On life sentence, 19-year-old brushes up painting skills to win Tinka Tinka award
A jail official said David has been learning painting as part of his reformation programme since the time he was lodged in prison. Guided by a trained instructor on the jail premises, he is among the inmates who have shown significant improvement and discipline through creative engagement.
David, serving life imprisonment in a murder case, has been in Chandigarh’s Model Jail since 2023. His artwork — described as vibrant, expressive, and rooted in the healing influence of music — earned him the honour in the painting category. (Express Photo) A 19-year-old life convict lodged in Model Jail, Burail, is among 18 inmates across India selected for Tinka Tinka India Awards 2025, recognised for his exceptional paintings created during incarceration.
David, serving life imprisonment in a murder case, has been in Chandigarh’s Model Jail since 2023. His artwork — described as vibrant, expressive, and rooted in the healing influence of music — earned him the honour in the painting category. His winning piece depicts a musician deeply absorbed in playing the guitar, with flowing musical notes symbolising creativity and inner transformation, Professor Vartika Nanda, founder of the Tinka Tinka India Awards and head of the department of Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, said.
This year’s jury comprised Arvind Kumar, former DG Prisons, Madhya Pradesh; Dr Rashmi Singh (IAS), secretary, Women and Child Development, Government of Delhi; and Professor Nanda herself, who also leads the Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF).
According to Model Jail records, David has four FIRs registered against him in Chandigarh — two for theft, one for murder, and one for assault. He was convicted in the murder case earlier this year and sentenced to life imprisonment along with four others by a Chandigarh court in January. In one theft case, he has already undergone the awarded sentence, while the second theft case is pending trial. The assault case also remains under judicial process.
A jail official said David has been learning painting as part of his reformation programme since the time he was lodged in prison. Guided by a trained instructor on the jail premises, he is among the inmates who have shown significant improvement and discipline through creative engagement.
Currently, the inmate’s artworks are displayed and available for sale at the Srijan store in Model Jail, Sector 22, Chandigarh. His paintings were also showcased at an exhibition held in the city earlier this year. A few of his pieces have already been purchased by various departments of the Chandigarh Administration, an official said.
Nanda shared that the Tinka Tinka India Awards 2025 recognised 18 inmates nationwide across three categories — painting, special mention, and bandini. Of these, 13 awardees are convicts, while five are undertrials.
The first prize this year has been awarded to Tapas, a mentally disturbed convict from West Bengal, who has been incarcerated since 2008.
Highlighting the significance of the awards, Nanda said Tinka Tinka India remains the only national platform dedicated to acknowledging the creativity, reformative efforts, and contributions of inmates and prison staff across the country. The foundation continues to celebrate artistic and constructive work emerging from prisons each year.
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