Taking a cue from the Tihar School of Arts, a formal Sohrai Painting Training School was inaugurated on the premises of Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar on Wednesday.

The school was inaugurated by Jharkhand High Court Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh in the presence of Justice A.B. Singh and Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary. A legal literacy library was also inaugurated during the occasion.

Though a painting and fine arts school was conceived by Justice A.B. Singh along the lines of Tihar way back in 2016, acting Chief Justice of the high court, D.N. Patel, played a pivotal role in its formation.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh said life in the prison was that of introspection and repentance. A convict or an undertrial needs to get a second chance and reformation and rehabilitation played a key role. “Painting and fine arts have a calming effect on the mind and transforms violence, irritation and anger into creativity,” he said.

Justice A.B. Singh urged the government and Jharkhand High Court to devise a means to promote the paintings and create a source of income for the inmates.

As many as 50 inmates of Birsa jail were already being being trained Kamal Kartik, a fine arts teacher, who had been working with the prisoners since 2008. A special Sohrai expert has now been engaged to train the inmates in Sohrai painting.

Manish Kumar (name changed), a convict and a painter, said art lessons had helped him during his stay in the jail. “Earlier, I was very violent and proe to irritation. Now, I feel at peace. Painting helps me vent my emotions on the canvas,” Kumar said.