Tihar women inmates witness Kuchipudi for the first time

On the occasion of International Women's Day, well-known Kuchipudi exponent Meenu Thakur was invited to the Central Jail at Mandoli, New Delhi, to present a Kuchipudi recital. Mandoli Jail has been in operation only since July 2017 in order to ease the accommodation problems faced by Tihar Jail. The enthusiastic women inmates numbering around 150, witnessed a Kuchipudi dance performance for the first time in their life. As Meenu danced on a brass plate, there was generous applause from the inmates and security personnel. Meenu also explained the intricacies of each dance item and impressed upon the connect between body, soul and God, in classical dance. As expected from a dancer of Meenu's stature, the performance was flawless and was appreciated by all present.

Rekha Sharma, the Superintendent of Jail No. 16 thanked Meenu for her efforts towards social inclusion of women in arts. She impressed upon the need to include recreational endeavours in jails, especially among women inmates. The occasion was graced by senior jail officials.