Tihar inmates were today treated to melodious classical ragas played on flute by Grammy nominee Pt Ronu Majumdar in an inaugural session of monthly "Morning Ragas".
Almost two thousand inmates attended over an hour-long recital by Majumdar that started with Rag Ahir Bhairav, followed by a Pahari dhun and two popular compositions including Gadhiji's favorite "Vaishnav Jan" and Tagore's "Ekla Chalo".
He was accompanied by Kalpesh Sachala on the flute and Ustad Akram Khan on the tabla.
Morning Ragas initiative by Director General (Prison) Alok Kumar Verma is aimed at augmenting rehabilitation process of the inmates through music, in collaboration with Legends of India, a registered society promoting Indian art forms, said Tihar PRO Mukesh Prasad.
The musical jugalbandi of flute and tabla mesmerized and inspired the inmates and some of them later expressed their desire to learn music, he said.
Verma has asked the prison officials to find out ways and means to introduce music classes in the prison. The Legends of India has also promised to send back an instructor to give music lessons to interested inmates.
Announcing that 'Morning Ragas' will be a monthly feature, Verma said "Our efforts will help inmates guide themselves bringing in positivity into their lives and to rejuvenate them."
The musical concert, a new chapter in the history of Tihar, is intended to release the inmates from the tyranny of conscious thought and heal them. Music directly deals with the root causes of crime, violence, and addiction and offers a practical approach to emotional growth, Prasad said.
