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The Cellular jail: A monument Of Struggle And Sacrifice

In the heart of Port Blair stands another monument glorifying India's freedom. It remembers innumerable sacrifices and hardships borne by countless Indian freedom fighters over a period. The dark legacy that was buried along with the exiled prisoners and tortured in the cold darkness of the Andamans has been etched at "Kalapani", or Black Water. A visit to this national memorial is, for many, a journey through history into the spirit of resilience and sacrifice that defined India's fight for independence.

History

This Cellular Jail was constructed between 1896 and 1906, and it was designed strictly to isolate prisoners with no chance of escape or communication. Its architectural layout, resembling a bicycle wheel, allowed stringent surveillance from a central watchtower. The jail comprised 696 cells, which were only 15 x 8 feet, where the political prisoners, Veer Savarkar among them, had to struggle with the gruesome conditions of the cell and toll. Such ruthless handling and treatment by the freedom fighters has also etched a deep account of pain in the history of India.

The Legacy of Freedom Fighters

Indeed, the Cellular Jail is a shrine for the courage of those who contested colonial oppression. It’s here that Batukeshwar Dutt and Yogendra Shukla, to name but two freedom fighters, were lodged during this period of torture and deprivation. Veer Savarkar is perhaps one of the most important personalities who spent a decade in jail while tolerating the most hectic conditions but filled the hearts of his fellow mates with education and poetry. His remembrance will get popularly reflected in the jail, thus it also attracts more tourists to come, pay their homage to his struggles and sacrifices for the nation.

What to See

A visit to the Cellular Jail provides for a multifaceted experience:

Every evening, a moving Son-et-Lumiere presentation brings to life the saga of India’s freedom struggle. This show is presented in Hindi and English and must be seen by anyone who wants to understand the emotional weight of this jail’s history.

You would be guided with quite knowledgeable tour guides who will take you through this jail to give you deep insight into the lives of the prisoners and brutalities they faced. Their stories will take you back in time, making it more poignant.

Here, there are in-situ museums containing artifacts and exhibitions that exhibit the prison’s history and arts and photograph galleries that narrate vivid visual accounts of the struggles the freedom fighters had to face.

Walking down the frighteningly silent corridors, and seeing the cells, reminds the visitors of the inhuman sacrifices of freedom fighters that resulted in India’s independence. The cell has invoked respect and worship within a person’s heart.

 

How to Reach

Reaching the Cellular Jail is not at all difficult:

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Air

Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, which connects to major Indian cities such as Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi.

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Land

The jail is about 4-kilometer distance from the airport with easy access by taxi or public transport. It is also close to the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex and Aberdeen Bazaar; you can easily fit it into your schedule.

Witness of the Freedom Fighters of India at this place-The site is not merely an archaeological location. As a people, it is a remembrance of the trials by India’s freedom fighters here. It is always a very emotional visit to this place, in touch with history and paying respect for the fortitude of those individuals who had to go through the unimaginable pain for the emancipation of this nation.. Plan your visit today and walk into the pages of history at this national memorial!