Every afternoon, for three hours, loudspeakers at the Byculla District Prison crackle to life, not with official pronouncements, but with the vibrant strains of music. Between Hindi film songs and an occasional English tune, a chirpy voice reminds listeners that they have tuned into the Prison Radio show. Prison radio shows may not be an entirely new concept but what sets this programme apart is its hostess – Rani (not her real name), a 24-year-old undertrial who is the first female radio jockey in a state prison.
“You might think all is lost, but it’s not,” her voice booms over the speakers. She then plays a fellow inmate’s ‘farmaish’ (song request) and listeners erupt in cheers in their barracks. Rani was incarcerated on charges of cheating around eight months ago. A graduate in business financial management with a stint in a production house and theatre, she saw the RJ position as an opportunity, a chance to hone her skills and build a future beyond the prison walls. “I look at it as adding to my skill set when I seek employment once I’m out,” she told TOI.
The prison radio initiative at Byculla District Prison was inaugurated in December 2023 by additional director general of prisons Amitabh Gupta. At the time of the launch, Gupta had said “The prison houses individuals facing diverse charges. They grapple with anxieties about their families, their futures, and ongoing legal battles. The aim of the radio show is to inject a dose of positivity into their lives.” Weeks before the inauguration, prison officials scoured the Byculla complex for their hidden radio star. The complex in central Mumbai houses nearly 380 women and 390 men. Rani, who gave dance lessons to fellow inmates, emerged as one of the five finalists.
The transformation of a prison room into a makeshift studio was swift, adorned with pictures of musicians and equipment set up by an NGO working for prisoner welfare. Yet, for Rani, the initial broadcasts were laced with nervousness.
