Saza-e-Kalapani

Passing time on this dull Friday Afternoon i came across this article which prompted me to write this post. Post abt Kalapani as they all call it -- the worst jail term anybody cud get in pre-independence era. I also got Kalapani the only difference being it was post-independence, but hell what does a 16 year guy knows abt that. i was 16 years old when i showed my dis-interest in my fathers' business and had no clear goals in life what i wanted to be. i didn't knew that casual talk with my father (while i was flying kite) on a chilly December day will become my sentence to kalapani, as it turned out to be a week later when i was told to pack my bags and head off to Port Blair to stay with my relatives. I was very upset as the words echoed in my ears....What? what wrong did i do? The reply i got in return was "ur grown enuf, u have made a decision that u do not want to do business. I have made my decision that u cannot stay here coz the atmosphere ur gng to get at home will be always business-like. So ur out in 6 mnths time". I thought my folks does not love me (well it was my father actually, my mother cried on hearing his decision). Thinking abt it now, i have become an engineer (a great achievement if u ask me) :) Port Blair is a very calm and quite place. Life there is really amazing, no tensions, no worries and awesome beaches. Looking at the picture of Cellular Jail just reminded me how grand the structure is. Moreover i am amazed by the sheer genious of the designers who designed it.....Only 3-5 guards can keep a watch on the entire premises....real genius. For those of u do not know, original cellualr jail used to have seven wings, now it has five wings the other two gave way for the biggest hospital in the Islands which provides free medical services for the local people. Then there was my favorite Corbyn's Cove beach .. ah! i just love beaches. Then u have Marina Sports Water complex..my favourite place in the whole world. There was this bench at the end of the Jetty overlooking sea and Ross Islands at a distance frm where u can see all the ships entering Port Blair Harbor. But as they say all good things come to an end and this did literally....Tsunami Dec. 2004.....i was not there though i have heard frm my frens that Marina Sports Complex was totally devastated as the other places in the Islands .... i wonder what happened to Little Andaman where i say a water fall for the first time in my life. I wonder that bench is still there, neh it is not i saw the picture of the jetty and everything was submerged. Well the restoration work is gng on and hope it is completed before i head to my second home this winter! And yea who can forget the light-and-sound programme @ Cellular Jail every evening....gosh i am missing it too much!