History Of Cellular Jail In Andaman And Nicobar Island

The colonial British rule in India was both a boon as well as a bane for India. It was a Bane because the negative impact of the rule was felt all across the country as it extracted India of all its diversity, ethnicity, resources, and culture. But on the other hand, it was also a boon for India in the sense that it modernized India. British introduced industrialization built Railways as well as the established judicial system and prison system. One of those most prominent prisons developed by the British for their benefit was the "Cellular Jail".

The Cellular Jail of India, built at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is a reminder of India's dark colonial history. The Cellular Jail is also known as "Kala Pani" which means 'Black Water' and this prison symbolized the despotic power of the British Empire in India. The Jail was set as a colonial prison and used by the British to exile the political prisoners of the Indian Freedom Movement. The construction of this three-storeyed prison started in the year of 1896 and was completed after 10 years in 1906.

The first spark of the rebel in India was: "Indian Rebellion of 1857" which brought a feeling of nationalism and started the struggle for India's struggle of Independence from Britain. When the British realized this, they built the Cellular Jail to suppress the struggles. The prisoners of this rebellion were put on trial and exiled for the rest of life at Andaman to prevent the beginning of any other uprising. The islands are remote and isolated from the mainland of the country and hence it was considered the best suitable place to put and punish the revolutionaries. As the revolt grew in number, the number of prisoners sent to jail also increased.