recurring motif on the layers of society and how the prisions are extentions to it, and if there was one word that stayed with everyone listening that afternoon, it was ‘access’. No one should be denied – it was heard loud and clear!
When asked whether the book drive is also about supporting the emotional well-being of inmates, Maitreyi Misra, founding member of Project 39 A, shared an interesting perspective. Many of the inmates might not know how to read, but reading together could build a sense of community. “Why do we read books? To make the ground fertile for imagination, which is the same way for inmates. It is a mechanism towards treating them as regular people,” said Ms Misra. At its core, the book project isn’t ‘fixing’ anyone or awaiting a transformation, rather not diminishing the individual’s existence, and in all of it, art becomes agency at the end of the day.
Published – February 09, 2025 12:47 am IST