Inmates in Bihar, India jails are being treated with soothing classical music for four hours a day for what the officials believe will soften their souls and change their mindset.

The Indian state government has resorted to music therapy in their bid to bring about a behavioural change, and soften the hardened attitude of the criminals. Inmates in Bihar jails are being treated with soothing classical music for four hours a day for what the officials believe will soften their souls and change their mindset.

“In the first phase, music therapy has been introduced in six central jails but very soon, it will cover all jails of the state,” Bihar jail officials says.
 
“We have resorted to music therapy to soften the hardened attitude of the criminals and we hope that we will be able to change their behaviour,” Bihar Inspector General (Prisons) S Shiva Kumar says.

He says after observing the results, the jail administration would introduce this system to other jails of Bihar. Recently, music therapy has been introduced in Beur jail which is a home to hardcore Maoists, dreaded gangsters, murderers, kidnappers, extortionists and other notorious criminals, he adds.

"We are introducing music therapy with a view to softening the hardened attitude of inmates who might be victims of circumstances," IG (prisons) S. Siva Kumar told TOI.

He said that after observing the results from Central and selected district jails, in which the new system is being introduced, the department would introduce the system in other jails of the state also. Incidentally, the department has also plans in store to introduce music trainers in jails who would help inmates inclined to learn music.

"The training aspect would be introduced only after assessing the inclination of the inmates," Kumar says.

"We already had in place speakers in all the wards. With DVD player and DVDs of instrumental music provided by the department, we decided to launch it from Friday itself," jail superintendent O.P. Gupta says.

Referring to the initiative of the state government, renowned music therapist in India, Nishindra Kinjalk says that Indian music has tremendous healing power and has huge effect on one's psyche.

“However, music can even prove harmful if played with carelessness,” he warned, and explained, “For example, a man who is victim of broken heart may even go for committing suicide after listening sad songs.”

According to an official report, at present more than 54,000 prisoners are lodged in 54 jails of Bihar. Of them, over 28,000 are convicted prisoners, majority facing life terms or sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment for serious offenses like, murder, abduction and extortion.

Source: Sanjeev Kumar Verma/The Times of India