The murky reminder of tyranny

In the scenic Islands of Andaman and Nicobar, one would never imagine a colonial prison to exist. Yet, in such a location of divine appeal stands the Cellular Jail, too called Kala Pani - Black Water, upright in the heart of Sri Vijaya Puram. This three-storeyed prison, built by the British in 1906, is a pilgrimage stop for freedom fighters, now dedicated to the nation as a National Memorial.

Along with the colour puce, the walls of the Cellular jail are stained with unforgettable tales of oppression and colonial tyranny. This colossal edifice has mutely witnessed the most treacherous of inhumane atrocities borne by the convicts, who were mostly freedom fighters.