Paathshala with a difference: Education and musical renditions that are transforming lives through Tinka Jail Radio
Professor Vartika Nanda
Visit to District Jail Agra
It was a moody, overcast evening when I arrived at District Jail, Agra. The entrance stood stoic and familiar—unchanged since my first visit back in 2019, its weathered facade quietly echoing the passage of time. But as I stepped inside, the stories of change through the Tinka Jail Radio made me feel more confident as well as emotional. I have come here today to witness these changes right in front of me. As someone who had conceived and executed this jail radio, this is a moment of pride, to see how the radio has flourished.
This occasion marked six remarkable years of Agra Jail Radio, a pioneering initiative by our Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF) of which I am the founder. This jail radio has redefined communication in the prison.
The visit also commemorated one year since the release of the ICSSR-backed report, in which Agra Jail Radio emerged as a central force for change. Released in 2024 by the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, the report evaluated my extensive study on the communication needs of women inmates and their children. The findings were not only acknowledged—they were celebrated. The study was officially recognised as outstanding, highlighting the critical role of prison radio in fostering dialogue, emotional healing, and social reintegration.
Link: Dr. Vartika Nanda: Media Educator & Prison Reformer: उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्य सचिव ने डॉ0 वर्तिका नंदा की ‘उत्तर प्रदेश के विशेष संदर्भ में भारतीय जेलों पर आधारित विस्तृत शोध रिपोर्ट का विमोचन किया: 23 August, 2024
Now in 2025, the jail has evolved in subtle yet significant ways. The most striking innovation introduced in this jail in 2019 was the jail radio-a vibrant thread of sound and storytelling that weaves through the prison’s daily rhythm. It’s more than just a broadcast; it’s a voice for the voiceless, a platform for expression, and a surprising symbol of hope in the jail.
Commemorating Six Years of Agra Jail Radio: A Journey of Voice and Reform
My recent visit to District Jail, Agra, holds profound significance. It was not merely a celebration- it was a tribute to resilience, transformation, and the power of unheard voices.
Conversation with the Jail Superintendent
Once inside the jail premises, I had the opportunity to meet Superintendent Hari Om Sharma, who has been at the helm of District Jail, Agra, for the past two years. Our conversation organically gravitated toward the evolving role of jail radio—a subject close to both our hearts.
Superintendent Sharma spoke with conviction about howTinka Jail Radio has become an integral part of the prison’s daily functioning. I was happy to observe that from broadcasting crucial announcements to hosting programs on literacy and education, Tinka Jail Radio has emerged as a silent yet powerful ally in prison management. He deeply admired its role in motivating inmates to pursue academic goals, often rekindling a long-lost desire to learn.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/boRXgj-0h_A
The Rhythm of Broadcast
Each afternoon, from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, the atmosphere in District Jail, Agra, hums with life. Jail Radio takes to the airwaves, offering inmates a daily dose of connection, creativity, and calm. On special occasions, the broadcast stretches longer—sometimes four, even five hours—turning into a celebration of voices and stories that echo through the prison corridors.
Even on holidays, the radio remains a faithful companion, playing for at least three hours to ensure that no day passes in silence. Whether it's music, messages, or moments of reflection, Jail Radio has become a heartbeat in the jail—a rhythm that brings comfort, continuity, and a sense of belonging to those behind bars.
Expansion of Radio Jockeys: Voices Behind the Bars
When Agra Jail Radio first went live in 2019, it began modestly- with just three radio jockeys who dared to lend their voices to a new experiment in prison communication. Today, that number has grown to eight, reflecting not just expansion, but evolution. The original trio has since been released, and five new RJs have stepped into their shoes: Uday Singh, Ravindra, Bharat, Kuldeep, and Sachin.
During my visit, I got the opportunity to meet four of them—all undertrial inmates, each carrying a unique story and prior experience in broadcasting. Their familiarity with the mic predates their incarceration, making their transition into jail radio both natural and transformative.
For these men, jail radio is far more than a daily routine. It’s a meaningful engagement—a way to reclaim identity, channel creativity, and connect with others. It offers recreation, yes, but also redemption. In a space often defined by silence and confinement, the radio studio becomes a sanctuary of sound, purpose, and possibility. For many, it is nothing short of a lifeline.
Agra Jail Radio Playlist: https://shorturl.at/JBCPX
Music Requests and the Quiet Power of Learning
Every day, nearly 30 song requests pour into the jail radio station-each one a handwritten note, a small but powerful act of expression. Since 2019, Tinka Jail Paathshaala has upheld a simple yet transformative tradition: all music requests must be submitted in writing. What began as a logistical choice has blossomed into an unexpected educational initiative.
This practice has quietly nurtured literacy among inmates. Over time, handwriting has improved, and many prisoners—especially those who were previously illiterate—have been inspired to learn basic grammar and writing skills. The desire to hear a favorite song has become a gateway to learning, self-improvement, and dignity.
In a space where formal education often feels out of reach, these handwritten requests have become symbols of progress. They reflect not just musical preferences, but personal growth—proof that even behind bars, the human spirit continues to seek connection, creativity, and change.
Documenting Change: The Power of Programming
A dedicated register is meticulously maintained to chronicle every broadcast aired through Agra Jail Radio—a quiet testament to the discipline and purpose behind the initiative. Among the wide array of programs, those focused on literacy, education, and legal awareness consistently emerge as the most popular.
Radio in Prison: National Book Trust, India
Coming back, inmates and the jail staff were excited to hold copies of Radio in Prison, published by NBT India. They were aware that District Jail, Agra is at the centre of this book, as the most powerful study. Buy Radio in Prison Towards New-Age Reform Book Online at Low Prices in India | Radio in Prison Towards New-Age Reform Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in
The impact:
Agra Jail Radio has become more than a medium—it is a movement. It offers inmates a platform to express, connect, and rebuild. For women inmates especially, it has opened a channel to share their stories, reach their children, and reclaim their identities. In a space often defined by silence and isolation, the microphone has become a lifeline. Jail Superintendent also shared how the radio has been instrumental in addressing behavioral challenges. Programs designed to tackle indiscipline and aggression have shown promising results, fostering a more reflective and cooperative environment among inmates. What was once a tool for communication, has now become a catalyst for transformation.
Undoubtedly, the influence of the jail radio on the prison environment has been profoundly positive, fostering informed dialogue, reducing anxiety, and encouraging inmates to engage with their rights and responsibilities.
Music, too, plays a vital role in this ecosystem of reform. Among the most requested songs are the emotionally charged classics “Chitthi Aayi Hai” and “Sandese Aate Hain”—melodies that speak of longing, connection, and the enduring bond with loved ones beyond the prison walls. These requests reflect not just musical taste, but the deep emotional undercurrents that run through the lives of those incarcerated.
Together, these programs and songs form a tapestry of healing and hope—documented, preserved, and played back each day as a reminder that even in confinement, transformation is possible. Some of these transformation based stories have become a part of Tinka Jail Radio podcasts, which are also not funded by anyone like the other tasks taken up by TTF.
This visit was a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come—and how much further we must go. It reaffirmed the belief that communication is not a luxury, but a necessity. And in the echo of every broadcast, there lies the promise of reform, dignity, and hope.
Agra Jail Radio has given rhythm to silence, purpose to confinement, and dignity to those often forgotten. Each program, each song request, each handwritten note is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of communication to heal and uplift.
Future Initiatives: Envisioning the Next Chapter
During my conversation with Superintendent Hari Om Sharma, I proposed that a special program be curated to mark Teachers’ Day—an occasion that resonates deeply within the educational ethos of the jail radio initiative. The idea was met with enthusiasm, and discussions have already begun to shape new concepts that will celebrate the spirit of learning and mentorship within the prison community.
These upcoming initiatives aim to further elevate the educational and cultural impact of Agra Jail Radio. From thematic broadcasts honoring educators, to inmate-led storytelling sessions about transformative teachers in their lives, the radio is poised to become an even more dynamic platform for reflection, growth, and celebration.
As the radio continues to evolve, its role as a bridge between confinement and creativity grows stronger—offering not just information, but inspiration.
Website Link of Agra Jail Radio: https://tinkatinka.org/jail-radio/
Reflections on the Journey
As I stepped out of the gates of District Jail, Agra, a quiet sense of fulfillment washed over me. What began in 2019 as a modest experiment—a handful of voices and a borrowed microphone-has, by 2025, blossomed into a vibrant platform of hope, creativity, and transformation.
This journey is far from over. In fact, it is only just beginning. This radio and several other radios established by TTF, boast to be the most systematic prison radios in India. Despite no financial support, these radios have proven their worth. With every passing day, the radio reaches deeper into the hearts of inmates, staff, and reformers alike—poised to scale new heights, spark new ideas, and continue rewriting the narrative of incarceration in India.
Young minds are invited to join as interns and delve into a world of emotions, helping the society further. www.tinkatinka.org
#agrajailradio #oldestprison #tinkatinkafoundation #indianprisonreformer #vartikananda
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