Phoolon Ka Taron Ka, Sabka Kahna hai: Dehradun Jail Radio Celebrated Raksha Bandhan with Special Programming
Dehradun, Uttarakhand: “Phoolon Ka Taron Ka, Sabka Kehna Hai” from the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna was the star of its time. Released in 1971, few could have imagined that decades later this timeless melody would echo as an iconic song on the prison radio of District Jail, Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
District Jail, Dehradun celebrated Raksha Bandhan today with a special edition of its prison radio broadcast, continuing a five‑year tradition of using radio as a tool for communication, healing, and reform in the jail.
A Model of Communication behind Bars Since 2021
Dehradun Jail Radio was inaugurated on 30 September 2021, making it the only prison radio in Uttarakhand. The initiative was conceived by Professor (Dr.) Vartika Nanda, Founder of the Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF), after Pavan Kothari, Jailor of District Jail, Dehradun, reached out to her following her feature article "Salakhon Mein Rang Bharta Radio," published in Dainik Jagran on 11 April, 2021. Since its inauguration, the station has stood as an example of how structured, inmate-run communication can reshape life in a prison, offering education, information and entertainment to those incarcerated.
Songs to Mark the Occasion
To mark Raksha Bandhan, the jail radio prominently featureD festive Hindi songs celebrating the bond between siblings, including "Bhaeeya mere rakhi ke bandhan ko nibhana”, “ Behna ne bhai kee kalai se” and some other popular Raksha Bandhan classics, adding a festive and emotional resonance to the day's broadcast, reminding inmates of ties beyond prison walls and offering a sense of belonging and hope.
Five Inmates, Including Two Women, Now Run the Station
The jail radio is currently run by five inmates, including two women lodged in the jail, who work together to produce and broadcast its daily programming. Their voices carried warmth and sincerity, turning the broadcast into a collective celebration that touched every corner of the jail. It was April this year, when TTF announced Tinka Jail Paathshala, encouraging inmates to read literary stories to other inmates through the radio and the podcast run by the foundation.
A Growing Voice of Popularity and Respect
Over the years, Dehradun Jail Radio has earned considerable popularity and respect among the inmate community, becoming an integral part of daily life inside the jail and a trusted source of information, entertainment and emotional support.
Recognised by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand has personally addressed inmates through the jail radio in 2023, underlining the initiative's growing recognition at the highest levels of the state government. Tinka Jail Radio in Dehradun। Uttarakhand ।जेल। Tinka Tinka Foundation
Presented at Uttarakhand Conference by Dr. Vartika Nanda
In April, a conference organised by the Uttarakhand State Legal Authority, also witnessed an exclusive presentation on the journey of Dehradun Jail Radio and its impact on the prison population. Dr. Vartika Nanda, who conceptualised and executed the initiative, presented a special paper tracing its evolution since 2021. This was done in the presence of eminent jurists and prison officials.
Documented in Radio in Prison
The journey of Dehradun Jail Radio has been well documented in Radio in Prison, published by the National Book Trust (NBT), Government of India. This book highlights how prison radio has become a transformative tool in Indian prisons, including Agra, Dehradun and the jails of Haryana. Radio in Prison। Book Launch। 1st book in India on जेल रेडियो। Vartika Nanda। National Book Trust
Broadcast Hours Extended for Raksha Bandhan
Dehradun Jail Radio typically broadcasts for three hours each day, but on Raksha Bandhan the schedule was extended to five hours to embrace the festive spirit. Jailor Pavan Kothari shared that special arrangements were made for inmates whose siblings could not visit. In such cases, fellow inmates stepped in to fill that emotional void, ensuring no one felt left out. These thoughtful gestures were announced through the prison radio, spreading joy and reinforcing the sense of family in the jail.
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