Lessons with a difference: Beur Central Jail

Patna, Feb. 20: Raj Kishore does not only share his name with one of the most famous playback singers of Bollywood, he also renders Kishore Kumar numbers like Yeh jeevan hain and Sagar jaise aankhon wali with great skill.

Raj, however, does not perform for the public as he is serving a life term in a murder case. Lodged in Beur Central Jail, Patna, this inmate could soon benefit from music classes inside the prison.

The prison authorities have invited applications from inmates keen to learn music. The last date for submitting applications is February 25. The classes will start from April this year. Professional trainers would be hired and instruments would be made available to the inmate so that they can polish their music skills.

“Several inmates in our jail are very good singers and musicians. Some of them are good at classical music, while others are trained in folk music. Some prisoners also play musical instruments,” said Beur jail superintendent Shivendra Priyadarshi. The budding musicians include murderers, kidnappers and thieves. Some have been convicted and are serving prison terms, while others are facing trial.

The idea to impart training in music took root in Priyadarshi’s mind on January 26, 2011, when he had asked the inmates to organise a cultural programme inside the jail.

“I was very impressed with the performance of some prisoners like Raj Kishore Sharma, Pradeep and Ram Krishna. They presented national songs and bhajans on the occasion,” Priyadarshi told The Telegraph.

Pradeep entertained the 2,000-strong audience by presenting Mohammed Rafi’s popular numbers like Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya. Ram Krishna, a resident of Hilsa in Nalanda district, rendered Mukesh numbers like Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain.

Priyadarshi said Krishna, convicted in a murder case, also plays musical instruments. “Sharma, a resident of Naubatpur in Patna rural, is an exponent of classical music. There are others who are good dancers.”

The Beur Central Jail, which is also known as a model jail, has initiated several steps for transformation of the prisoners. Yoga classes and prayer meetings are held on a regular basis in the jail. A state-of-the-art gym has also been set up for the inmates.