Page 48 - 31OCT2019E

Is prison tourism Now even normal and
law-abiding citizens may get
first-hand experience of what life
coming to Tihar? is like within the walls of Asia’s
biggest prison housing notorious
criminals, reports Pari Saikia

ver imagined yourself walk- side, the tourists would experience the reality show, the only difference here
ing in and out of a prison like a life of a real prisoner — wearing uni- is that these visits will not be aired nor
boss, that too on your free will? form, eating the food served to inmates, will the visitors get a luxury budget or an
Sounds impossible, right? Well, sleeping in the cells on floors, doing immunity task to win. It will be a real
E in coming few months this will chores, etc. Not to forget, while the visi- challenge and way tougher than one
become a reality as the Tihar Prison, In- tors experience all of these, they would could imagine.
dia’s largest prison complex, would soon be watched over round the clock by the
welcome tourists to experience a day jail wardens. And, remember, no break- Euphoria
inside the jail. What is even more thrill- ing rules. Though there is some time for its prel-
ing is that once inaugurated, it will be In- The experience will be no less than the ude, the buzz about the Tihar jail tourism
dia’s first jail to invite tourists to live with television reality show, Big Boss, where a is already creating an euphoria among
criminals — be it most wanted gangsters, group of people are locked down inside a the locals as well as foreign tourists.
politicians or celebrities. house for some months without phone, This reporter asked a couple from
Believe it or not, Tihar Jail has always newspapers, visitors — completely cut Amsterdam, who had just finished visit-
been a fascinating spot and one of the off from the outside world. Unlike the ing ISKON temple and were now wait-
major attractions for outsiders as this
largest prison complex of South Asia has
a record of housing some of the most
high-profile names like the present Other jail tourism
Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejri-
wal, corruption crusader Anna Hazare,
former JNU president Kanhaiya Kumar, initiatives in India
Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat,
gangster Chota Ranjan, presently, former
finance minister of India, P. Chidambar- Cellular Jail , Andaman and Nicobar Islands
am and many others. The famous Cellular Jail, otherwise known as Kala Pani, is located in the Anda-
Talking to the reporter, a senior police man and Nicobar Islands. In 1969, the jail was converted into a National Memo-
official stationed in Tihar Jail said, “There rial which houses several galleries - freedom fighters gallery, exhibition gallery,
has always been a curiosity among out- art gallery and Netaji gallery among others.
siders to see how life is like inside the Cellular Jail has been open for tourists since a long time now and visitors can
Tihar prisons. So, it would be good for have a feel of it, except for national holidays. The entry fee starts from
the visitors to see themselves and expe- 30 per person, while 200 is charged for still photography and 1,000 for
rience when Tihar jail tourism opens for videography, and if you are intending to shoot a film then you have to shell out
public.” 10,000 per day after due permission. The jail authorities also hold scintillating
The Tihar Jail tourism project, themed light and sound shows depicting India’s freedom struggle in Hindi and English.
‘Feel-Like Jail’, will be open for tourists
soon at INR 2,000 ($28) per person, the
rate is subject to change, since the project
is awaiting final approval from the state
home department. There are also reports
that ‘Feel like jail’ project might be hand-
ed to the Delhi Tourism department.
A thorough background check of the
tourists will be done as a first step before
they are allowed inside the jail. Once in-