Shubham Joshi is currently a fourth year student at the Gujarat National Law University and is the founder of “GNLU Digital Media.” at his university. In an exclusive interview with Preshti, Shubham shares his experiences while shooting the film, his observations of the Sabarmati Central Jail and the current problems faced by prisoners in India.

P: Hi Shubham! Please tell us something about yourself?

SJ: I hail from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Although I pursued science till Class 12, engineering did not appeal to me.  Law seemed like an interesting alternative when I heard about the National Law Universities(NLUs). In 2010, I joined the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU). I was always motivated by my parents to take part in extra-curricular activities as they have always emphasized on the idea of self-learning in addition to formal education. In my first year, I got an opportunity to intern under an eminent social activist, Ms. Kavita Srivastava who worked with The People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL). The internship with PUCL introduced me to the social stigmas prevalent in our society and gave me a new perspective of the rule of law. The impact was so deep that it motivated me to act upon these stigmas in the form of my first short film “Pannchee,” a critical portrayal of anti-domestic violence laws in India. The film highlighted the ground realities of law in practice which made it easier to comprehend the social- legal problem and was appreciated by the legal fraternity. In 2013, I founded the “GNLU Digital Media” with an objective to explore issues of societal importance and to cover social-legal issues.

P: How did you stumble upon this opportunity of shooting a film in the Sabarmati Central Jail? What was you inspiration behind shooting this film?

SJ:We have been conducting a program in GNLU where we invite prison officers from prisons across the country and offer them a platform to discuss the various issues they face in prison administration. This initiative has been motivating the government to implement the required changes in order to create a better environment for prisoners and the administrative authorities. Another objective of the program has been to educate the common people about prison reforms and how prisoners would benefit from the same. The organizers of the initiative were looking for people who could project the whole idea of the initiative through a short film. I volunteered. My friend Vivek joined in too. Various permissions and clearances were needed for this project, which were facilitated by the superintendent of the Sabarmati Central Jail . We were allotted permission to shoot inside the jail premises for two days . It was exciting for us to gain practical insights outside the confines of a classroom.

P: What is Within the Walls about?

SJ:It is a 7-minute long informative film, through which we have tried to exhibit the  steps taken by the jail authorities to reform the inmates. The film includes interviews of senior jailers, prisoners who are under the reformation regimen and ex-prisoners who have been reformed by the process.

P: Please give us some insights into the Sabarmati Central Jail.

SJ:It is one strange beautiful building erected in the midst of the Sabarmati. The history of this building can be traced back to India’s struggle for independence. The prisoners assist the prison authorities in maintaining the prisons and receive monetary compensation in return. The compound area is clean and the prisons are well maintained. On entering through the main gates of the prison, one will find green gardens, paintings by the prisoners, an education center and workshops for prisoners. We were not allowed to go further inside, but on further communication with the prisoners, we learnt that barracks, sanitation and food facilities are fairly up to the mark.

P:  What was the experience like? 

SJ: It was a unique experience for me to observe the Sabarmati Central Jail from inside. With regard to the interviews, we got an opportunity to interact with many prisoners and while listening to their experiences . I felt that our society is unwilling to accept an inmate who has completed his term of sentence. This societal stigma forces them to re-enter the world of crime, away from reformation. The prisons gave them a lot more hope and freedom than the society could, which is pretty ironic, yet painfully true . They further claimed, and rightfully so, that the world outside had bigger criminals walking free, while those who had committed smaller crimes were imprisoned for being victims of circumstances.

P: While shooting the film, what are the major observations you made regarding the prisoners and the        prison conditions existing in there? 

SJ:The prison seemed more of a residence where moral, physical and intellectual training is given  to improve the character of prisoners so that they can adjust back into the society. The prison authorities of the central jail are very cooperative towards the prisoners, In fact, the senior jailor, Mr. R.S Bhuriya is aware of the fact that prisoners have to face societal stigma and has thus set up certain centers and mechanisms that would benefit the prisoners in the long run including meditation & self-realization process. Moreover, there is a center established by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) where prisoners can apply for multifarious degree and diploma courses. During the shoot, we met an ex-prisoner who has a record in the Limca book of world records for holding the maximum number of degrees. He currently serves as a faculty member in a reputed college. Apart from educating them, authorities also focus on vocational courses such as carpentry, food products, painting, bag making. They are further provided with spiritual assistance through geeta ayaojan and kuran sessions.

P: What are your views on the Central jail?

SJ:When we were trusted with the responsibility of making this film, we decided not to stereotype the place but to make a genuine observation. However, I was not there for a long period to come up with a conclusive decision hence my first impression is tilted towards positive side. However, taking into account the poor financial background of prisoners (Most of them belonged to the lower class)  the quality of legal aid offered to prisoners must be improved. Through my interactions with the prisoners, I realized that their family members suffer the most. In one of our interviews, I learned from  one of the prisoners that he was concerned about his family since the society had made his family’s life miserable by associating them to the crime he had committed.

P: Any lessons you learned while filming in there?

SJ: The most important lesson I have learned from the experience is- “A team dedicated in creating a positive environment could achieve wonders.”

P: Anything else you wish to share before signing out?

SJ:There are many social problems prevailing in our society and initiatives like “Preshti” could make an impact. Simply expecting  change will not work; we need to work towards it. As Gandhiji said, ” We need to be the change we wish to see.”

To watch Shubham’s short film, “Within the Walls,” click here