BOOK REVIEW
By BILAL AHMAD SHAMIM
THE STORY OF CELLULAR JAIL
PRISON TO PILGRIMAGE
BY DR RASHIDA IQBAL
Published by Notion Press.com
Pages 245 , Price Rs 349
It all began on March 24, 2009, when I read an article ‘A bit of Peshawar in Port Blair ‘ written by P.C. Sharma, in The Tribune, Chandigarh, a widely read newspaper in the North India. The write-up was about Ainullah Khan, a convict transported to Port Blair from Peshawar. During his incarceration, he earned the reputation of a most conscientious driver and was released from the notorious jail. Thereafter, he chose to settle in the islands, married twice, and was blessed with a good number of children. One of his daughters, Dr Rashida Iqbal, is a well-known figure in the Andaman Islands as a poet, writer, historian , orator and anchor. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to read one of her earlier books entitled ‘ Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle in Andaman, Who’s Who’ containing a brief introduction of the freedom fighters and martyrs who suffered brutal excesses and untold tortures in the dreaded cellular jail.
On 29th May , 2025, a news appeared in the Daily Telegrams, Sri Vijayapuram about the launching of the book ‘The story of Cellular Jail, Prison to Pilgrimage ‘ written by Dr Rashida Iqbal. I immediately ordered it online.
The author has dedicated this book to her parents.
This is a book that should interest anybody enthusiastic to have an overview of the emerald green Andaman and Nicobar Islands, how and when they began to be used as penal settlements, the ill-fated people condemned to be brought here, the construction of the cellular jail , and the inhumane treatment meted out to the freedom fighters and revolutionaries at the hands of the British and the Japanese. The author has provided a brief but poignant and vivid description of the events related to the penal settlements in the islands starting from the deportation of the freedom fighters of 1857 from the mainland till the repatriation of the last batch of prisoners on 18 January, 1938. While going through the book, a reader feels himself completely identified with all the happenings in these islands during the pre- independence era. The life of the freedom fighters fraught with untold and unimaginable persecutions and sufferings – both physical and mental – carry the readers on an emotional voyage reigniting the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.
The book has been divided into eight chapters.
The first chapter ‘ Andaman and Nicobar Islands – an Overview ‘, provides a succinct but sufficient introduction to the geographical location, terrain, history, and the pristine tribes of these islands. The author has particularly drawn references from Ptolemy, Abu Zaid Hasan, Marco Polo, and a few others while describing the history of these islands. Regarding the origin of the word Andaman, M.V. Portman’s reference is given wherein he says that these islands were mentioned as Handuman in Ramayana.
The second chapter deals with the circumstances that necessitated establishment of a penal settlement here . The author gives a brief account of the survey done by Captain Archibald Blair and Colonel Colebrook in the year 1788.
The reader is offered an insight into events connected with establishment of a settlement at Chatham island in 1790, and its subsequent relocation to North East Harbour in 1792, the naming of Port of Cornwallis as Port Blair, the abolition of the first settlement in 1796, and the exegencies leading to the colonization of Nicobar Islands.
Elaborating upon the causes and conditions of the penal settlement, the author makes a particular reference of the Great Mutiny of 1857, genesis of Kala Pani, and the miserable life of convicts under the most and adverse and inhospitable conditions which ultimately caused the deaths many inmates. A year-wise chart depicting the percentage of death rate is also provided in the chapter.
The third chapter discusses the freedom fighters of 1857 and of subsequent revolutionary movements who were transported to Andaman. A brief account of Musai Singh and Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi, who were among the earliest people condemned to life imprisonment in the Islands, and also some other patriots exiled from the United Provinces. The chapter also contains a comprehensive detail of the Rebellion in South India in 1857, Andaman-Assam connection during 1857, Wahabi and Kuka Movements, and a few other Movements.
Among many other freedom fighters, two persons, although not directly associated with any movement, are specially mentioned in the chapter – one , Sher Ali, the assassin of Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India, and the other, Maharaja Divyasingh Dev III of Puri. Unsung heroes of Mizoram, and Maharaja of Manipur have also been accorded a special mention.
Highlighting the role of Lyall-Lethbridge Commission, chapter IV sheds light on the history of Cellular Jail- its construction, the costs incurred, the dimensions and design and the number of cells in each other seven wings of the jail, besides providing a summary of year- wise count of the convicts imprisoned.
Chapter V contains an absorbing overview of the prisoners convicted between the period 1908- 38 for their involvement in different revolutionary movements such as, Alipore Bomb case, Nasik Conspiracy case, Nangla Khulna Conspiracy case, and Dalhousie Square Bomb case, just to name a few. A section of the chapter is dedicated to the heroes of the Ghadar Movement of 1905, and also of the Moplah Rebellion of 1921. Names of some prominent revolutionaries involved in various movements have also been mentioned- Ullaskar Duty, Babu Ram Hari of Swarajya, Ghulam Sarwar of N.W. Frontier, V.D. Savarkar, Suresh Chandra Sen Gupta of Dacca and many more.
Chapter VI ‘ Cellular Jail Story- Incarceration to Repatriation ‘, arguably the most significant one, poignantly summarises the ordeals borne by the revolutionaries during the arduous and harrowing voyage to Andman islands, the most inhuman and barbaric treatment they were subject to by the callous Jailer David Barry, the extremely inhospitable and horrible and unhealthy conditions they were made to live in during their incarceration, and the most exacting and exhausting labour they were engaged in such as – coir pounding and oil grinding like the beasts of burden- besides being subjected to severe and merciless punishments at the slightest oversight or negligence in the performance of their allotted task.
The author has given a detailed account of the suicide of Indu Bhushan Roy, the severe persecution of Ullaskar Duty, the hunger strike and martyrdom of Mahavir, Mohit and Mankrishna, Bhai Bhan Singh and Pandit Ram Rakha.
The penultimate chapter of the book, no less important than the rest , portrays the reign of terror and fear unleashed by the Japanese during their short stint in the islands beginning from 23 March, 1942 till 7 October, 1945. The islanders had to face and suffer the most heinous and barbaric persecution at the hands of the Japanese rulers. The author has given a brief account of the brutal execution of Zulfiqar Ali alias Sunny, the first victim of the Japanese. Many innocent persons were shot by the firing squad on the false pretext of spying for the British. Dr Diwan Singh, a prominent figure an active member of the Indian Independence League and Peace Committee also attained martyrdom on 14 January, 1944, succumbing to the merciless tortures.
A brief account of the three -day visit of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose as the Head of the State of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, to these islands is also given.
The concluding chapter deals with the current state of the Cellular Jail, and its surviving history through the vagaries of nature . At present, only three of the seven wings are remaining which constitute 283 cells.
The Cellular Jail was dedicated to the nation as a National Memorial by the then Prime Minister, Shri Morarji Desai on 11 th February, 1977.
The book contains two appendices. The first one contains the list of freedom fighters who were imprisoned in the cellular jail, and the other, carries some important photos and facsimiles related to the cellular jail and the author. Noteworthy among them is the driving licence of Shri Ainullah Khan, the author’s father.
This book is the saga of the freedom fighters, revolutionaries, and other political prisoners besides many other innocent victims, who exhibited the most exalted standard of patriotism and bore the yoke of persecution and incarceration so that their countrymen might see the dawn of freedom and independence.
The title of the book is very apt and appropriate and a befitting tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for our country.
The printing of the book is very neat and nearly error-free, the title cover is sober but dignified , and the language and style is easy to understand.
A must-read for all those want to have an overview of the history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
