Artistically-inclined convicts of central jail here will now have a chance to showcase their creativity, thanks to Gauhati Artists’ Guild, who are ready to offer them a platform to display their art through an exhibition.

The guild aims to bolster their creative temperament and contribute to art and society, despite being convicts.

Guild general secretary Kishore Kumar Das said this recently at central jail here, where the guild organised an art workshop and competition.

Over 43 convicts participated in the event that took place from June 2 to 4.

Prizes were given for the best artworks, and Das, while encouraging and congratulating the convicts for their participation, said the guild is ready to showcase their art pieces at the gallery.

Bishnu Narzary, Kamal Musahari and Nitul Doimary won the first, second and third prizes, respectively, in the drawing competition.

Das said this is the first time that a public forum will display artwork made by close to 100 convicts.

Das hoped such an exhibition would enable the convicts to earn back their reputation, something they lost because of their brush with the law. He said this would also show that talent resides within every human being and only requires passion and devotion to be cultivated and shown to the world.

“The exhibition may become a reality within the next few months. During the prize distribution ceremony, I, on behalf of the guild, said an idea can be propagated based on an exhibition to display the creativity of the art-loving convicts. I spoke with the superintendent of the central jail at that time. There will be no fixed subject or theme for the exhibition. It will be completely based on what the convicts choose to paint. I noticed some of them have the talent which needs to be nurtured. They are lodged in jail for a reason but art can take them on a better path and change their minds for good and towards greater positivity,” Das said.

The World Environment Day art workshop and competition was organised by the art and literary committee of the central jail, with an aim to spread awareness about the environment. Prizes were distributed by the guild members, superintendent Ranjit Baishya, and jailor Ranjit Buragohain.

“During the workshop I got to know that some of the convicts had interest in drawing and art even before they landed in jail. Some of them might even have drawn a few pictures before but they never pursued it or sought training. So, we took the opportunity to encourage them,” Das said.