India’s Abandoned Island of Colonial Horror: Ross Island
A Tale of Oppression and Disaster
The Penal Colony
In the wake of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, British colonists established a penal colony on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to quell rebellion. Ross Island, the smallest of the archipelago’s 576 islands, became the administrative headquarters due to its strategic location.
Indian convicts and political prisoners were forced to clear the island’s dense forests and construct an opulent colonial complex, including a commissioner’s bungalow, a Presbyterian church, and manicured gardens. Despite the luxurious surroundings, life on Ross Island was anything but comfortable.
Inmates were overworked, disease-ridden, and emaciated. Malaria, cholera, and other tropical diseases were rampant. The British even conducted illicit medical trials on convicts, force-feeding them experimental malaria drugs with severe side effects.
The Cellular Jail and Indian Independence
As the Indian struggle for independence intensified, the need for a proper prison led to the construction of the Cellular Jail at nearby Port Blair. This notorious prison witnessed unspeakable atrocities against Indian freedom fighters and political prisoners.
The Cellular Jail’s closure in 1937 marked a turning point in the history of the Andamans. However, the tumultuous past of the islands continued.
Earthquake and Japanese Occupation
In 1941, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck the islands, causing widespread damage and over 3,000 deaths. One year later, Japanese forces occupied the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Unable to defend the islands, the British fled. Over the course of three years of Japanese occupation, Ross Island was pillaged for raw materials and vandalized to build bunkers.
Abandonment and Tourism
After the Allied forces recaptured the islands in 1945, the penal colony was permanently disbanded. Today, Ross Island is administered by the Indian government and exists as a tourist attraction.
Visitors can explore the abandoned buildings, now enveloped in gnarly trees. The island’s eerie atmosphere and forgotten history evoke the horrors of colonial oppression.
A Forgotten Legacy
Ross Island, once touted as the “Paris of the East,” stands as a poignant reminder of the brutality of British imperialism and the resilience of the Indian people.
Despite its idyllic surroundings, the island’s history is one of suffering and oppression. Yet, amidst the decay and desolation, Ross Island offers a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of Indian history and the enduring legacy of colonialism.