Inmates serve as radio jockeys for Azad Vaani, a thrice-daily broadcast created to entertain, inspire, and rehabilitate prisoners in Bhubaneswar’s Jharpada jail. They produce a variety of content, from drama to news updates, which help them find purpose and hope.
A group of unassuming prisoners bear the torch of transformation in the depths of Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar of Odisha, where the weight of incarceration presses heavily on each soul.
They have their own signature introductory lines. Harpal, with his spirited cry of “Mast Punjabi”, Lakshman, the rhythmic herald of “One Two Ka Four, Four Two Ka One”, and the enigmatic Brajneesh, who weaves spells with his introduction, “Jiski Baaton Mein Hai Jadu, Apka Apna Benarasi Babu”.
These are not just inmates. They are the voices behind the bars, the radio jockeys of “Azaad Vaani”.
In the unforgiving confines of their prison cells, these men, along with others, shape the airwaves into a lifeline of hope. Unlike the celebrity RJs of the outside world, they are the little-known bards of confinement, gifted with a singular mission – to entertain, inspire, and perhaps, to mend. Their voice carries through the prison’s tannoy to every cell within the heavily guarded complex.
Azad Vaani, ironically named, resonates within the prison. It’s a thrice-daily broadcast, a symphony of resilience, created by the prisoners, for the prisoners. This is no ordinary radio. It’s the heart of a remarkable initiative by the jail authorities to reform and rehabilitate inmates, infused with the benevolence of the Amulya Jeevan Foundation.
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Idle time, they say, is the prisoner’s silent tormentor. To combat its grip, Azad Vaani was born. It is a lifeline, a creative oasis for the countless souls behind bars. Avinash Khemka, the founder of Amulya Jeevan Foundation, believes in the cathartic power of this endeavour, a channel for self-reflection and self-confidence.
“Many prisoners in jails are undertrials. We’re providing them with something meaningful, creative, and skilful,” said Khemka. According to Odisha’s Director General of Prisons Manoj Chabra, the radio station helps the inmates “acquire new-age skills that can make them employable when they are released from jail”.
In the heart of Jharpada’s jail complex lies a room of transformation. Sound-proof walls cradle it, while monitors, mixing consoles, microphones, and amplifiers breathe life into it. It’s from this chamber that the jailhouse RJs unleash their voices upon the world in three sessions every day.
This remarkable journey began in December last year. Komal Jyoti, a celebrated RJ from Radio Chocolate, a local private radio station, became their mentor. From drama to interviews, they ventured into the vast landscape of radio production, bringing a taste of the outside world to their captive audience.
The content includes regular updates from local courts relating to news of convictions and acquittals.
“We started with around six of them on Day One. The number went up to 20 within a few days. The idea was to train them on all aspects of radio production from marketing to programming. It soon became a platform to express their creativity,” Komal said.
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Vipin, one of the jail’s RJs, uplifts his fellow prisoners with words of encouragement during his broadcasts. Harpal, ensnared under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, pours his heart into Hindi and Punjabi rap, letting the rhythm of his verses transcend the confines of his cell.
Chitranjan from Bhopal, imprisoned for half a decade in Jharpada, attests to the transformative power of this initiative. “We have become more caring. We feel more responsible towards others,” he said, underscoring the profound impact of Azad Vaani.
Strikingly, these jailhouse RJs had no prior tryst with the world of communication. Yet, they bloomed in this newfound avenue, using it to paint their narratives of redemption. With the keys to the airwaves in hand, they are charting a course for the day they step out of captivity.
For Harpal, the dream takes root in the form of a family podcast. He aspires to teach his wife and daughter the art of broadcasting, to ensure that his newfound skill doesn’t wither away, much like the years behind bars.
Jharpada jail’s airwaves whisper tales of transformation, resilience, and the enduring hope that even behind bars, voices can break free.
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The lead image shows two prison inmates performing in the presence of a senior police official (Photo by Amulya Jeevan Foundation)
Aishwarya Mohanty is an independent journalist based in Odisha. She reports on the intersection of gender, social justice, rural issues and the environment. She is also a Rural Media Fellow powered by Youth Hub.
