SGPC delegation visits Cellular Jail monument at Andaman
Port Blair/ Amritsar, May 1, 2017: A high level delegation that is on a 3-day visit to Andaman islands, once notorious as Kala Pani, visited Cellular Jail museum on the first day to have first-hand account of the situation in the context of the contributions made to the freedom struggle by the Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular.
While the detailed report would be prepared and presented to SGPC chief Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar for necessary follow up, the first impression was that of a skew narrative both at the level of display and light and sound programme staged otherwise in the evening with patriotic fervour. The light and sound programme is presentation of the torture and struggle of the freedom struggle as the jail came up.
It may be mentioned that Gadar Party leaders, leaders associated with Kama GatuMaru and Babbar Akalis were interned here. Kartar Singh Jhabbar, one of pioneers of the Gurdwara Liberation Movement, was and sentenced to Kala Pani.
Led by SGPC general secretary Amarjit Singh Chawla, the delegation includes its executive member Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Director (Education), Dr Dharaminder Singh Ubha, DrParamveer Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, additional secretary Harbhajan Singh Manawan, social activist Gurdarshan Singh Bahia and senior journalist Jagtar Singh.
The delegation is collecting entire record that is available in any form at Port Blair of the Punjab freedom fighters. The effort is to meet as many people whose families have undergone that torture.
Port Blair witnessed two phases in brutal and inhuman torture, first by the British rulers who set up the Cellular jail and then during three years of Japanese occupation. Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani was martyred during Japanese occupation.