A Qualitative Study of Drum Circle and its Impact on Jail Inmates at Nasik Central Jail

Abstract

Accepting and normalizing a life in confinement can be a stress inducing phase for inmates. The delay in judicial-legal process can prolong any possible relief from the jail term. Research affirms the multiple issues that inmates face while living their jail term. The current research does not intend to comment on systemic or administrative overhauling of the current prison scenario. The intent of the current phenomenological research is to study how does a drum circle go on to impact the inmates. Method: The phenomenological study has a sample of 44 male jail inmates from the Nasik Central Jail. The age range between 23-45 years. Observations and unstructured interviews were recorded. Thematic coding of the data was done. Result: The drum circle activity gave the inmates an avenue for expression and communication. Inmates reported feeling of relaxation, joy and reduction of sleeplessness. A feeling of generativity and ‘being one with all’ was reported.