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INDIA
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Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair, stood mute witness
to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who
were incarcerated in this Jail. The Jail, completed in
the year 1906 acquired the name, ‘cellular’ because it
is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary
confinement of the prisoners. It originally was a seven
pronged, puce-coloured building with central tower
acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising
honeycomb like corridors. The building was subsequently
damaged and presently three out of the seven prongs are
intact. The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all
freedom loving people, has been declared a National
Memorial.
The penal settlement established in Andamans by the
British after the First War of Independence in 1857 was
the beginning of the agonising story of freedom fighters
in the massive and awful jails at Viper Island followed
by the Cellular Jail. The patriots who raised their
voice against the British Raj were sent to this Jail,
where many perished. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose hoisted
the tri-colour flag to proclaim Independence on 30th
December 1943 at a place near this Jail.
This three-storeyed prison, constructed by Britishers in
1906, is a pilgrimage destination for freedom fighters.
This colossal edifice has mutely witnessed the most
treacherous of inhumane atrocities borne by the
convicts, who were mostly freedom fighters. Now
dedicated to the nation as a National Memorial.
The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive
in a moving Son-et-Lumiere, shown daily inside the jail
compound at 6.00 PM (Hindi) and 7.15 PM (English). Also
there is a Museum, an Art gallery, and a Photo gallery,
which are open on all days except Monday from 9.00 AM to
12 Noon and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM.
Entry fee: - Rs. 5/-, Camera – photo - Rs. 10/-, video -
Rs. 50/-
Light & Sound Show – Entry fee: adult Rs. 20/-, child
Rs. 10/- (Above 5 & below 12yrs)
Cellular Jail - Port Blair - Andaman - India |
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Ross Island, the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during
the British regime, is a tiny island standing as guard
to Port Blair harbour. The island presently houses the
ruins of old buildings like Ballroom, Chief
Commissioner’s House, Govt. House, Church, Hospital,
Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool and Troop Barracks, all in
dilapidated condition, reminiscent of the old British
regime.
Ever since Dr. James Pattison Walker arrived in Port
Blair aboard the East India Company’s steam frigate
‘Senuramis’ on 10th March 1858, this island remained
under British occupation till 1942. From 1942 to 1945,
the island was under the occupation of Japanese.
However, the allies reoccupied the island in 1945 and
later abandoned it.
During British occupation, this island was the seat of
power of the Britishers. It was developed into
self-equipped township with all facilities required for
a civilized colony. Dr. Walker, Chairman of the Andaman
Committee, established the infamous and the dreaded
Penal Settlement with 200 convicts. The Britishers even
persuaded the aborigines to come and live in some huts
at Ross Island and even established an Andaman Home for
them in 1863. Later on the services of these Andamanese
were used to catch the escaping convicts from Ross
Island.
The island with historical background and preservable
ruins is spread along an area of 0.6 sq. kms. With the
ruins and also with the historical background, the
Island has gained a lot of popularity among the
tourists.
Ross island is open for the tourists to visit during day
time as the boat services are available from the Phoenix
Bay jetty at 8.30 AM, 10.30 AM, and 12.30 PM. Navy has
established a museum on the Island Known as ‘Smritika’
depicting the history of the Island.
Entry Fee: Rs 20/- |
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The tiny, serene, beautiful island of Viper witnessed
the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to
undergo. Dangerous convicts found guilty of violating
the rules of the Penal Settlement, were put in fetters
and were forced to work with their fetters on in this
island. Freedom fighters like Nanigopal and Nandlal
Pulindas, who had resorted to hunger strike at the
Cellular Jail, were imprisoned at Viper Island. The jail
at Viper, where prisoners deported from the mainland
were confined, was built by the British under the
supervision of Major Fort. Work on the prison was
started in 1867. Owing to the working conditions, the
jail earned the notorious name Viper Chain Gang Jail.
The island derives its name from the vessel ‘Viper’ in
which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in 1768
with the purpose of establishing a Penal Settlement. The
vessel, it is believed, met with an accident and its
wreckage was abandoned near the island.
Gallows built on top of a hillock, visible to all
prisoners in the island, signified death. Sher Ali, the
Pathan, guilty of murdering Lord Mayo, was condemned to
death and hanged at Viper Island.
The Harbour cruise, available daily from Phoenix Bay
Jetty (at 3 PM), provides a panoramic view of different
points around the harbour and includes a trip to Viper
Island. |
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