Grand Finale of ‘Tihar Skill Talent Hunt-2026’ Held at Tihar Jail
Inmates Showcase Their Talent in Singing, Dance, Music, Painting, Poetry and Acting
Raju Bohra / Senior Correspondent
New Delhi: The grand finale of the ‘Tihar Skill Talent Hunt-2026’ was organised on September 25 at Central Jail No. 8/9, Tihar, under the joint aegis of the Delhi Prisons Administration and the NGO Art Creations Cultural Society.
The initiative aimed to provide a platform to showcase the hidden talents of inmates and connect them with the mainstream of society through skill development. The event carried the inspiring message: “Wings through Talent, Identity through Skills, A New Identity Towards the Future.”
The talent hunt was conducted over a period of approximately 11 days, during which inmates showcased their abilities in various disciplines, including singing, dance, instrumental music, painting, poetry recitation and acting. Participants who demonstrated outstanding performances in different categories were selected as winners.
To evaluate and mentor the participants, renowned Punjabi pop singer Bhupinder Singh Bhupi, playback singer Deepak Rana, singer Khushboo Lata, Charanjit Sakla, and mentors Sajid Ali and Manish Thakur were present.
The programme was graced by Chief Guest Additional Director General Pankaj Kumar (IAS) and Deputy Director General Kuldeep Singh (DANICS). Director General (Prisons) Anand Mohan (IPS) conveyed his best wishes to the participants through a special message and encouraged them to continue pursuing their talents.
The programme was conducted under the supervision of Dheeraj Mathur, Superintendent, Central Jail 8/9, along with the dedicated team of jail officers and staff.
On the occasion, AIG Pankaj Kumar Ji and DIG Kuldeep Singh Ji also inaugurated a library within Tihar Jail and participated in a tree plantation initiative inside the jail premises. The programme was hosted by IPS Bawa.
The sponsors and collaborators of the event included Manoj Kumar of Sky Height Global Infra Private Limited, Music One Records, Rent N Ride, and Vijay Singh of Chitraka E-Bike.
Naresh Baisla, President of Art Creations Cultural Society, and Rachna Jain, General Secretary, stated that the organisation had previously conducted various seasons of the music- and dance-based reality show ‘Tihar Idol’. They explained that the objective of such initiatives is to provide a positive direction to the creative talents of inmates and help develop a sense of confidence and self-belief among them.
The event was also attended by Mayank Jain, Vice President; Pankaj Chauhan, Treasurer; Mangey Ram, Secretary; Sarita, Joint Secretary; Ved Prakash, Executive Secretary; Veer Bhan, Haryana Head; and Rishabh Baisla, Programme Director, along with other office bearers and members of the organisation.
Best wishes were extended to all the participating inmates for their outstanding artistic performances and talent showcased during the grand finale.
The event conveyed a powerful message of positive transformation through art, music, creativity and skill development, highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for individuals to discover their potential and move towards a constructive future.
