Page 49 - 31OCT2019E

tourism

and experts in studying the psychologi-
cal behaviour of the criminals from up
close. The study could be used later for
“improving the conditions of the inmates
and those dealing with the criminals.”
What to expect:
According to an official privy to the mat-
ter, the tourists will spend a typical day
as spent by any other prisoner in Tihar.
Everything, including cooking, grinding
wheat, cleaning, getting up early in the
morning, and participating in different
ing for the cab to arrive, on whether they to stay in Tihar jail so that he can test his activities in the jail as done by the pris-
were interested in visiting Tihar Jail, to own mental and physical strength. “This oners, will be part of the schedule for the
have an experience of living in the pris- would be a self-reality check. So many visitors. however, the officials will ‘hand-
on for a day. The couple came out with a notorious criminals live inside. I don’t pick’ the convicts to be placed in the vi-
surprising reply: “Why not? It would be know how I would react when I see them cinity of the visitors.
adventurous to live like a prisoner.” but it would be worth visiting,” Sunil says The authorities shared that the tourists
Sunil Manchanda (25) a resident of with a chuckle. will be required to share the same prem-
Tilak Nagar, West Delhi, where the popu- But, Nishu (29) has a different per- ises as the convicts in these jails, to en-
lar Tihar Jail is situated, can’t wait for this spective on the ambitious scheme by able them to have a real-life experience
unique project to begin. A thrilled Sunil the government. A psychology student of jail environment.
who loves to go to the gym regularly herself, Nishu believes that Tihar Jail
said that he will definitely pay for a day tourism would benefit the psychologists letters@tehelka.com

Hijli detention camp, Midnapore, West Bengal Viper Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Built as Hijli Detention camp in 1930, the Hijli Jail is also a Another British era prison, the Viper Island prison, located
historic prison. The jail has played a significant role in the in the Andaman Nicobar Islands, witnesses an impressive
freedom struggle against the British. The infamous “Hijli rush of tourists. The prison was a prominent one during
Firing” incident, in which the police opened fire on the the British raj when the freedom fighters were incarcer-
prisoners in 1931 happened here. The detention camp was ated here. This jail was the place of torture and agony for a
converted into IIT in 1951 after independence. The erst- number of people who dared to speak against the British.
while detention camp has now been converted into the This jail has also housed several prominent people, like Brij
Nehru Museum of Science and Technology. Tourists often Kishore Singh Deo, the then Maharaja of Puri.
visit this prison to have a feel of the British era detention
and torture centres.

Tehelka / 31 october 2019 49 www.Tehelka.com