
Professor Vartika Nanda
Journalism, Media Education & Jails
Sep 25, 2026
2026: Tinka Tinka Foundation: The Journey

Tinka Tinka Workshop: डॉ. अंबेडकर अंतरराष्ट्रीय केंद्र
डॉ. अंबेडकर अंतरराष्ट्रीय केंद्र, हिंदुस्तानी भाषा अकादमी एवं तिनका तिनका फाउंडेशन के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में
🗓️ 07 अक्टूबर 2026
🕑 दोपहर 02:00 बजे
📍 कॉन्फ्रेंस हॉल-2, डॉ. अम्बेडकर अंतरराष्ट्रीय केंद्र, 15, जनपथ, नई दिल्ली
✍️ शोध पत्र प्रस्तुति हेतु उपविषय:
• कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता के दौर में हिंदी
• न्यूज़ रूम की भाषा और उसका प्रभाव
• नए जमाने की हिंदी, पुराने जमाने की हिंदी
• प्रिंट मीडिया की हिंदी : आज और कल
• टेलीविजन न्यूज़ की हिंदी – कितनी शुद्ध कितनी विशुद्ध
🎥 वीडियो के माध्यम से भी सहभागिता कर सकते हैं, उपयुक्त विषय या संबंधित विषय पर 2 मिनट की अवधि में वीडियो के माध्यम से अपने विचार हम तक पहुंचा सकते है। सभी सहभागियों को प्रमाण पत्र प्रदान किए जाएंगे और चयनित 3 वीडियो को सम्मानित भी किया जाएगा।
पंजीकरण 👇
☎️ संपर्क सूत्र:
99539 79433 (विनोद पाराशर)
9368004268 ( ध्रुव शिवहरे
Sep 24, 2026
Tinka Tinka Dasna, Nithari Case and Surinder Koli
जेल से रिहाई पाने का मतलब पूरी आजादी पा लेना नहीं होता. कई बार जेल पूरी जिंदगी पीछा नहीं छोड़ती. 2015 से जिस सुरिंदर कोली को मैं अक्सर जिला जेल, गाजियाबाद (डासना) में मिलती थी, वो एक दूसरा कोली था जो 2023 में अपनी रिहाई आते-आते फिर से बदल चुका था.
उसका जिक्र दो जगह विस्तार से है- एक, तिनका तिनका डासना (2016, तिनका तिनका फाउंडेशन) और दूसरी, ज से जेल (2026- प्रभात प्रकाशन)
13 years of Tinka Tinka Tihar। जेल। Vartika Nanda। Vimla Mehra। तिहाड़
Thirteen Years of Tinka Tinka Tihar: A Journey of Hope, Creativity and Prison Reform
As Tinka Tinka Tihar completes thirteen years, it stands as one of India's most remarkable prison reform initiatives, transforming the voices of incarcerated individuals into a powerful movement of literature, music, art and social change. What began in 2013 inside the walls of Tihar Jail has evolved into a nationally and internationally recognized symbol of creative rehabilitation.
The journey began with the publication of the book Tinka Tinka Tihar, co-edited by Dr. Vartika Nanda and Vimla Mehra, then Director General, Delhi Prisons. The book brought together poems written by women inmates of Jail No. 6, offering a rare and authentic glimpse into prison life through the eyes of those living it. Released on 24 September 2013 at the Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA) in New Delhi, the book created a new space for incarcerated women to express their emotions, aspirations and reflections.
Over the years, the book has travelled far beyond prison walls. It earned a place in the Limca Book of Records for its originality and has since been translated into multiple languages, including English, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi and Italian, expanding its reach across diverse audiences. A second edition was released in September 2023, marking a decade of its impact and reaffirming its relevance in discussions on prison reform and restorative justice.
Link:
The spirit of Tinka Tinka Tihar was not confined to the written word. In 2013, a musical experiment began within Tihar Jail, resulting in the creation of the song Tinka Tinka Tihar. Written by Dr. Vartika Nanda and sung by inmates, the song became the official theme song of Tihar Jail. Its musical video, produced by Lok Sabha TV and released by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in 2015, was the first film of its kind to be shot inside an Indian prison. The song celebrated the creative strength and resilience of inmates and became a powerful medium for spreading the message of reform through art. The musical video later earned recognition in the Limca Book of Records in 2017.
The initiative also inspired the creation of India's longest mural painting on the outer wall of Tihar Jail. Based on the poem Chaardiwari by inmate Seema Raghuvanshi, the wall transformed a prison boundary into a public canvas of expression and hope. Inaugurated in 2014, it remains a lasting visual symbol of the project's philosophy that creativity can flourish even in the most restrictive environments.
Over thirteen years, Tinka Tinka Tihar has become much more than a book or a song. It has developed into a movement that highlights the transformative power of literature, music and art in correctional spaces. It has encouraged dialogue on prison reform, given voice to marginalized individuals, and demonstrated that rehabilitation begins when people are seen, heard and empowered to tell their stories.
Today, as we celebrate thirteen years of Tinka Tinka Tihar, we celebrate not only a pioneering creative initiative but also the enduring belief that every individual deserves dignity, expression and a second chance. The journey continues, carrying forward a message that has resonated far beyond Tihar's walls: even in confinement, the human spirit remains free to dream, create and transform.
Sep 18, 2026
Nominations for Tinka Tinka India Awards and Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards: Year 2026:12th Year
18th September, 2026: Letter No. 2026/15
Dear Sir,
Sub: Requesting nominations for Tinka Tinka India Awards and Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards: Year 2026: 12th Year
The time has come to invite entries for Tinka Tinka India Awards and Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards for the year 2026. The theme for the national awards this year is EDUCATION IN JAIL ( जेल में शिक्षा). This is to request you to kindly circulate this announent in your department/ prisons for maximum participation.
Sep 17, 2026
IIMC, New Delhi: 17 September, 2026
आज भारतीय जन संचार संस्थान, नई दिल्ली द्वारा आयोजित राष्ट्रीय संगोष्ठी “हिन्दी पत्रकारिता के 200 वर्ष: विरासत से नवाचार तक” के अंतर्गत आयोजित सत्र - भाषा, शैली और रिपोर्टिंग के ऐतिहासिक परिवर्तन- की अध्यक्षता करने का सुंदर अवसर मिला. 1993 से लाकर अब तक इस संस्थान से जुड़ी अनगिनत यादें ताजा हो गईं. 2003 से 2006 तक बतौर एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर और यहीं से प्रकाशित पुस्तक- टेलीविजन और अफराध पत्रकारिता- को भारतेंदु हरिश्चंद्र पुरस्कार मिला था. आज के आयोजन के लिए संस्थान की कुलपति डॉा. प्रज्ञा पीलावाल गौड़, डॉ. रचना शर्मा और डॉ. मीता उज्जैन का विशेष आभार.
NHRC, MHA AND MEA: Global Summit: Tinka Tinka Foundation represented Indian Prisons: 17 September, 2026
Prof. (Dr.) Vartika Nanda, Indian Prison Reformer, Media Educator and Founder, Tinka Tinka Foundation, delivered a session on “Life Behind Bars: A Human Rights Perspective” on Day-4 of the ITEC Capacity-Building Programme for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). This 6-day program was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Prof. Nanda further shared inspiring stories of individual transformation, including the publication of women prisoner’s literary work- “Tinka Tinka Tihar – 2013,” re-released by Director General, Delhi Prisons in 2023. Radio in Prison by National Book Trust and J se Jail by Prabhat Prakashan were also mentioned.
Sep 16, 2026
Blog as a learning platform: Batch 2028: Department of Journalism, LSR
Blog as a learning platform: Batch 2028: Department of Journalism, LSR
Aarya Raina(24/060):Writing blogs has been a deeply enriching academic experience, pushing me to research and express my thoughts like never before. It’s not just about putting words on a page; it has become a process of discovery, allowing me to develop a more thoughtful and structured approach to expressing my ideas. I now feel as if my writing serves a bigger purpose, contributing to a broader conversation and making an impact beyond the classroom. This journey has boosted my confidence and sparked an excitement for future writing ventures, where I can continue to challenge myself and grow.
Sep 15, 2026
My journey with Doordarshan since 80's
For me, the first memory of DD comes from the 80's when as a child artist, I used to visit Jalandhar Doordarshan frequently. Those were the days of tension and fear because Punjab was going through a turbulent phase of terrorism. We witnessed curfews, killings and complete disruption. Despite this, there was Doordarshan, our lifeline. My first entry to DD changed my life forever. From being the youngest anchor on television in Asia at that time, DD opened a vast platform of learning for me. Little did I know at that time that my weekly program would lead me to the world of broadcasting and design the path of my life. Today, as a Professor of Journalism, I bow in gratitude to Doordarshan, the world's largest public service broadcaster, for shaping my journey and inspiring generations of storytellers. My book, Radio in Prison, has some specific mention about this.
Sep 14, 2026
हिंदी दिवस पर कला के माध्यम से भाषा का उत्सव: Government Observation Home, Udham Singh Nagar: DLSA
Sep 11, 2026
20 years of the blog
This year, www.vartikananda.blogspot.com completes twenty years.
What began as a personal digital space gradually evolved into an academic companion for students, researchers, and young learners. Across two decades, the blog has served as a repository of lecture notes, reading materials, classroom reflections, field observations, academic insights, and documentation of college life.
Long before digital learning became commonplace, the blog offered students access to supplementary academic resources beyond the classroom. It became a space where discussions on literature, media, society, gender, prisons, human rights, and social change could continue after lectures had ended. Notes prepared for students, recommended readings, references, and reflections found a permanent place on its pages.
The blog has also documented the rhythms of campus life: seminars, workshops, cultural events, student initiatives, field visits, interactions, and the everyday experiences that shape learning outside textbooks. These records today constitute a valuable archive of academic journeys, intellectual growth, and institutional memory.
For students, documentation is more than record-keeping. It is a way of preserving ideas, tracking learning, and creating knowledge resources for future generations. Notes written today often become references tomorrow. Reflections recorded during college years frequently evolve into research questions, articles, books, and lifelong scholarly pursuits.
As the blog enters its third decade, its purpose remains unchanged: to encourage reading, critical thinking, careful observation, and meaningful engagement with the world. More importantly, it seeks to remind students that learning does not end when a class concludes. It continues through reading, writing, documenting, questioning, and sharing knowledge.
Twenty years later, this blog stands not merely as a website, but as a living archive of academic life, student learning, and the enduring value of documenting knowledge.
Sep 10, 2026
Class test for the paper IOJ
9 September 2026
What: We answered 6 questions : definition of news , hard vs. soft news, attribution, embargo, fairness, and the 5W1H formula.
When: Today, 9th September 2026.
Where: In our IOJ Lecture period.
Why: The test pushed us to actually think about why news works the way it does. Defining "news" made us realize how subjective newsworthiness can be. Comparing hard and soft news help us understand the tone and purpose shift the whole structure of a story. Attribution and embargo made us understand how much trust and timing shape credible reporting, and fairness in journalism is as much an ethical practice as a technical one.
How: By writing full-length answers of 5 marks each.
TOTAL : 30 marks test.
Sep 7, 2026
Book Review: Ja se Jail: जेल की मिट्टी असंभव को भी संभव कर सकती है
"जेल की मिट्टी में वो ताक़त है कि वह असंभव को भी संभव कर सकती है, इंसान में 'जज़्बा' होना चाहिए।" रामधनी द्विवेदी
उपन्यास - ‘ ज से जेल’
लेखिका – वर्तिका नंदा
प्रकाशक – प्रभात प्रकाशन
मूल्य’- 400/- पेज 200
“कुछ के लिए रिहाई वो नहीं जो सरकार देती है, रिहाई वो जो स्थायी तौर पर ईश्वर देता है। ईश्वर का जीवंत रूप जेल में हो सकता है, यह कहां, किसने सोचा था। यहां पर आत्मा का परमात्मा से मिलन भी हो सकता है। जेल से दिखने वाले आधे आकाश से पूरी दुनिया का सीधा साक्षात्कार। अंधेरे में रौशनाई मिल गई तो फिर इस दुनिया की हस्ती ही क्या है। जेल की रिहाई से बड़ी है- दुनिया से रिहाई औऱ अध्यात्म में पिरोई सांसों की माला।“
(उपन्यास 'ज से जेल' से)
~ प्रो. डॉ. वर्तिका नंदा (प्रसिद्ध जेल सुधारक और मीडिया शिक्षक)
"ज से जेल" एक अत्यंत प्रभावशाली और आत्म-चिंतन से भरी रचना है। "ज से जेल" केवल एक शब्द का सफर नहीं है बल्कि यह मानवीय संवेदनाओं, संघर्षों और जीवन के उन अनकहे पहलुओं का दस्तावेज़ है, जिन्हें हम अक्सर नजरअंदाज कर देते हैं।
पुस्तक का शीर्षक जितना सरल और वर्णमाला के एक अक्षर जैसा प्रतीत होता है, इसकी गहराई उतनी ही अगाध है। यह जेल के काले घेरों के भीतर की दुनिया को एक नई दृष्टि से देखता है। वर्तिका जी ने जेल के केवल भौतिक वातावरण का चित्रण नहीं किया है, बल्कि उन कैदियों के मन की घुटन, पछतावे, और उनसे भी परे—मानवीय गरिमा की तलाश को अत्यंत सूक्ष्मता से उकेरा है। उनकी वर्णनात्मक क्षमता इतनी सजीव है कि पाठक स्वयं को उस कालकोठरी की दीवारों के पास खड़ा महसूस करता है। जो भी संवाद हैं, वे सीधे हृदय को भेदते हैं। लेखिका ने जेल को केवल एक सज़ा के स्थान के रूप में नहीं, बल्कि आत्म-सुधार और आत्म-बोध के एक केंद्र के रूप में प्रस्तुत करने का साहसिक प्रयास किया है। पुस्तक कहीं भी भावुकता में बहकर यथार्थ से दूर नहीं होती।
जेल में बंद हर व्यक्ति एक कहानी है, और यहाँ हर कहानी को पूरी ईमानदारी से जगह दी गई है। साथ ही जेल की तिनका तिनका यात्रा की कुछ छवियां भी उकेरी गईं हैं जैसे कि जेल का रेडियो। इससे उपन्यास यथार्थ की जमीन पर दिखता है
"ज से जेल" उन पाठकों के लिए अनिवार्य है जो साहित्य में गहराई, संवेदनशीलता और समाज के उन हिस्सों को पढ़ना चाहते हैं जहाँ रोशनी कम पहुँचती है। यह पुस्तक आपको केवल पढ़नी नहीं है, बल्कि इसे महसूस करना है। यह आपको मजबूर करेगी कि आप न्याय, कानून और मानव स्वभाव के बारे में अपनी बनी-बनाई धारणाओं पर फिर से विचार करें। यह पुस्तक जेल की दीवारों के पीछे उपस्थित जेल अधिकारियों और बंदियों को भी पढ़नी चाहिए, संभव है कि उनकी प्रकृति, स्वभाव और संवेदना में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन हो जाये।
"ज से जेल" एक पठनीय, विचारोत्तेजक, सार्थक और संग्रहणीय कृति है। यह पहला मौका कि जेल पर जिसने लिखा है, वह पत्रकार, लेखक, शिक्षक, जेल सुधारक और जेल पर लगातार काम करती बेहद सकारात्मक महिला है। तिनका तिनका का जेल में हो रहा यज्ञ इस किताब में उपस्थित है. शायद इसीलिए इस पुस्तक को एक प्रार्थना का नाम भी दिया गया है। भारत में कभी भी जेल साहित्य की बात होगी तो ज से जेल का जिक्र अब हर हाल में होगा।
Sep 5, 2026
Teachers' Day, 2026
This Teachers’ Day was truly special and deeply meaningful. The morning began at the Aanganwadi Hub in Burari, where I had the opportunity to witness inspiring initiatives dedicated to the welfare of women and children. My sincere thanks to Dr. Rashmi Singh, IAS, for making this enriching experience possible.
Later, I visited the Place of Safety at Majnu Ka Teela with Dr. Singh, where I interacted with young offenders in the presence of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Ms. Puneeta Roy. The conversations were eye-opening and offered valuable insights into the possibilities of rehabilitation, hope, and transformation. A particularly memorable moment was the opportunity to present my book, J Se Jail, to Justice Lokur, whose longstanding commitment to justice and human rights has been a source of inspiration.
Teachers' Day: Sanjana Sanghi in TOI: 5th September, 2026
A delightful Teachers' Day surprise from Delhi Times! This photograph with my former student, Sanjana Sanghi, was featured as part of the newspaper's special tribute to teachers. Sanjana graduated in 2018 and has gone on to become a successful Bollywood star. Yet, beyond her fame and accomplishments, I will always remember her as a sincere, disciplined, and dedicated student. Watching her journey unfold has been both heartening and inspiring.
5th September, 2026: Teachers’ Day: Majnu ka Teela: Place of Safety
5th September, 2026: Teachers’ Day: Majnu ka Teela:
It was a deeply enriching learning experience to visit the Place of Safety at Majnu Ka Tila, Delhi, with Dr. Rashmi Singh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of Delhi. The facility, which has a capacity of 206, provides a unique insight into the rehabilitation of young offenders. Interacting with the residents was truly eye-opening and offered valuable perspectives on their journeys and aspirations.
SAMARTH Anganwadi Hub: Delhi Government: Teachers' Day: 5 September, 2026
On the occasion of Teachers Day, a visit to SAMARTH Anganwadi Hub in Burari along with Dr. Rashmi Singh Secretary WCD GNCTD, @drrashmisinghias was truly insightful. It was a pleasure to seen the effort put by Aanganwadi teachers for shaping young minds. Also learnt about the journey from Saheli Samanvay Kendra to integrated hub model where poshan, padhai, palna coexist.
Sep 4, 2026
J se Jail: Book Release Ceremony: Report: Transcontinental Times: 21 July, 2026
Vartika Nanda’s ‘J Se Jail’ Explores the Human Realities of Prison Life
Book released by Supreme Court Judge Justice Sandeep Mehta at IGNCA, with speakers highlighting prison reform, rehabilitation and the experiences of inmates
Sep 2, 2026
Elderly & terminally Ill prisoners। Justice Sandeep Mehta। Justice Vikram Nath। Tinka Tinka Jail Radio Podcast
Elderly & terminally Ill prisoners
The Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to put in place, within three months, a uniform policy governing the premature release of elderly and terminally ill prisoners, observing that such inmates are entitled to a humane and time-bound mechanism for remission or early release on compassionate grounds.
Newspaper Making | Department of Journalism | Batch of 2026-2029। LSR
Group A- Yashi, Manshita,Pritha,Pranvi,Divyanshi,Nishika,Warya
DASTAK
While making this newsletter, we learnt and understood several things. We learnt how to work as a team despite our differences. We learnt how to coordinate with one another and respect the opinions of our team members. We learnt how to present information in an interesting and educational way. Through this newsletter, we were also able to sharpen our creative and analytical skills. It also strengthened our understanding of the concepts we learnt about in class. It further helped us realise the purpose of a newsletter better.
Group B- Raaina, Sana, Ayesha, Ananya,Mariam,Manjushree,Kirti
THE FOURTH VOICE
Through this project, we were able to take our understanding a step forward, beyond the theoretical concepts. We gained hands-on experience in making a newspaper, which required extensive research and the skills to collect and filter information. We studied prominent newspapers in order to understand their layout and design. We referred to The Hindu to get a basic idea of the byline and dateline. We studied the formatting of headlines and stories from Hindustan Times and referred to The Times of India for the front page.
We understood that news production is not just about collecting information, but also about presenting it in a manner that makes it easy to comprehend. At the same time, we learnt how to consolidate information, filter out relevant facts, and make selections through a journalistic lens. Through this process, we also learnt the skill of presenting nuanced concepts with objectivity and balance. Beyond this, the project strengthened our time-management and organisational skills. Working with a deadline required us to plan and divide our work, while coordinating individual contributions.
Through this project, we studied various newspapers and developed an in-depth practical understanding of how news is selected, organised, and presented to a wide audience. The project also helped us explore our creativity and present information in a fun, engaging, yet purposeful way. We developed important skills such as planning, time management, working under pressure, coordination, collaboration, and organisation. Working as a team helped us apply classroom concepts in a practical setting, making us more confident, creative, and responsible in our approach to journalistic work.
GROUP C REPORT- Riya, Aliya, Muskan, Harshita, Jaya, Drishti, Vaishnavi
The LSR Gazette
Our newsletter focuses on some of the basic yet important concepts and topics of journalism which includes :
1) Meaning of journalism and news.
2) The difference between hard and soft news.
3) And the role of embargo in reporting.
3) Discussion on fairness, objectivity, and balance with examples.
we have highlighted how these principles help journalists present information responsibly, accurately without unnecessary bias because it allows the readers to form their own opinions.
**LEARNINGS REPORT*:
1. Our first learning started with making of draft.This process taught us how to compile the ideas decide, the content and framework .
2. The most important thing we learned is importance of cooperation. We realised that creating newspaper was not just about completing our individual task,it was about listening each other.
3. We got to learn about representation of idea's such as using eye catching headlines, deciding the design of different pages etc.
4. Got to research , revise and learn all the topics again so that it got settled in brain for forever.
GROUP D REPORT -
LSR TIMES-
BEHIND THE SCENES OF LSR TIMES.
As a part of our group assignment, our group of eight which had Janya, Prachee, Menang, Mehak, Ananya, Devanshi, Baani & Naina put out a newsletter called 'LSR TIMES'. It was built around the theme of our paper - 'Introduction to Journalism'. Sticking to the basics we mentioned topics we have actually studied including *what news actually is*, *the difference between hard news and soft news*, *a few definitions of news by scholars* and the *basic of news*. Alongside the core contents we also dedicated a page to Games like Sudoku & Crossword pages.
We had some major learnings.
*PROPER PRESENTATION*: We learned how to present facts in such a way that someone flipping through the newsletter actually understands it without getting bored. We had to constantly edit to know how much text was appropriate and where a visual or gap was required.
*TEAMWORK* One of the most important learning that we had was to work as a team and still put out the best of us individually. We figured out how to split the sections fairly so that neither of us is under or overworked.
*PROBLEM SOLVING* We learned how to effortlessly blend ideas & writing styles of different members after major discussions and some disagreements.
*RESEARCH* We learned how to actually dig for the right information instead of just picking the first definition present. We constantly checked sources and learned the importance of authenticity before mentioning anything officially.
*TIME MANAGEMENT*- Another extremely important thing we learnt from this engaging group project is how to complete the work effectively within the given time frame and meet the deadlines given. Even though everyone had to work individually, we communicated and coordinated with each other, which helped us complete the project successfully and on time.
And at the end apart from everything, we learned as a group. Everyone of us had different skills. Some were extremely creative and some were great at writing, we ended up picking up skills from one another along the way everyday.
Putting this together taught us more than any assignment ever could.











.jpeg)


.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)

.jpeg)
.jpeg)


.jpeg)



.jpeg)

.jpeg)
.jpeg)




.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)



