Cellular Jail completes 100 years

           The famed Cellular Jail in Andamans, now a National Memorial, will be completing 100 years of its existence on 10^th March, 2006. The Jail stands as a mute witness to the trial and tribulations of the Freedom Fighters who were incarcerated in this jail during the struggle for freedom for the country. Completed in the year 1906 it was called as ‘Cellular Jail’ because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement of the prisoners.

          To participate in the centenary programmes, three Freedom Fighters, spouses and close relatives of the deceased Freedom Fighters arrived at Port Blair today (09-03-2006). They were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival at the Veer Savarkar Airport. The Freedom Fighters who have arrived are Shri Bimal Bhowmick, Kartik Sarkar and Adhir Nag.

          To commemorate the centenary of the Cellular Jail and in remembrance of those valiant sons of India who were incarcerated in this jail, befitting programmes have been chalked out.

          On 10^th March 2006 a solemn function will be organized at the Memorial of 1857, Marina Park at 10.00 am in which Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Lt. General (Retd.), Madan Mohan Lakhera will pay tributes to the Heroes of 1857 who were the pioneers among the political prisoners deported to the Andaman Islands. Floral tributes will also be paid by the Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners and their family members and other distinguished guests.

          All surviving Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners, spouses and close relatives of deceased Freedom Fighters will be felicitated at a function that will be organized at 3.00 pm on 10^th March in which Hon’ble Lt. Governor of A&N Islands will be the chief guest and the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta will preside over the function.

          In the evening of 10^th March, 2006, a musical programme by popular singers Shubha Mudgal, Suresh Wadkar and local artistes will be held at the Island Tourism Festival ground from 6.00 pm onwards.

          The National Memorial Cellular Jail is now a place of pilgrimage for all. The heroic saga of Freedom Fighters in ‘Kalapani’ as it was known during those days has been re-created in a moving Sound and Light Show at the Memorial complex.

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