MANGALDAI, Aug 19 - The silent literary journey by the undertrial prisoners (UTPs) of Mangaldai District Jail behind iron bars and within the high-rise boundary walls under tight security has completed three years.
The completion of three glorious years of the literary journey was marked by publication of the third edition of the wall magazine titled Karalipi, a collection of literary works contributed by the undertrial prisoners and published in the hand written form.
In this connection the inmates of the district jail under the patronage of the jail authority organised a ceremonial book release function in the jail campus on Wednesday. Gurujyoti Das, MLA of Mangaldai ceremonially released the third edition of Karalipi magazine in the presence of several prominent persons, including Deputy Commissioner of Darrang Ashok Kumar Barman, Additional District & Session Judge of Darrang Arunima Deka, Additional Deputy Commissioners Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati and Pankaj Chakravarty respectively, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Mangaldai Bijay Kumar Singh, senior physician and popular cultural activist Dr Anjanjyoti Choudhury and veteran woman activist Rani Devi, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Das explained how the news of exemplary literary activities by the jail inmates spread far and wide and even the Chief Minister took personal interest while listening to him in this regard.
�Recently, I have met Sarbananda Sonowal and when I narrated before him the exceptional culture of the jail inmates, he evinced much interest and highly appreciated the jail inmates,� MLA Das mentioned. He urged the prisoners to carry forward their literary journey even after they are released from prison.
Similarly, addressing the function, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman appealed to the inmates not to suffer from inferiority complex and develop their self- confidence based on their ability. He hoped that Mangaldai District Jail with its talent pool and forward-looking inmates can become an example of ideal jail within the country.
�I am very much hopeful that the way the inmates of the jail have involved themselves in literary creative works, the time is not far off when Mangaldai District Jail will become the most ideal jail within the nation,� Deputy Commissioner Barman maintained.
On the other hand, Dr Anjanjyoti Choudhury while talking in his usual jovial style brought smiles on the faces of the jail inmates. Stressing all along on positive thinking, he urged the jail inmates to nurture reformative ideas. Prior to that, Dr Choudhury formally released the fourth edition of the hand-written wall magazine Karalipi.
Earlier, while explaining the objectives of the function, Jailor Munindra Nath Sarma presented a brief account of the history of the literary journey which was conceived on Independence Day in 2015. The function was compered by Arupjyoti Deka, chief editor of Karalipi. As a part of the itinerary, a Jikir and a chorus were presented by the inmates.
