Sri Vijaya Puram | March 8, 2026
A solemn function will be held at the Chatham Memorial on March 10, 2026, at 8:00 AM to commemorate the historic arrival of the first batch of freedom fighters associated with the First War of Independence of 1857 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to officials, the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman will lay a wreath at the memorial during the ceremony as a tribute to the brave heroes who were deported to the islands by the British colonial administration following the uprising of 1857.
The day holds deep historical significance for the islands. On 10 March 1858, the first batch of around 200 prisoners connected with the 1857 uprising arrived at Chatham Island, marking the beginning of the British penal settlement in the Andaman Islands, which later evolved into the infamous “Kalapani” system of exile for political prisoners.
After the revolt of 1857, the British government decided to isolate rebels and political prisoners from mainland India by transporting them to the remote Andaman Islands. The penal settlement was formally established in 1858 to house those involved in the rebellion and other anti-colonial movements. Over the years, many revolutionaries from different parts of India were deported to the islands, where they endured harsh conditions and forced labour.
The penal system later expanded and eventually led to the construction of the Cellular Jail, completed in 1906, which became a notorious prison for Indian freedom fighters during the struggle against British rule.
Every year, islanders gather at the Chatham Memorial to remember the sacrifices of those early revolutionaries whose deportation marked the beginning of the Andamans’ long association with India’s freedom struggle.
Members of the public, descendants of freedom fighters, and officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration are expected to attend the ceremony. Citizens have been invited to participate in the solemn event and pay homage to the heroes of the First War of Independence.
