A TRUE “RAKSHA BANDHAN” STORY FROM JALPAIGURI CORRECTIONAL HOME

Gargi Deb

Last day spent 1.5 hours in Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home witnessing the Raksha Bandhan celebration. Yes, celebration in the Jail to be precise. The sentenced and non sentenced inmate’s celebration reminded me of my Raksha Bandhan festival. I can recount those while among the convicts. A local social organization called Jalpaiguri Social and River Saving committee (Jalpaiguri Samaj O Nodi Banchao Committee) organized the Raksha Bandhan festival among the inmates of the Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home. It helped the inmates to come out of their stress of not being there among their family and friends. The interesting and significant part of the whole programme was shared by the people from various walks of life like the press personnel, administrative personnel, political leaders etc. Not to forget the role of the correctional home employees. The total number of inmates here is estimated around 1300. Many of them are political prisoners, terrorism prisoners and other general prisoners. For many reasons or so they are staying here for the last two or more years. During Raksha Bandhan Sukumar, Pradip (inmates) can remember their family. They can see their sisters tying Rakhi in their wrists. They can remember their days spent with their family during this festival day. Yesterday many of the family members like Sisters have come here to tie the Rakhi knot to their dear ones, who are celled here. However, it was not the case for inmates like Majida Bibi, Lakshmi Sarkar,  Sukumar and many others. The concerned social organization has made the arrangement to bring smiles in their face. The main celebration has taken place in the community hall of the Correctional home. On behalf of the Press Personnel the importance of Raksha Bandhan and its association with Rabindranath Tagore’s celebration was explained. Other dignitaries also expressed their view point. Mr. Sanjib Chatterjee, the convenor of the social organization said that the main objective of this celebration was to at least remove the distress from the face of the inmates at least for this day. Majida bibi, an inmate is being celled here for the last 12 years; she expressed happiness by tying the Rakhi to the other inmates of the home. Similar is the story of Sukumar and others. In other words, a truthful Raksha Bandhan away from chocolates, multiplex show or KFC outing.