The beautiful side of a somber face!

It reminds me of a little moral story; most of you too must have heard it, the story of Lord Krishna and the dog. Briefly the story goes Lord Krishna was walking with one of his friends when they spotted a howling dog infected by rabies with dripping blood and pus from his wounds. Such was the stinking animal’s condition that ever passerby skipped seeing the dreadful animal. Lord Krishna’s friend reacted no differently. O! Lord he said what a pitiable condition of the animal; I cannot bear this sight even for a moment and feel like vomiting. Lord Krishna smiled and remarked, how shining and white his teeth are. Hearing this everyone around was astonishingly amazed by the answer. Lord reiterated the same and pointed out there is always a good side in every bad/ugly thing and in every situation how terrible and unpleasant it is.

The point I am trying to make of the story is not much different from the plot of this piece.

Appreciating art, literature and music I get pleasure and involve myself in these when time permits of my professional work and family commitments for personal satisfaction and learning. The easiest ways one can have a glimpse of art, literature; music and a taste of culture whether it’s from Uttarakhand and/or elsewhere around the country are through the many fairs put up every year by government all across the country. In Dehradun the fair season is from October to February usually held at the Parade Ground. The fair’s undoubtedly are with an intent to encourage artists, craftsmen and offer a glimpse of the art, culture and traditional food of different places around the State and the country for the public to enjoy who may otherwise not get to know of it.

Over the past many years, the different fairs I visited in Dehradun, I could spot a very distinctive and regular exhibitor - the Uttarakhand Police Department. Well you may wonder what the Police may have to showcase. I had the same thought when I first saw the Police exhibition booth at a fair, many years ago.

The one thing that can be unhesitatingly said about the Uttarakhand Police Department is their good initiative of displaying the products manufactured by the jail (prisons) inmates and under trials at most of the exhibitions and local fairs. The two exhibition booths usually by the Dehradun and Haridwar prisons are a regular displayer of products manufactured by their inmates.

Although one will remain a distance when it comes to anything related with Police and/or the prisons, but not here in these exhibitions and fairs.

Amazingly each of the two exhibition booths are stacked with magnificent pieces of handcrafted items each better than the other. One can actually see the beautiful side of the crude face here. Seeing the products it only amazes of the creativity and skill of the otherwise hated and discarded. With no comments on any jail inmate and/or any under trial what so ever grave their crime may or may not for which they are in captivity, but seeing the wonderful skill each one have feels like giving them a pat on this account.

The beautiful products manufactured by the jail inmates as their daily chores in the prison where each one does a job best suited for his/her ability and liking. This is a reform cum self-sustaining skill being taught. The process also keeps the jail occupants busy while skill those to respectfully earn their livelihood once released. Indeed they earn while they learn in prison. Needless to say, the money earned for items manufactured and displayed at these Jail Exhibition booths go to the kitty of jail inmates earnings. Replicating this initiative, if not done so far, at other prisons by the Police Department will be a good idea.

From beautiful wooden furniture, wooden mementos to mats, carpets, stitched shirts, woolen and hand-loom items woven by the jail inmates each are so perfectly done job that they are at par with the best manufactured in the market.

The sparrow house, the small multipurpose foldable wooden table for working while sitting on the bed are the most sought after item here at these booths. The mats and small carpets too fetch good buyers as all the products are very fancy besides being reasonably priced.

Talking to Mullaji, as he is known, the face of Dehradun and Haridwar prison at most of the exhibitions over the years, I recently learnt from him that seeing the fine workmanship of the wooden furniture and other products they have received some order for furniture making from even the Chief Ministers office, residence and State Secretariat. Sure, such initiatives at the highest level will go a long way in encouraging the jail inmates and ultimately help in their reform.

A laughable phenomenon however seen at these exhibitions is the way a visitor to the fair approaches the Jail booths. I have personally noticed most people only approach these booths one after the other with few making the first move to go there. This certainly keeps many prospective buyers at bay. Probably the hesitation to shop at these booths is because of standing under the big dangling banner displaying “Dehradun Karagar (prison)” and “Haridwar Karagar”. If this be modified with a better name that focuses on the handicrafts displayed and not the intimidating name of “Karagar, Jail or Prison” it can attract more buyers.

I am a usual shopper of big and small products from these exhibition booths. My purchases are not out of any charity or a feeling of pity but truly appreciating the quality and workmanship of the products displayed and certainly the prices.

Don’t miss a chance to shop around the Dehradun and Haridwar Jail exhibition booth at the ongoing National Handloom Expo at the Parade Ground for the next two weeks. The products there are worth the price. Also, your purchases can go towards someone’s reformation, so don’t miss the noble cause as well.