Notable freedom fighters including Bhagwan Singh, Mukut Bihari Lal, Mohit Moitra and more were imprisoned and died in the cellular jail of Andaman because of the Britisher’s inhuman torture and harsh conditions. This prison was built between 1896 to 1906 and functioned until 1945 in the Port Blair of Andaman and Nicobar Island and it became the National Memorial of the extreme sacrifices of freedom fighters to give freedom to India.
Historical Background of Cellular Jail Andaman
The construction of the Cellular Jail was started in 1896 and it was completed in 1906. This jail is also called “Kala Pani” because it was built in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands which was surrounded by deep and dark waters of the sea. The Kala Pani Jail was built by Britishers to punish the freedom fighters of India and stop their protest against British rule.
The jail was a circular design with seven wings like a starfish and was built on a small hill. Each jail has three floors and a watchtower on the fourth floor and it has 698 total cells. Every prisoner was isolated so that they could not meet with each other and start a freedom fight. Inhuman treatment and brutal torture were common things in the jail.
However, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore run a campaign to release all freedom fighters. In 1939, every prisoner was released from the jail and it was emptied. During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese and they controlled the jail from 1942 to 1945. However, in 1979, it was declared as the National Memorial.
Notable Freedom fighters who died in the Cellular Jail Andaman
Britishers built a cellular jail in Andaman where they brought several freedom fighters of India who were brutally tortured mentally and physically. Many freedom fighters lost their lives in this jail while fighting against British rule, and some of the notable names are, Bhagwan Singh, Mukut Bihari Lal, Mohit Moitra, Indu Bhushan Roy and many more.
Bhagwan Singh:
Bhagwan Singh, also known as Kartar Singh was a prominent figure in the Ghadar Movement. This movement was led by expatriate Indians in North America to make India independent by overthrowing the British rule in India.
However, Bhagwan Singh was arrested by the British authorities for his revolutionary activities and was sent to the Andaman and Nicobar cellular jail. Like many other political leaders, he was brutally tortured, forced labour and provided inhuman treatment. He was not sentenced to death, but due to his brutal condition as a prisoner, he died in jail.
Mukut Bihari Lal:
Mukut Bihari Lal was a notable figure of the Quit India Movement of 1942, who was arrested for his social and revolutionary activities against British rule. During this movement, he actively participated in protests and strikes against the British and for this reason, British authorities imprisoned him.
He was sent to the Andaman and Nicobar cellular jail where he suffered from extreme torture and harsh conditions of the jail. Due to continuous torture, inhuman treatment and psychological pressure, he died in prison.
Mohit Moitra:
Mohit Moitra was a revolutionary who contributed to the freedom fight of India, especially to the Anushilan Samiti. His early life was not well-documented. However, his name was first registered in the police record on February 19, 1931, when he was arrested near Sealdah Railway station due to possessing a revolver.
After that, he was sentenced to be imprisoned for five years and transported to the jail located in the Andaman. Unfortunately, during that period the prisoners were doing hunger strikes to improve the jail conditions. Mohit Moitra took part in the strike. However, after 17 days of continuous hunger and brutal treatment in jail, his condition got worse and he passed away in jail on May 23 1933.
Indu Bhushan Roy:
Indu Bhushan Roy was an unsung hero of the Indian freedom fight who faced extreme struggle in his life journey. He was born in 1890. Roy gets associated with an armed resistance group, the Yugantar group, against the British.
Roy was arrested during the Alipore bomb case in 1908 and he was sentenced to transmigration to the cellular jail Andaman. During his imprisonment in the jail, he faced extreme torture, forced labour inhuman treatment and suffering from mental and physical health. However, considering the inhuman condition and unbearable pain, in 1912, he committed suicide.
Although inconsistency regarding the year of his death has been found. Nalini Das, a convict in the jail, said that he died in 1918.
Freedom fighters who survived the torture
There are some freedom fighters also who survived the brutal conditions of the jail. Bishnu Dutta, a significant member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent figure of Hindu Mahasabha (Great Society of Hindu), Chittaranjan Das, a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress and a great contributor in the formation of Swaraj Party and many more.
These prominent freedom fighters were coined to imprisonment in the Andaman and Nicobar cellular jail but due to their resilience and will, they survived in the jail and were released. After that, they contributed a lot to making India Independent from British rule.
Modern perspective and interpretation
After getting declared as the National Memorial in 1979, this cellular prison became the memorial structure and serves as a strong reminder of how freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to give India independence. India is celebrating its 78th year of independence because of the sacrifices and courage of several freedom fighters.
However, this memorial attracts several visitors each year. This memorial educates people about the sacrifices of the freedom fighters for freedom. Visitors can find different sections of the jail which narrate different stories about different freedom fighters who fought and even sacrificed their lives for a better future for us.
The memorial also hosts different cultural events, educational programs and exhibitions to deliver the stories of those freedom fighters and the condition of the jail to the visitors. This memorial tells us the stories of how we got freedom in 1947, but these freedom fighters gave their blood to make this happen after a long fight for decades.
FAQ
What was the purpose of the Cellular Jail in Andaman?
The jail was built by Britishers to punish the freedom fighters of India and stop their protest against British rule.
Who were some notable freedom fighters imprisoned in Cellular Jail?
Notable freedom fighters include Bhagwan Singh, Mukut Bihari Lal, Mohit Moitra, and Indu Bhushan Roy.
What were the living conditions like in Cellular Jail?
Inhuman treatment and brutal torture were common things in the jail. Every prisoner was isolated so that they could not meet with each other and start a freedom fight.
When was the Cellular Jail constructed, and when did it operate?
The construction of the Cellular Jail started in 1896 and it was completed in 1906. It functioned until 1945.
Why is Cellular Jail referred to as “Kala Pani”?
This jail is also called “Kala Pani” because it was built in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, which was surrounded by deep and dark waters of the sea.
What is the significance of Cellular Jail being declared a National Memorial in 1979?
After getting declared as the National Memorial in 1979, this cellular prison became the memorial structure and serves as a strong reminder of how freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to give India independence.
How does the memorial educate visitors about the sacrifices of freedom fighters?
The memorial hosts different cultural events, educational programs, and exhibitions to deliver the stories of those freedom fighters and the condition of the jail to the visitors.
