As the world prepares to mark World Mental Health Day on October 10, Outlook's Assistant Editor Priyanka Tupe spoke with anti-caste activist, poet and Vidrohi magazine editor Sudhir Dhawale, who was imprisoned for years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Bhima Koregaon case. His experience highlights the stark reality of mental health care in India’s prisons.<br /><br />According to Dhawale, entry into jail erases identity, reducing a person to a number. Overcrowded barracks, poor ventilation and unhygienic conditions create an environment where stress and anxiety thrive. He says even healthy inmates risk developing mental illness. At places like Taloja Central Jail, there is only one psychiatrist, not available full time. Mental health care is often limited to sedatives rather than genuine treatment.<br /><br />He recalls prisoners whose conditions deteriorated due to the absence of psychiatric support, some turning to substance use in desperation. Prison labour, he adds, reflects entrenched caste and class divisions, adding to the despair of marginalised groups.<br /><br />Despite legal and constitutional provisions guaranteeing rights, Dhawale believes their enforcement is absent. For him, resilience came from political thought, writing and solidarity with other inmates. His testimony underscores the urgent need for prison mental health reform.<br /><br />Watch the full interview on YouTube.<br /><br />Camera: Dinesh Parab<br />Editor: Madiha Shakeel<br /><br />Follow us:<br />Website: https://www.outlookindia.com/<br />Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Outlookindia<br />Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outlookindia/<br />X: https://twitter.com/Outlookindia<br />Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaNrF3v0AgWLA6OnJH0R<br />Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutlookMagazine<br />Dailymotion: https://www.dailymotion.com/outlookindia<br /><br />#WorldMentalHealthDay #PrisonReform #MentalHealthIndia #HumanRights #UAPA #SudhirDhawale #CasteAndClass #JusticeInIndia #OutlookMagazine
