Inside prison walls

Bringing the most positive and creative side of prisons, a book titled 'Tinka Tinka Madhya Pradesh', was recently released by Kiren Rijiju, MOS. Written by prison reformer Vartika Nanda, this book makes an original attempt in engaging 19 people – twelve men, two women, four children (lodged with their mothers), and a Prahari from the prisons of Madhya Pradesh. It's interesting to note that all four kids are below the age of six, and three of them were born in prison.

An orchestra of art, creativity, and change inside prisons, it is designed as a miniature version of a traditional coffee table book. With 160 pages and costs Rs 995, the book is based on Vartika Nanda's journey to different prisons of Madhya Pradesh.

Tinka Tinka Foundation acts as a bridge between the prisons, judiciary, and society. It is the first publisher in the world dedicated entirely to prison literature. Tinka Tinka Madhya Pradesh is the third in the series of books published on prisons in India. The first book, 'Tinka Tinka Tihar', presents a collection of poems published by the women inmates of Tihar Jail.

Tinka Tinka Dasna, the second book, records the journey of five individuals whose lives changed after being sentenced to life imprisonment in Dasna Prison, and their search for meaning within their altered circumstances.

However, 'Tinka Tinka Madhya Pradesh' is dedicated to the children who live in prisons either with their mothers or fathers. In India, there are 1800 children who are in prisons.