Directorate of Art and Culture Andaman & Nicobar Administration

Chatham Island Memorial erected in the year 2008-09 to mark the 150 years of the arrival of first batch of 200 Freedom Fighters of First War of Independence who arrived here on 10th March 1858. Every year a solemn function is organized on 10th March to pay tribute to the heroes of First War of Independence.

Fig: Chatham Memorial

The Ross Island was carefully chosen by marine Surveyor Sir Daniel Ross, after whom it is named, to guard Port Blair harbour. It was occupied by the British after a few days, on their arrival in the Islands on 10th March 1858. Since then, it remained the Headquarter of the British Government till the occupation of the Islands by Japanese Imperial Forces on 23rd March 1942.The Chief Commissioner’s residence, Swimming Pool and Tennis Court for officers and all other facilities such as Bakery, Distilling Water Plant were constructed at the Ross Island for the British Settlement Officers.

Fig: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island

When Japanese Forces occupied the islands, the British Chief Commissioner’s residence was occupied by the Japanese Garrison Commander. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited the islands as Head of the Provisional Government of India on 29th December 1943. The Indian Flag was also hoisted on the British Chief Commissioner’s residence during Netaji’s stay in the island.

The island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 30th December 2018 during the 75th anniversary of First Flag hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the islands.

Viper Island is one of the heritage sites in A&N Islands where the first Jail and Gallows were built during 1864-67. Freedom Fighters were subjected to various forms of inhuman punishment at Viper Island. Many of the unsung heroes of our freedom struggle were hanged and their mortal body thrown into the sea by British authorities. The Viper Island was a ‘Hell on Earth’ where many thousands of our famous freedom fighters of 1857 War of Indian Independence and the later freedom movements that continued in different regions of India were deported to Andaman to be incarcerated in the ‘Viper Island Chain Gang Jail’.

Fig: Viper Island

1857 Memorial, Marina Park was erected in memory of all those freedom fighters who were deported to Andaman Islands in connection with First War of Independence. The memorial was raised during the centenary year of first war of Independence in 1957. Earlier, 10th March function was held here but after the erection of Chatham Memorial all programmes related to 10th March has been shifted to Chatham.

Fig:Memorial, Marina Park

Aberdeen War Memorial, Water Sports Complex was erected in 1995 in memory of those Great Andamanese who were killed in the Battle of Aberdeen fought between them and the Britishers on 17th May 1859.Every year a solemn function is organized here on the day.

Balidan Vedi –Homfraygunj Martyr’s Memorial stands a mute symbol to the Japanese reign of terror in the islands. It was here, the Japanese Imperial Force brutally killed 44 islanders who were the members of Indian Independence League (IIL) and Indian National Army (INA), Andaman Branch on 30th January 1944 on false espionage charges. On 30th January 1944 Japanese took away these members from the Cellular Jail to the village Homfraygunj on a hillock, shot dead and buried all the 44 members in a “L” shaped mass grave.
This Memorial was initially raised by the Homfraygunj Martyrs Memorial Committee but now maintains by the Department of Art and Culture.

This is the place where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Tricolor on 30th December, 1943 for first time on free Indian soil, much before India attained Independence. This is the place where the present Netaji Stadium stands. A commemorative Flag hoisting function used to be held here every year on 30th December. However, on 30th December 2018, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India hoisted the Flag on the occasion of 75th year of First Flag hoisting by Netaji at Flag Point. Since then, 30th December function is held at the Flag Point.

Seven islanders were shot dead on 30th March 1943 at Dugnabad seashore. A small park with a memorial has been raised by Port Blair Municipal Council near the Marine Circuit House in memory of these martyrs.