"Gents ke Protection ke liye aaya hoon"

Byculla Stri Karawaas

18/june/2011

More than hundred estrogen powered female inmates. One Atrium. And Music. Some Africans, some Indian, Nepali and Bangladeshis. Contrary to what I had expected of the Byculla jail, I have been almost surprised. Shocked by the zeal, enthusiasm and talent of the inmates here at byculla. This is me, Aditya Shankar, sitting in a room where light also enters fenced, writing my experiences to be soon shared with all of you.

Few things to be mentioned here, Africans are brilliant singers, Nepali girls look cute even in jail :) and Indians need adrenaline to kick start. I came here as a cynic, who thought that having a two day workshop in a jail doesn’t really do anything good and much rest has to be done at the policy making levels. Certainly I have been proven wrong. Breaking the complacence cogwheel is what we are doing here I guess, and that’s what is needed to give these people a break from their daily struggle.

"Das mahine ho gaye mere, abhi tak trial bhi nahi hua hai"- said a female who seemed to be standing out from the crowd, She danced, and danced like a drunkard. She says she is fed up of the system and wants to accept what it wants to make of her. To be the insane she is told to be. To be Proud of the insanity...I cant really say whether she is innocent or guilty, But certainly our Prizons are guilty of one thing, of humiliating the very substance a persons lives with. 

Ok now drifting to a light mode... 

“Gents ke protection ke liye aaya hoon” – giggles the only male constable in a matriarch hall where pairs of females are trying air humping tricks as part of their dance sessions. Sister looks on, then joins, and she’s doing it good  J, perhaps the African Influence has overshadowed her inhibition. I burst into laughter with the air humping taking a vile route. Atleast the miasma surrounding the walls seem to be gone. And after this African Sojurn we end up the first day of our endeavor, just hoping for a more enigma tomorrow.