অদ্ভুত (Odvut) I কারাগারের গান I Songs from Prison I Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj

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It all started in the month of December 2018. Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj authorities brought in a few musical instruments for the inmates. The aim was to involve them in various creative activities for the enlightening of minds and soul. Although nobody was sure about the results and how it is going to effect the people, with time, it slowly established itself as a powerful way to heal minds. Over the time countless creative minds found their expressive outlet that they could not make the time for when they were outside (mostly distracted by negative thoughts and acts) and many more resonated with them by simply being the audience.
Starting from an acoustic guitar, a set of tablas, a harmonium, a flute and a tambourine, now the set up includes 4 more acoustic guitars, an electronic keyboard, 3 harmoniums, a drum pad, 5 more flutes, a pair of basic amplifier and speakers and a mic for recording. None of the artists involved in this process were professionals. Rather they are hobbyists who at some part of their lives was interested in music, maybe learned to play instruments or sing but left that path considering it a luxury- forced by reality. The whole process from writing, composing, performing to recording was done only by the inmates without any kind professional support.

As prisons are meant to isolate inmates and keep them away from the familiar environment and people, it keeps away the unnecessary distractions of daily lives too. So, it can be a very good place to contemplate, focus and prepare the mind in a good way- if the intention and commitment is there. The inmates who involved themselves in music inside jail showed inspiring passion and focus that was surprising even for them. However no one is permanent here, so people come and go on a regular basis, along with them their works and efforts somehow fade away in here. Nothing stops though, new faces, voices, hands and thoughts keep emerging inspired by their former. Asif Iqbal, a passionate individual has been keeping this flow as fluid and constant as possible from the beginning. So because of that a series of original songs got written, composed, performed and enjoyed by inmates and now finally being documented even with the least amount of resources available. Still it is being done because the beauty of it lies way beneath the surface- in the process.
The credit of this beautiful journey goes to the Senior Jail super of Dhaka Central Jail Mr. Iqbal Kabir Chowdhury, Jailor Muhammad Mahabubul Islam, Deputy Jailors- Muhammad Zahedul Alam, Md.Zakir Hossain, Md. Abul Hossain,Md.Akherul Islam, Md. Shahriar Alam Chowdhury, D M Akhtaruzzaman, Khandokar Md. Al Mamun and the whole body of Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj authorities who supported and encouraged with their unbelievable openness and inspiring vision towards correction through curative creativity.
Special thanks to Mr. Badal Farazi, Mr. Shahidul Alam for the support, Golap Shaheen (vocal), Arman(vocal/guitars), Torongo Joseph Costa (guitars), Pranto (vocal/keyboards), Kajol (vocals/guitars), Mamun(harmonium), Nasir (table), Delowar(flute/keyboard), Tarif (flute), Jibon (vocal), Parvez (Drum pad/vocal), Joydeb (vocal/drum pad), Sadi (guitar), Rumat (guitar/vocal), Asif (guitar/vocal) and many more who shared their skills both for themselves and others. With all these people anchored by Asif Iqbal formed a very organic and transforming band ‘Kaaktaal’. The significance of the name lies in the serendipity of these beautiful encounters between people with hidden individual splendor even in the most undesirable of places and also the beauty of often ignored and mostly unwanted things around us, like the voice of a common crow. Our realization is when you are deprived of it you will definitely start finding rhythm in it, just like these people did.