In 1835, the British constructed the historic Bulandshahr prison in Uttar Pradesh, and it has been there for a century as a silent witness of India’s struggle for Independence.
The now-decrepit building, built by the East India Company, is a powerful reminder of the challenges Indians faced in their quest for Independence from foreign authority.
The jail building was later expanded in 1845, and it ceased operation in 2011, primarily because of space limitations. The fact that other buildings surrounded it precluded any possibility of expansion, making it challenging to accommodate more prisoners. The jail was consequently forced to close; as a result, leaving it in a state of disrepair.
In its history of over 188 years, the jail housed countless freedom fighters and icons from the Independence movement, such as Banarasi Das and Mahavir Tyagi, from 1857 to 1947.
According to historians, the century-old jail establishes a vital link to telling about the past practices of punishment and criminal justice in India. So it’s very important to preserve it for future generations.
The professor of History at Multanimal Degree College under Chaudhary Charan Singh University, KK Sharma, said, The jail has witnessed important events like the imprisonment of 1857 freedom fighters and heroes of the later freedom struggle that led to the Independence in 1947. As it continued to function for such a long time, its walls are embedded with historical events, and hence it is of immense importance and should be counted among the top heritage jails, including the ones like the Cellular jail of the Andamans”.
According to the author of ”1857 – A Living History’ Amit Pathak, who is also a fellow of the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research (CAFHR), the old jail can be put to good use without altering its originality. He said, “As it is located in the centre of the town, we as historians are keen that the structure should be put to some good use without altering its originality.”
The grandson of freedom fighter and politician Mahavir Tyagi, Anil Nauriya, a practising Supreme Court lawyer, echoed similar sentiments, said, “Old structures like these are monuments of the Indian freedom struggle history and should not be brought down to profit real estate developers. Instead, they should be converted into a museum, auditorium, and art centre to showcase India’s rich history and cultural heritage”.
