Mahmood Farooqui’s ‘The Tihar Players’ looks beyond the label of ‘criminal’

Spread the news

Drawing on his prison experiences, the author explores life behind bars, theatre with inmates and the need for jail reforms

Chandigarh, September 20

Author and theatre practitioner Mahmood Farooqui’s latest book, “The Tihar Players”, draws on his experiences in prison and his interactions with inmates, offering a personal account of life inside Tihar while raising questions about the justice and prison systems.

Farooqui said the book grew out of his experiences during his time in prison, where he closely observed the lives of people who were often more vulnerable and helpless than himself. Those experiences, he said, led him to reflect on the way the justice and prison systems function.

The book also documents his experience of forming a theatre group inside Tihar and working with inmates through drama and performances. Theatre, he said, provided an opportunity to create something positive within the prison environment.

Farooqui said he spent eight to nine years writing the book. The manuscript initially ran to around 1,100 pages before he repeatedly revised and shortened it.

A central theme of the book is the need to look beyond the label of “criminal”, he said, pointing to inmates facing different circumstances, including first-time offenders and those involved in cases where the circumstances surrounding the offence were complex.

Recalling his interactions with inmates, Farooqui spoke about Bangladeshi national Badal Farazi, who was arrested in India on a murder charge and continued his education while in jail. Such experiences, he said, encouraged him to document the lives and struggles of inmates and draw attention to the need for prison reforms.

He also highlighted the impact of imprisonment on families, particularly women who often become the primary support system for relatives serving jail terms. The consequences of imprisonment, he said, extend beyond the individual to their families.

Working with inmates through theatre was among the most significant parts of his time in prison, Farooqui added. He recalled that the participants responded positively to the performances and that the activity helped create a constructive space inside the jail.

“The Tihar Players” seeks to encourage readers to think about punishment, the functioning of the justice system and possible approaches to prison reform. Farooqui said he hopes the book would prompt a wider discussion about how society understands prisons and punishment.

Farooqui, who has also written extensively on theatre and storytelling, said his creative work ultimately aims to express ideas and contribute to a better society.