colony ross island colony convict settlement established remote british colonial government india primarily jail large number prisoners indian rebellion known indian mutiny establishment colony british administration administrative headquarters entire group islands built facilities site colony meant models colonial governance rehabilitation chief commissioner residence located highest point island colony infamous black water inflicted british authorities political prisoners india died illness torture suffered initial stages clearance forest establish colony later years colony experimented short time indigenous people colony experimental station methods torture medical tests second world war island invaded japanese army forcing british evacuate administrative buildings destroyed colony remained allied forces island colony disbanded october geography islands chosen establishing colony located near entrance harbour port blair south small island mile called paris east exciting social life tropical forests island devastated invading army japanese earthquake struck island appears like jungle clad history earliest known effort establish colony found island ideal colony initiative failed malaria prevented indian war indian independence interest india establish colony political prisoners group prisoners transported control calcutta included prominent leaders movement islamic reform movement subsequent revolution prisoners landed march walker soon task clearing dense forest building shelters buildings laying roads prisoners neck identity poor state health beginning basic amenities rainy season live tents november temporary type walls leaking roofs provided accommodation prisoners stage prisoners transported islands project died sickness sir came port blair investigate found conditions food clothing shelter provided comparatively better place earlier initial years wife improved facilities community posted superintendent convict settlement known british april february tried improve conditions camp death rate prisoners year time doctors camp reported prisoners considered medically fit according reports 1870s intense rain malaria pneumonia caused deaths time authorities embarked testing drugs like forcibly feeding prisoners resulted severe effects depression result prisoners started injuring authorities hang instead new system reduced diet introduced sleep kind work cage prisoners faced hardships indigenous tribes tortured killed working field attacked colony exported freed engaged agriculture forced service given monetary compensation month escape colony impossible tried killed beginning world war germany noted political prisoners colony create undesirable revolution release stage following capture island german ship bombardment risky suggested care adequate security place colony shifted mainland small boats time establishment till disbanded october colony administered chief commissioners deserted fortress tourist attraction notable events days landing island convicted tried escape caught shot dead prisoner committed suicide hanging inmates tried escape attacked people turn prison camp seeking medical help death hanging single day president council calcutta complained higher authorities walker instead colony iron collar prevent escape finally october removed settlement suggested branding information crime sentence given april person saved people political prisoner absorbed culture married girls learned language verge mounting massive attack colony ran away secretly conveyed information superintendent attacked camp bows arrows completely routed superior weapons british battle came known battle initiative local people seek independence british rule resulted change approach british handle local people steps initiated seek peace british officer appointed look welfare notable incident occurred assassination lord india visited islands inspection tour visited settlement attack lord carried colony sick leave assassination carried returning pleasant trip evening february political prisoner suffered longest period years released good behavior july occasion 50th anniversary india war independence renowned poet intellectual court friend poet mentor accused muslims delhi wage british war independence refused guilty seek amnesty transported colony colony october till death son efforts father released father funeral port blair notable actions colony write details war independence experience sticks cloth later published arabic
Ross Island Penal Colony