That was “A great day”

“The Statesman” dated  15th Aug 1947, Friday, has been preserved in the museum of Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman. I had an opportunity to visit the Cellular Jail in Oct 2009, and I found the newspaper kept for the visitors.  On the front page an advertisement of Tata Industries  attracted me and I tried to capture in my camera. The same is shown above. The newspaper has become brownish and must be brittle.   The content of the Ad.  may not be readable from the picture, the same is reproduced  under quote and unquote in bold letters, below  :

“In this great hour of India’s destiny we

offer our homage to those who fought

and suffered so that she may be free.

With freedom’s battle won, let us dedicate

Ourselves to the task of creating a happier

And fuller life for the people of India

And building a land in which, as the Poet

Has sung, “the mind is without fear and

The head is held high”. Then alone

Shall we be worthy of our great heritage.”

I have posted it here just not to highlight TATAs or TATA Industries, but for the content of the advertisement.  Dreams of the people of free India what was on that day, has not much changed.

On winning the battle of freedom, then the citizen of free India dreamt of a better India But today when we look at it, we find that the war is not yet over. Though India is developing country today but still it has to continue its “war” against hunger and poverty. The hunger and poverty today are mostly created one by the today’s narrow politics. The development yet to reach to the poor people of remote villages, who are the son of the soil of free India. How long this country will carry the Tag “Developing” ? In our life time, will it change to “Developed” one? God only knows.

Many miles to go (courtesy : Times of India, 14/8/10)

 

Visit to Cellular Jail : A pilgrimage for every Indian

Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andamans  : Copyright by Anil m 2009-10

 

I am back from a pilgrimage. Its a pilgrimage of different kind which is to be felt by heart, without seeing any image or idol of a God or Goddess. I am talking about Cellular jail. Cellular jail of Port Blair in the Andamans is closely associated with the freedom struggle of India. After the first mutiny of in 1857, the British rulers found new usage for these Islands and thereby started the agonizing story of the massive and awesome cellular jail. The patriots who raised their voice against the British rule, were sent to this jail. Thousands of languished for years in solitary confinement in its cells and many perished thus giving Andamans the notorious sobriquet of “Kalapani” or the black water.

To day the cellular jail s the National Memorial, a tribute to those who dared to raise their voices against the British. That’s why the visit to the Cellular jail is a pilgrimage for every Indian.The freedom what we are enjoying today is the result of the sacrifices of those who suffered for years in the solitary confinement in its small cells.

To read more about Andaman Islands, open the page ‘My India’.

1. One of the cells (above), 2. Cellular Jail complex,  3. Cellular Jail at night

VIPER ISLAND :

Viper Island, named after the shipwreck event of a British trading ship named “Viper” in 19th century, is located near Port Blair. The ruins of an olden discarded jail, built by British in 1867, with yellow colored bricks and the gallows are seen in this Island. The Island was considered as the place of penal settlement for the freedom fighters of India. This Island was part of the great Indian independence history and had witnessed the inhuman sufferings and sacrifices of Indian nationals involved in freedom struggle.

Viper Island is accessible by harbor cruise originating from Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair.  This place is visited by number of tourists enroute to Portblair from  North Bay Island to find the ruins of the jail and a Gallows there. The Guide  escorted us addressed the visitors to remind the sacrifices of the freedom fighters. Listen what he said to young generation of today.

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