New book tells the story of "Kala Pani ki Saza"
NAGPUR: The history of freedom fighters, who were imprisoned at Cellular Jail at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been condensed in a book titled 'Andaman Ki Vyatha Nicobar ki Katha' by author GRP Wamanrao. The book was launched at Patrakar Bhavan recently.
Retired judge of the Bombay High Court Kishore Rohi, former minister Nana Embadwar, noted thinker MG Vaidya, joint commissioner of police Shivaji Bodkhe, poet Sudhakar Gaidhani and head of Nathe Publications Sanjay Nathe were present at the function.
The Cellular Jail is also referred to as 'kala pani'. Wamanrao, in his book, says that the name 'kala pani' was given when the Andaman-Nicobar Manual was created under the colonial era 'penal settlement' regime in which the definition of 'transfer station for life' i.e. punishment to kala (lifetime) pani (water) was inscribed.
According to Wamanrao, the islands are equally important to the country as other states and union territories. He said, "While talking about the length of India, people count the distance between Kashmir and Kanyakumari, which is wrong. When Andaman-Nicobar is part of India, then we must count the length from Kashmir to 'Pygmalion Point'. This point is now known as Indira Point.
