The Cellular Jail (kala Pani) – Where The British tortured Indian Freedom Fighters

The Cellular Jail (kala Pani), located in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a prison where Indian freedom fighters were deported and imprisoned by the British in very inhumane conditions. Currently it is a national monument, it is called the Cellular because it was built solely to house individual cells for the purpose of solitary confinement. Originally, the building had seven wings, at the center of which was a tower with a large bell manned by guards.

Each wing had three storeys and each solitary cell was approximately 15 feet by 9 feet in length, with a single window at a height of 9 feet. These wings were shaped like the spokes of a bicycle and the front of one wing was placed behind the other so there was no means of communication between one prisoner and another.

Construction of Cellular Jail

The construction work of the jail started in 1896 and was completed in 1910. Its original building was made of bricks of a dark brownish red colour. The building had seven wings. In the center of which a tower was established as a crossing and was used by the guards to keep an eye on the prisoners.

The architecture of the Cellular Jail was designed based on the principle of the “Pennsylvania System or Solitary System”, which required separate confinement for each prisoner in complete isolation from other inmates. There was no communication between prisoners in the same wing or in different wings.

Viper Chain Gang Jail

Before the Cellular Jail (kala Pani) was built, it was the Viper Island prison which was used by the British rule to torture the freedom fighters of the country. Cells with dungeons, lock-up stocks and whips have been the specialty of the Viper prison. Women were also kept in jail.

The prison conditions were such that the place was given the infamous name, “Viper Chain Gang Jail”. Those who challenged British authority were chained together and confined at night to a chain running through fetters around their feet. Chain gang members were kept for hard labor in this prison.

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witness to heart-rending stories

Every brick of the Cellular Jail has been witness to heart-rending stories of resistance, suffering and sacrifices. The Cellular Jail has been a mute spectator to the inhuman sufferings of the great patriots and freedom fighters. He even had to sacrifice his precious life as a victim of tyranny. One punishment was so horrific that the victim was forced to separate the legs from his body. Many brave freedom fighters also had to face inhuman sufferings in the Cellular Jail.