ROSS ISLAND,ANDAMANS-MEMENTO OF A BYGONE BRITISH ERA

      ROSS ISLAND-A WALK THROUGH THE HISTORY

PRESENT DAY, ROSS ISLAND WITH REMNANTS OF A BYGONE BRITISH ERA

Ross island originally known as Chong-ekee-bood(in Andamanese dialect)erstwhile capital of British  settlement is named after the British marine surveyor Sir Daniel Ross and is situated at the mouth of the Port Blair  harbour approximately 800m away from the Aberdeen jetty.The island occupies an area of 0.06sq km and acts as a shield to the Aberdeen against any natural disasters

In march 1789,a well known marine surveyor lieutenent Archiald Blair sailed into this majestic harbour known to sailers as Andaman islands oblivious that he had unfolded a strange new chapter in the history of British raj ,a tragedy that came to be known as "Kalapani".

Ross island became the natural choice for settlers due to its commanding geographical location.Settlers went about their business of recreating a home far away from home with vigour, so much that the island soon earned the epithet the "Paris of the east".In rapid succession ,rose the anglican churches, homes for the British and indian officers, store houses ,shops, printing presses, hospitals, post offices, tennis courts, mineral water plants, swimming pool, bakery, library and general stores on the island.

                                    British settlement at Ross island

An entire bazaar and three separate clubs were also constructed viz.Settlement club,Subordinate club and Temple club.About 500 personnels including officers,troops, indian merchants and families lived at the Ross island

To set up the penal settlement in Ross island ,Dr J P  Walker ,an experienced jail superintendent arrives Port Blair in 1858 with two ships,200 indian revolutionaries (as convicts) an indian overseer, 2 doctors and a guard of 50 naval brigadesmen

The freedom fighters cleared the thick vegetation and the jungle and carried out the entire construction work.They were later shifted to Viper island where the first jail was built .The administrative head quarters of the British in the Andaman and Nicobar islands was established at Ross island and therefore it became the citadel of British power.

          Convicts and freedom fighters where forced into manual labour for construction of buldings

LIFE IN GENERAL AT ROSS ISLAND -THEN

Ross was a very vibrant place with activities throughout the day as it was a small place occupied by about 500 people.The so called convicts and freedom fighters worked throughout the day for the maintenence upkeep and cleanliness of the island under the supervision of the British masters.

A lot of time and effort  was made to beautify the lawns and gardens.The observation tower and the mast for communication atop the British troops barracks situated on the northern side of the island used to control the entry and exit of the ship from the Port Blair Harbour

During the evenings, the British worked out the tennis courts and cricket pitches and therafter  had a dip in the swimming pool.Every saturdays, a sailing race was conducted for the Challenge Cup.Fishing was also a popular sport.The personnel went across Aberdeen for golf and hockey practices.

The clubs got activated in the evenings and the British would often dance to the tunes of the playing bands.The Farzand Ali store used to be well equipped with provisions and grocery to meet the daily needs of the residents of the island.Life on this remote island was well equipped to replicate the aristocratic living of the miniature England.

PARIS OF THE  EAST

The Ross glittred with modern amenities and was packed with architecturally beautiful buildings and government institutions.Though over populated the precinct was maintained and was spotlessly clean.Generators were installed and electricity was made available so that at night it appeared like a massive bedecked ship underway from the neighbouring island.

Ross island thus came to be known as "Paris of the East".Its residents enjoyed all comforts of modern living and amenities.

EARTHQUAKE HITS ROSS

After almost a century of ruling the island of Andaman and Nicobar from this tiny island citadel,the settlers were shaken by a massive earthquake on 26 June 1941.The earthquake developed a crack across the center of the island running from one end to the other causing massive damage to a number of buildings.

With the advance of the Japanese forces during World War 2 there was also imminent danger to the British settled in the Andaman and Niconbar islands. The British gripped with fear started withdrawing to mainland and by 1942 Ross island was virtually deserted with the evacuation of the last of the British civilians.

                                 Earthquake that devastated the island

WORLD WAR 2-JAPANESE OCCUPATION

The invading Japanese army landed at Port Blair on 23 March 1942 without firing a single shot as the British military policemen surrendered themselves.The resident indians of the island were jubiliant and regarded the japanese to be their saviours who would free them from the British rule. But they were mistaken and for 3 years the japanese struck terror on the island.

The Japanese fortifies the island by constructing various bunkers along the water front to defend the island and used prisoners and free citizens as labour for preparing for turning the island into a military base.The Japanese also resorted to brutal treatment of the residents of Ross island suspecting them for leaking information to the enemy

                                     Japanese occupation of Ross island

JAPANESE BUNKER

There were 13 bunkers all around the island out of which four Japanese bunkers can still be seen on the island and these bear testimony to the apprehensions and fear of the Japanese against intruding warships during World War 2.These bunkers were bulit during the Japanese occupation of the island from 1942-1945.The japanese army landed on the Port Blair on 23rd march 1942 and occupied the island without any resistance.They built these bunkers along the water front by pulling down the buildings to get bricks and timber for construction.

POST WORLD WAR 2

With the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the fortunes of war once again reversed forcing the Japanese to surrender unconditionally to the Allied forces on  9th October 1945.

Post World War 2 ,the Chief Commissioner stayed in the Aberdeen area and Ross remained deserted.There were rumours that Ross island was sinking after the earthquake in 1941.Soon doors and window frames were removed by marauders and were reused in Port Blair

Of all the exquisite old furniture made of the finest teak and rose wood, only a few odd pieces remain in Raj Nivas.The sea wall that once ran right round the island has been claimed by the fury of the sea rendering the "Paris of the East to remain as a ghost town.

ROSS HANDED OVER TO THE INDIAN NAVY

The island was handed over to the Indian Navy on 18 April 1979 due to its strategic importance owing to its  geographic location.The Indian Navy over the years opened Ross island to the visitors and tourists.It has been the endevour of the Indian Navy to improve the general condtion of the island ever since.

"Smritika" the Ross island memorial museum was set up on 6 Dec 1993 with several interesting photographs and artifacts of the bygone era displayed.

TSUNAMI OF 2004

The islanders of Port Blair shall eternally be indebted to the Ross island which stood unshaken as a mighty shield and took the massive brunt of the ferociuos Tsunami on 26 December 2004 and saved the entire city of Port Blair from destruction.The sea wall along the eastern side bore the brunt and was breeched at several locations.A large portion of Ferrar beach was also lost to the Tsunami.

SOME OF THE SHOTS TAKEN DURING THE TRIP.........