SaMaPa to start music classes in J&K jails

Melodious learning

Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts, also known as SaMaPa, announced that it will start music classes in the prisons of Jammu and Kashmir.

“SaMaPa would soon start music classes in the prison for the jail inmates. It is aimed to channelise the brain as musical healing is a must for jail inmates,” santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori told reporters here. He visited Kotbalwal Central Jail in outskirts of Jammu city on Wednesday after the seventh edition of SaMaPa Aalap festival, which also featured the first-ever music concert at the Kotbalwal Central Jail.

Sopori along with his son Abhay Rustum Sopori visited different workshops, academic section, barracks and blocks of the jail interacting with the inmates. “I will create a music school under the banner of SaMaPa for them where musicians of repute will come and teach them. At a time when we are looking with an optimistic approach to build a world that is united, we also need to create better human beings even from jails as it is our duty to reform the society irrespective of barriers like religion or region,” Sopori said.

The musician said he wanted to create an emotional bond between the society and the prisoners so that when they leave the jails they respect others and others respect them.

Social isolation and deprivation of civil acceptance can lead to mental and emotional breakdown. “It is very important that the prisoners don’t go through any social depression once they are out. Even if they are in the prisons, they deserve an emotional support,” he said.