Today, I am kicking off a series ‘Our Planet’s Landmarks’ with a post on Cellular Jail Port Blair Andamans India. As the name suggests, this series will be about some iconic place, structure or phenomenon from across the globe. And, you can expect to read a new post in the series at 9 pm India Time every Sunday.
Our Planet’s Landmarks Series #1
The British had started sending prisoners to the remote archipelago of Andamans & Nicobar shortly after the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny of India. But it wasn’t until 1896 that the construction of the prison started. It was finally built by 1906.
Its purpose was to imprison Indian freedom fighters and political activists away from mainland India. Given its remote location, it earned the epithet ‘Kaala Paani’ (Black Waters). Anyone deported and imprisoned here threatened the person with a loss of his caste due to having undertaken an overseas journey. During
Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andamans, India
The jail was named ‘Cellular Jail’ since it did not have any dormitory, only solitary confinement cells – 693 of them. This was a deliberate move by the British. They did not want the freedom fighters to interact and plan their moves to gain freedom.
Originally, the Cellular Jail had seven wings. These wings were arranged like spokes of a wheel. Over time, 4 of the 7 wings were demolished. This resulted in strong protests from former prisoners and political leaders. They saw it as a conspiracy to erase evidence of persecution.
During India’s Freedom Struggle, many notable freedom fighters were imprisoned here. It included eminent activists like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar), Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Mahavir Singh. Besides housing prisoners, the British also hanged many to death here. The final set of prisoners were repatriated from here by the British in 1937-38.
Although it houses a 500-bed hospital today (Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital), given its ghastly history, it is now considered a National Memorial Monument.
You may read some more on Cellular Jail HERE
Your post about the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andamans, caught my attention, and I must say that it’s an interesting read. Your writing is concise and to the point, while still managing to convey a sense of the history and significance of this place.
I appreciate that you’ve included photographs that really bring the story to life and help readers visualize what the jail was like in its heyday. Your post is a great reminder of the importance of preserving our historical landmarks and of the stories they have to tell.
Raveenaarjun, thanks for your kind words! My endeavour is, as always, to make a destination desirable. I am happy you found my images and words apt.
This trip looks so epic! Such a beautiful part of the world. Fantastic list of things to do which I will be adding to my list of things to do when I go there someday! You shared awesome places and pictures also.
Thanks, Kesari! Your adding it to your bucket list is the success of my mission of making destinations desirable! Thanks for your kind words!