The Cellular Jail

Located at Andaman Island, the Cellular Jail is one of the murkiest chapters in the history of colonial rule in India. Its construction was completed in 1906. The Jail has seven wings, a tower in the centre, and 698 isolated cells. It provides a cellular look, hence the name Cellular Jail. Also known as “Kala-Pani”, the name still sends chills down the spine. A visit to the cells gives you an idea of how torturous the stay would have been. The pain and suffering borne by our freedom fighters is unfathomable. The inmates were cut off from the mainland, countrymen and the family. They were used as construction workers, and were made to perform hard manual labour such as moving a stone like bullocks to extract oil from mustard seeds. The jail is now a protected monument and a testimony to the sacrifices our countrymen made in securing the freedom that we enjoy today.