Â鶹Éç

« Previous | Main | Next »

Kala Pani: A Forgotten History

Post categories: ,Ìý,Ìý

Â鶹Éç Wales History Â鶹Éç Wales History | 15:37 UK time, Monday, 19 April 2010

A chance find of some reel-to-reel tapes lead Radio Wales journalist Selma Chalabi on a journey of discovery to the exotic Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal..

Ìý

Selma's grandfather, Noel Kennedy Paterson, or NKP as he was known, had served as a member of the Indian Civil Service and had rose to the rank of Chief Commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar, during the 1930s and 40s.

Ìý

Kala Pani prisonÌý

Cellular Jail on the Andaman Islands


Failing eyesight had forced NPK to commit his memoirs to tape, and it is from these crackling old tapes that Selma discovered references to a Penal Colony and a 'Cellular Jail' for political prisoners.


Intrigued by these references, Selma was inspired to further investigate the stories behind the tropical paradise.


For many Indians they still hold an unsavoury reputation as a place of exile, where many committed freedom fighters endured isolation, extreme hard labour and even death. Its Cellular Jail, is known to Indians as 'Kala Pani' or the 'Dark Waters'.


Selma Chalabi investigates the forgotten history of the notorious Andamans Penal Settlement and meets the last living Bengali freedom fighter to be held in the jail.



Kala Pani A Forgotten History is broadcast on Wednesday 21 April, 11am, Â鶹Éç Radio Four


the news story on Kala Pani.Ìý


Wales history has a number of helpful articles to help you trace your family tree.

Comments

  • No comments to display yet.
Ìý

More from this blog...

Â鶹Éç iD

Â鶹Éç navigation

Â鶹Éç © 2014 The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.