Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 23 (LatestNewsX) – Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar of the National Commission for Women praised the legacy of Veer Savarkar and other independence fighters during her trip to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an official added on Sunday.
On X, she wrote, “I visited the historic Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar and paid homage to those walls that bear the indelible imprint of the suffering, courage, and struggle of our freedom fighters.”
She continued, “I am thrilled to have visited the cell in this jail where Veer Savarkar ji was held. For this cell — witness to sacrifice, penance, and immortal patriotism — is not merely a room, but the very place where the dream of freedom burned as an act of penance, where words gave birth to revolution, and every torment for Mother India was endured with a smile,” and added, “It is here that Veer Savarkar ji endured the horrific agonies of the black waters, took up the pen of struggle for the motherland, and inspired an entire era with his indomitable will.”
She also recalled a line from his poem that resonated with her: “Seeing his cell, one line from the poem he himself wrote — expressing devotion to the motherland, profound loyalty, and the deep sentiment of sacrifice — came to mind: ‘For you, death is my birth, Without you, birth is death’,” she wrote in Hindi.
“The journey was not merely about observing history, but about feeling the passion that secured India’s freedom,” she added.
She noted that her companions on the visit included National Commission for Women members Delina Khongdup, Mamta Kumari, Dr Archana Majumdar, Secretary Sudeep Jain, and other officials, all of whom paid their respects at this historic location.
Earlier that day, Rahatkar chaired a session on “Laws Related to Women in Prisons” at Sri Vijaya Puram. The meeting aimed to pinpoint urgent reforms to protect the rights, welfare, and dignity of incarcerated women nationwide.
She highlighted on X, “It is heartening that we brought together experts, prison administrators, and policymakers on one platform to engage in meaningful discussions on these crucial reforms.”
Women make up only 4.3 percent of India’s prison population, yet many still face severe problems such as overcrowded facilities, deficient medical and mental‑health care, insufficient gender‑sensitive infrastructure, hygiene challenges, and elevated security risks.
The Commission had previously organized eight regional consultations in Noida, Panaji, Aizawl, Patna, Bhopal, Patiala, Hyderabad, and Dehradun to ensure wide representation. These meetings produced more than 300 expert recommendations, and the national session on Saturday served as the final phase, where over 200 key proposals were deliberated in depth.
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