Khansa Saleem
TINKA TINKA DASNA
Author: Dr. Vartika Nanda
Publisher: Tinka Tinka Foundation
Year : 2016
Adaption: Dr.Nupur Talwar
Treading the Untravelled – Reporting from inside the jail
‘‘I want their voice to echo in the society’’ – Dr. Vartika Nanda
Introduction:
Tinka Tinka Dasna is a pivotal work centered around the lives lodged in Dasna Jail, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Written by Dr. Vartika Nanda and adapted by Dr. Nupur Talwar, the book is an exemplary academic and literary work that takes into the perspectives of prison life and reforms. Particularly focusing on the true life stories of individuals, whose imprisonment journey consists of various trials and tribulations. This book is an extraordinary and quintessential piece on how prison changes and rebirths new lives of changing ideals. Tinka Tinka Dasna has been published by Tinka Tinka Foundation, a trust devoted to prison reforms, that has also undertaken to publish books on prison reforms free of cost.
About the Book:
District Jail, Dasna, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, is a significant correctional facility known for housing high-profile inmates. Situated near Ghaziabad, it gained extra prominence when dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were convicted in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case. The prison focuses on rehabilitation, offering vocational training and educational programs to inmates.
The book is divided into seven sections that embark upon Dr. Nanda’s expedition to the Dasna Jail and the things and people she encountered. The first part is based upon her reports on jails and provides an in-depth analysis of the jails of our country. All facets and corners of the lives behind the bars have been meticulously included and the narratives, the plot and the lines taken from the poems by Dr. Nanda gives the book, journalistic ideal. The second part is centered around five lives and their imprisonment and ways in which their life took upon a new leaf. The third part is all about hope and creativity. This chapter focuses on how prison has changed the inmates into artists of various kinds transcending realms of art, music, literature and technology. There is a silent presence of endless potentialities. The fourth part pertains to giving gratitude and acknowledgment to the tireless and conscientious work done by jail staff in creating a welcoming and caring environment for the prisoners to grow and they leave an indelible mark upon the nurtured and gracious hearts of the prisoners. The fifth part is dedicated to the integral team behind the success of this book. The penultimate part showcases the milestones of the Dasna prisoners and entail the true essence of the Tinka Tinka project and includes the award series formulated by Dr. Nanda for inmates by the name of Tinka Tinka India Awards and Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards. The final section is about the theme song based on Tinka Tinka Dasna, written by Dr. Nanda and sung by xxxx inmates of Dasna Jail. YouTube:
The Infamous Case of Arushi Talwar:
The 2008 discovery of Aarushi Talwar’s body in her Noida, Uttar Pradesh, home by her parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, led to the investigation of Aarushi’s case. Following an investigation, the parents and their domestic assistant Hemraj were taken into custody on charges of double murder. Twists and turns, media coverage, and public conjecture characterized the trial. The Talwars were found guilty in 2013 and given a life sentence. But the Allahabad High Court cleared them in 2017 due to a lack of proof. The Talwars added a chapter to the history of Dasna Jail by spending a large portion of this ordeal there.
Dr. Vartika Nanda in this book, took a sensitive and apprehensive approach when it came to providing a journalistic window into the case of Aurushi and personally interviewing her parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. There is an evident empathy that seems to have been established within their discussions, where the two parents, whose lives have turned into a melancholic course after the loss of their beloved daughter and the cruel and antagonizing ways in which the media has shaped their life story through rumors and accusations. The society that once bestowed them with great respect has pointed fingers and murmured whispers of indignity and falsity. Their despair is poignantly written and expressed by Dr. Nanda and Tinka Tinka Dasna became a lifelong letter of hope and raison d’etre for Rajesh and Nupur Talwar.
The chapter on Rajesh and Nupur Talwar is a glimpse into how the law and media can play a cosmic role in defining and transforming lives and how the prison world is full of lives who hope to hold a pen or rather voice out a few yearnings, dreams that are suffocated into the four walls that leave a powerful mark upon their lives and these stories are told either in silence or insurmountable pain and resilience. The media, although a powerful entity established to provide just and fair commands, in times can be tools misused or shaped to deliver lives at stake and justice at the end of the knife.
‘‘Jail is not about what you like and what you don’t, it is about acquiescence and we have accepted our destiny’’
– Nupur Talwar
Media Trials:
Media trials, often criticized, involve the extensive coverage and public discussion of legal cases by the media. While they can raise awareness, some argue they may prejudice public opinion and impact fair trials. Striking a balance between freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial remains a challenge in legal systems.
Media trials are crucial for journalism students as they offer insights into ethical dilemmas, responsible reporting, and the impact of media on legal proceedings. Studying these trials helps students navigate the delicate balance between freedom of the press and the need for unbiased reporting, fostering a deeper understanding of journalism’s societal role.
Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms:
https://youtube.com/@tinkatinkaprisonreforms4559?si=gZ0EvJ9Xe9AL8Oog
Weaving Together Tinkas:
Tinka Tinka Dasna explores the various segments of the Dasna jail and the extraordinary ways in which prison life has transformed those lodged within. From poignant statements, to melancholic reminisces, letters of hope, conscientious officials and from the author’s outlook, so meticulously portrayed and acknowledged, the book is one of the most dignified published works on prison reforms. Dr. Nanda with profound compassion provides an insight into the deplorable manners in which the mainstream society has disregarded and excluded prisoners from the realms of community and individuality. She is on a journey to make this nation more humane and visionary and through this book, she hopes to be the light bringer of Cosmic justice.
About The Author:
Dr. Vartika Nanda is a prison reformer, media educator, and the founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation. With a Ph.D in Journalism, she is presently the Head of the Department of Journalism in LSR, Delhi University. President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Stree Shakti Puraskar on her in 2014. Dr. Nanda has dedicated her life to bringing forward more ethical and just reforms and incentives for the lives of inmates. Her life journey is marked upon with a prayer in creating rainbows in prisons.
Tinka Tinka Dasna ( February 14, 2016)
Conceptualized, written and directed by Dr. Nanda, the theme song was sung by 13 inmates of Dasna jail and with an effort to spread the message of love and bonding within jails, the song was composed. The Dasna jail created history on Valentine’s Day with the release of the theme song by the Minister of Prisons, Uttar Pradesh Government. As a rare occasion, the jail minister declared the song as the theme song of the jail in front of about 3,000 inmates. It was shot right in front of the wall that was created by three inmates including Vivek Swami. The special wall which is the first wall of its kind painted inside the four walls of prison with the theme and a concept witnessed the release of the song. Composed by Brij Mohan Sharma, Dharamveer and Shahzad, The theme song highlights the various aspects of the lives behind the bus in the does not jail and is highlighted with the components of flame, hope and prayers. On behalf of Tinka Tinka, special certificates were also presented to the team of singers and composers on the occasion.
“ दिन बदलेंगे यहाँ भी, पिघलेंगी ये सलाखें भी
ढह जाएंगी ये दीवारें, होंगी इनकी कुछ मीनारें
टूटे फिर भी आस ना, ये है इनका डासना ‘’
(Keywords of the theme song)
YouTube link:
Conclusion:
Tinka Tinka Dasna is an illustrious academic treatise on the forlorn life stories housed in the prison walls of District Jail, Dasna and the ways in which these lives have evolved in tremendous new waves. The book is both a research as well personal account of Dr. Nanda in her pursuit to acquire greater wisdom in the realm of prison order and the state affairs that sculpt the currents of prisoners. Through her journalistic caliber and sensitized proceedings, the book serves as a tome of academic excellence and reformist philosophy in matters of prison and law. This book is a must read for all those who want to delve into the world of prison reforms.
Citations:
Tinka Tinka website: https://tinkatinka.org/
Blog: https://vartikananda.blogspot.com/?view=sidebar&m=1
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vartikananda76?si=EaEtwlGNVAiP4LgP
Few other books authored by Dr. Vartika Nanda:
Tinka Tinka Tihar (Prisons)
Tinka Tinka Madhya Pradesh (Prisons)
Television aur Crime Reporting (Journalism)
Thee.Hoon..Rahungi… (Poetry)
Raniyan Sab Janti Hai (Poetry)
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