Andaman Cellular Jail - A National Memorial

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Andaman Cellular Jail - A National Memorial

From left to right: Prabodh Kr. Roy, Bangeshwar Roy, Unidentified Relative, Benoy Kr. Bose,
Bejoy Kr. Banerjee, Sirajul Haque, V.N. Mathur, (9,10) A & N Administration Official,
Sitangshu Dutta Roy, Baba Prithvi Singh Azad, Manoranjan Bhakta (M.P.),
Nisha Kanta Roy Chowdhary, Achyut Ghotak, Fakir Sen,
Lalit Raha, Kalipada Roy, Hira Mohan Chatterjee

First Pilgrimage to Andaman

26 January 1974: The first pilgrimage of ninety-six Ex-Andaman Freedom Fighters travelled by the ship M.V.Andamans and arrived at Port Blair. This group also included family members, widows of those Ex-Andaman Freedom Fighters who had expired and mainland feedom fighters like Manmath Nath Gupt with his wife and Sheel Bhadra Yajee were also invited. They received a hero's welcome by the local people. They visited the jail to look for their names or those of loved ones engraved on marble plaques in the central tower of the jail.

30th August 1976: The Fraternity Circle met with Indira Gandhi to follow up on their demands for the Martyr's Memorial and also to let her know that they were planning to hold the First All India Conference of Ex-Andaman political prisoners in November.

11-13 November 1976: The First All India Conference of all the Ex-Andaman freedom fighters with their families was held in Delhi. The Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, on 3rd November 1976, sent them a goodwill message. She invited them to her residence with their families and met with them.

From left to right: V.N. Mathur, Indira Gandhi, Dr. Bhopal Bose,
Ananta Chakraborty (Bhola Da), Rakhal Chandra Dey, Benoy Bose

29 July 1978: A meeting was held with Prime Minister Morarji Desai, to invite him to inaugurate the Andaman Cellular Jail and a courtesy call was also made to President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.

From left to right: Bangeshwar Roy, Dr. Bhopal Bose, Premanand Jhansi, Jyotirmay Basu (M.P.), Prime Minister Sri Murarji Desai, Ganesh Ghosh, V.N. Mathur, Probodh Roy, Barin Ghosh

From left to right: Bangeshwar Roy, Jyotirmay Basu (M.P.), Premanand Jhansi, Dr. Bhopal Bose, President Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, V.N. Mathur, Ganesh Ghosh, Prabodh Roy, Barin Ghosh

11 February 1979: Prime Minister Morarji Desai inaugurated the Cellular Jail as National Memorial.

23 February 1985: President Giani Zail Singh arrived at Port Blair and dedicated the Martyr's Column to the nation.

On behalf of the Fraternity Circle, Vishwanath Mathur inviting President Zail Singh to inaugurate the Martyr's Coloumn in Andamans.	Shiv Verma and Vishwanath Mathur outlining the Fraternity Circle's plans to make the Cellular Jail a fitting memorial.
Members of the Fraternity Circle meeting President Zail Singh. Left to Right: Satyavrata Chakroborty, Ram Singh, Vishwanath Mathur, President Zail Singh, Shiv Verma, Barin Ghosh, Bangeshwar Roy.

20 October 1990: Lt. Governor R.S.Dayal inaugurated a Sound and Light Show at the Andaman Cellular Jail, outlining the historical significance of the jail. It plays there regularly every evening to visitors who come to visit the Jail in record numbers.

30 December 1997: As part of the 50th Anniversary Independence Celebrations President K.R.Naraynan felicitated the Ex-Andaman freedom fighters and widows and released stamps and coins on the Cellular Jail. In his speech he said, "…I think this is a moment which the rest of India should watch…. I have had the privilege of attending the impressive function held in the Parliament House of India in the midnight of 15th of August this year to mark the transfer of power. But I have not witnessed a more moving, a more emotional ceremony than this today. It was wonderful to see the Freedom Fighters, who have spent years in this jail, come up to the platform to receive the recognition of the people from the hands of the President of India…. They have shown the determination, the pride and the love of country.