75th Anniversary of the First Flag Hoisting at Port Blair

Port Blair – A Symbol of Sacrifice and Freedom

Gateway to the Islands

Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a serene and picturesque destination surrounded by turquoise waters and lush greenery. Known today as a hub for tourism, it serves as the gateway to pristine beaches, coral reefs, and vibrant marine life. However, beyond its natural charm, Port Blair holds a deeply emotional and historical significance in India’s freedom struggle.

The “Kala Pani” Legacy

For history enthusiasts, Port Blair is synonymous with the infamous “Kala Pani,” a term that evokes memories of extreme suffering and endurance. The Cellular Jail, now a National Memorial, stands as a grim reminder of the colonial past when freedom fighters were deported here as part of the British penal settlement.
The first batch of prisoners—participants in the First War of Independence of 1857—arrived on 10 March 1858, marking the beginning of the prison’s dark history. These convicts, most of them political prisoners, endured inhuman conditions, hard labour, and life imprisonment. Many succumbed to disease and starvation, while others were executed.

Cellular Jail – The Bastille of India

The Cellular Jail remains a symbol of India’s indomitable spirit and the resilience of its freedom fighters. Among those who endured torture here were Veer Savarkar, Ganesh Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutt, Indu Bhushan Roy, Trailokyanath Chakravarthy, Prithvi Singh Azad, and Mahavir Singh, among many others.
Their courage and sacrifices transformed the Cellular Jail into a sacred site of national pilgrimage, forever etched in India’s collective memory.

The First Indian Territory to Be Liberated

A remarkable yet lesser-known fact is that Port Blair was the first Indian territory liberated from British rule. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Japan, which later handed them over to the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in 1943.

Netaji’s Historic Visit and Flag Hoisting

Netaji visited the Andaman Islands from 29–31 December 1943, accompanied by members of the Azad Hind Government. He stayed at the former British Chief Commissioner’s residence on Ross Island (now Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island).
On 30 December 1943, at a mass rally held at the Gymkhana Ground in Port Blair, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian Tricolour for the first time on liberated Indian soil. He proclaimed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the first Indian territory freed from British rule.

Symbolism and Legacy

Following the flag hoisting, Netaji visited the Cellular Jail, spending nearly two hours paying homage to the imprisoned revolutionaries. Later, he remarked:

“For Indians, the return of the Andaman represents the first territory to be liberated from British yoke. By the acquisition of this territory, the provisional government has now become a national entity in fact as well as in name. The liberation of the Andamans has symbolic significance because the Andaman has always been used by the British as a prison for political prisoners… Like the Bastille in Paris, which was liberated first in the French Revolution, setting free political prisoners, the Andaman where our patriots suffered is the first to be liberated in India’s fight for independence.”

Netaji renamed Andaman Island as “Shaheed” and Nicobar Island as “Swaraj”, immortalizing the spirit of sacrifice and freedom.

A Living Memorial

Today, the site where Netaji hoisted the national flag stands as a monument of immense historical importance, reminding every visitor of the courage, endurance, and patriotic fervour that shaped India’s path to independence.