A unique Peepal tree
Stands with fresh green leaves,
Sparkling in the brilliance of the golden sun,
Streaming in through the notorious Cellular jail,
A powerful historical witness!
A witness to the atrocities inflicted on freedom fighters!
As you approach Port Blair, capital city of the Andamans,
The first aerial view that strikes you is the Cellular Jail!
As you enter the precincts of this Cellular Jail,
The object that captures your attention is
This unique Peepal tree!
A wise old tree that has witnessed the agonies of freedom fighters.
Right from the time it sprouted into the world,
The Peepal has seen only indescribable sufferings,
The young Peepal had no time to swing and dance,
Like young children flying kites with the playful wind,
The young tree was forced to watch extreme cruelties,
Then, grew up into young tree to watch more brutalities!
When the sea breeze blew into the jail,
It touched the Peepal tree with a shiver,
When the brave Indian freedom fighters screamed,
It made wounds on the branches of the tree,
When the courageous patriots were hung
It sent a chill down the roots of the tree!
Right from the time when the patriotic Indians were
Ruthlessly hurled and bundled into this Cellular Jail,
Mercilessly tortured and incarcerated in the cells,
The Peepal tree feared that it would also be cut into pieces
Thrown into the sea or burnt alive like the Indian brave hearts.
But No! God had willed otherwise. It stood there to see all!
The Peepal rejoiced when the brave men were released.
After long years of torture and terror,
Cellular Jail is now a symbol of a revolutionary movement,
A shrine of liberation! A national memorial!
Today, the Peepal tree stands there to welcome innumerable visitors,
To tell them the stories of the gallant freedom fighters at the CellularJail!
Nice to learn about peepal tree. Nice historical story.10p
Thank you Ram for your gracious comment. I value them.
You made it look so easy while assuming and becoming Peepal tree and write what it has seen generation after generation. A wonderful write. Nothing less than 10++
Most visitors will not be able to relate the history with the tree; only a poetess like you will see it and bring it across to all of us so vividly. Thanks Geeta.
Thanks a lot Loke. Your comments are always gracious and generous. I value them.
Thanks for sharing this history behind the peepal tree.. So wonderfully penned how this tree witnessed the atrocities inflicted on freedom fighters
no time to swing and dance, flying kites with the playful wind, forced to watch extreme cruelties, ohhhh what an expression....... you personify the Peepal to make ur point Geeta. sooo nice. through the eyes and heart of the Peepal i was witnessing all the cruelties of the past......... i felt emotional.. and was very sad to think of all that.................your poetic mind finds always a great theme to write wherever u are dear Lalitha Geeta
Hi Geeta, Wonderful poem. One can not read this poem without a shudder.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A powerful historical witness is seen and expressed for peepal tree is nice tribute. A great poem! ..10
My heartfelt gratitude! You are really very kind. Thank you so much.