Student participation in educational visits to the National Memorial Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has increased more than threefold within a year, reflecting a significant expansion of heritage awareness initiatives aimed at children and youth. The rise in footfall follows a renewed push by the administration to strengthen understanding of India’s freedom struggle and the sacrifices associated with it.
According to official data, the number of schools participating in educational visits rose from 51 in 2024 to 144 in 2025, while the number of students increased from 3,082 to 9,395 during the same period. The visits are being facilitated free of cost for students from schools, colleges and other educational institutions across the Islands.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Art and Culture Department, which has urged educational institutions to actively arrange visits to the Cellular Jail as part of experiential learning. Officials indicated that the programme is intended to move beyond conventional classroom teaching and provide students with firsthand exposure to historical sites connected with the freedom movement.
The Cellular Jail, often referred to as Kala Pani, holds a central place in India’s colonial history as a site where freedom fighters were imprisoned during British rule. By encouraging students to visit the memorial, the administration aims to deepen awareness of the hardships endured by those who were incarcerated there and to contextualise the freedom struggle in a tangible manner.
The renewed emphasis on student visits follows guidance given during a cultural programme held in Sri Vijaya Puram in December 2025, commemorating the anniversary of a poem composed by Veer Savarkar. In the wake of the programme, steps were initiated to strengthen awareness among children and youth regarding the freedom movement and related historical figures.
Educational institutions have been advised to coordinate with the Art and Culture Department to schedule visits and manage logistics. The department has made arrangements to ensure that visits are conducted in an organised manner, allowing students to engage meaningfully with the site and its exhibits.
In addition to facilitating visits, the administration is planning a series of awareness-oriented academic activities aimed at further engaging young people with historical narratives. Proposed initiatives include slogan competitions at the school level and book review programmes at the college and higher education level. These activities are intended to encourage students to reflect on historical ideas and values while developing critical thinking and expression skills.
Officials said the combined approach of site visits and academic activities is designed to create sustained engagement with history rather than one-time exposure. By integrating heritage education into school and college programmes, the administration aims to instil a sense of national pride and historical awareness among students from an early age.
The sharp increase in participation over the past year has been viewed by officials as an indication of growing interest among schools and colleges in heritage-based learning. Organisers believe that continued outreach and structured programming will help maintain this momentum in the coming years.
The Art and Culture Department has reiterated its commitment to nurturing cultural and historical awareness across generations. By expanding access to the National Memorial Cellular Jail and complementing visits with academic initiatives, the administration aims to ensure that the legacy of the freedom movement remains accessible and relevant to young people in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
