In an encouraging news for the district jails of Assam and their inmates, a couple has expressed desire to adopt the Mangladai district jail.
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Nearly 200 inmates of Mangaldai district jail and several prominent persons of the State on Sunday afternoon became witness of this historic moment when an Assamese now based in the United States expressed their willingness in public to adopt the district jail.
Lohit Narayan Konwar, an US based environment scientist of Mangaldai origin while speaking on a function organized on the occasion of the release of an edition of the wall magazine titled ‘Karalipi’, announced his desire to adopt the jail with support from his wife Bondini Bordoloi Konwar.
“Moi ghosana korilo je moi aru mor patni, aami duyotai Mangaldai jail khon tolaniya kori lom (I announce that I and my wife would adopt the Mangaldai jail,” Konwar said in his speech presented in his mother tongue.
He further clarified that adoption means now onwards they will be part of the all the happiness and sadness of the inmates of the jail.
“I assure you to do everything for you within our limit,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion Upakul Bordoloi , a well known director and a popular actor of Assamese film industry while throwing light on the atmosphere of the jail said that the jail is no longer a jail but it has transformed to an institution of mental development and rehabilitation.
He attributed credit to jailer Munindra Sharma and his fellow staff of the jail established in the year 1898 for bringing such a unique transformation .
Addressing the inmates noted writer Anjan Sharma narrated how experience in the jail of an inmate can be a source of best seller novels in the country and keeping this in mind he appealed to them to start the practice of writing diary.
Kartik Kalita, the in-charge superintendent of the jail and election officer, Mangaldai, Mukut Hazarika, secretary, Darrang Zilla Sahitya Sabha, prominent entrepreneur and advocate Mani Kangkan Barooah, exponent of Ojapali music Tirth Nath Oja were also amongst the guests present.
The function also witnessed presentation of Byash Ojapali dance by a group of ten inmates led by life convict inmate Arup Jyoti Deka.
Earlier, Lohit Narayan Konwar ceremonially released the fourth year fifth edition of ‘Karalipi’ edited by inmate Arup Jyoti Deka.