BookRix

The importance of the word Kalapani in historical and political perspectives with respect to Bengal is immense. For a large part of the history of India’s struggle for independence, this word has a very significant presence. Persons who were considered to be revolutionary by the British rulers of India used to be sent to ‘condemned cells’ of a jail that was named as ‘Cellular Jail’ by the British. Many of such rebellious souls were from Bengal. The construction of that jail was completed at the beginning of the twentieth century, and within no time it became synonymous with ‘Kalapani’. Every citizen of India learns about the country’s freedom struggle; it is an integral part of the Indian education system. Through that process, the word Kalapani becomes acquainted with every Indian. Any inquisitive mind thinks at least once in life about the origin of the word Kalapani, as that word hardly has any other use in the Indian languages. Through his quest, spanning almost his entire active lifespan, Naru has found an explanation of the origin of that word. Through this book he has brought that unique understanding to the readers.