The Secret Diary of Sagar
4th January 1858,
Cellular Jail,
Port Blair (Kalapani).
Dear Diary,
The suffocating heat and the extreme brutalities imposed by the jailor, Sir. George Hawkins is unbearable. Every day the convicts are forced to grind coconut shells to create fibre for fabrics and making bricks and also made to work in oil mills without any payment as such. Further, all the convicts are handcuffed except during labour times and if any convict tried to protest against any such tyrannical measure he is brutally tortured by the British officials. The meal provided is of very little or no nutritional value and too unhygienic. There is no way to escape from the jail, perhaps there is high security and high ventilated cells and if someone still manages to escape there is the ‘KALA PANI’ (black water) which is impossible to escape for a normal human being! Many convicts die every day by ruthless treatment by the officials. Most of the time the officials however in order to escape from legal action state that they died by suicide. We are not given any pieces of writing material. I would not like to state how did I managed to get one because of the possible capture of this writing by any Britisher.
There are rumours that the Lion of Midnapore, Jag Bandhu Dutta has been punished to exile to South India and my jailor mocked me saying “Your Babu is enjoying in God’s Own Country drinking Cardamom Tea and enjoying breathtaking views of the mountains getting a pension of 16 annas. What are you doing? Serving in salt marshes (says laughingly) His clone, Sagar. I do not have any problem if Babu is in better condition than me. Perhaps he is a Babu and I am a poor man. He is a ‘Bhadralok’ and I am just his servant. We both wanted Azaadi (independence), we both fought against British in our own way and we both loved our Matr Bhoomi (Motherland). But perhaps my destiny was in Kalapani and Babu’s destiny in Kerala. I replied, “Sir,” George “Lord, will he enjoy his tea I do not think so, every sip of his cardamom tea will make him remember the struggle for Matr Bhoomi which we both failed, his every glance at the mountains will show him the glided cage he is in and his bungalow where he resides reminds him of his defeat and every anna pension he receives reminds him that it is the money he is receiving from his ‘exploited’ Matr Bhoomi. Let Babu enjoy, Sir!” George was surprised at his answer and said proudly after I left “Indians are really patriots! Even when one is enjoying his tea, another likes it being chained and beaten every day. We can only make conjectures about their profound love for their motherland.” I do not think I will live any longer than a few months for I have caught malaria by unhygienic conditions in the jail but Babu, I wish you live long so that you show these Britishers how a Bhadralok can also challenge their authority. The only thing I want to ask Babu is that did I make a mistake by serving my motherland? I did not fight like you Babu! I could not fire cannons! But certainly I did help my motherland. But she only recognized you, not me. You are enjoying her resources and I am still serving her. Remember Babu the every tea you drink will haunt you will make you remember of the motherland you once loved but now you are defeated! Now you only value your Bhadralok charm not your love for motherland! There is one request Babu! Do not ask forgiveness from me perhaps I cannot forgive you, you did no injustice to me! I love getting punished for my loyalty to motherland. If you truly want forgiveness, ask it to Bharat Mata perhaps, she is the only one who can forgive you…. We will certainly meet with you Babu……. At the time of judgement……When the independent India’s history will be written…………We’ll meet……. (Pen breaks ink that was his own blood spattered)
To ‘Zamindar Babu’ of Midnapore, Jag Bandhu Dutta.
Sagar.
By Riyan Dutta
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