Mahmood Farooqui Reflects on Prison, Theatre and Renewal

Mahmood Farooqui is a theatre artist who spent 18 months in Tihar jail.

He says the experience was very difficult, but it also gave him time to read, write and think.

While in jail, he began drama classes with other inmates.

Together they performed several plays for people inside the prison and at some outside venues.

Farooqui says the play Court Martial especially moved the prisoners because it showed an accused person being strongly defended.

Years later, some of his former fellow performers acted in a play at the launch of his prison memoir.

Farooqui says his time in Tihar was both painful and helpful to his life as an artist.