मेरा आजीवन कारावास / माझी जन्मठेप (स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर - काले पानी का ऐतिहासिक संस्मरण)

essence, is he.” I have not yet caught the import of his observation. Perhaps he thought that I had already known what he was saying to me, and my reply to him made him realize that I was not to be drawn out so easily. My Spectacles On Sale All my belongings here were a pair of spectacles and a miniature copy of Bhagvatgita. This morning the Havildar demanded them of me. “The Saheb wants them”, he observed. I knew not what it meant. Presently the Superintendent followed, and I asked him why I was deprived of my pair of spectacles. To which he gave the following explanation. I was a conspirator; the rule was that a convict of that type lost all his property to the State. Government had, therefore, confiscated all my belongings. My trunks, clothing and books had already been taken in possession on my arrest in London. And presently these articles were to be sold by public auction. The monies so recovered will be appropriated by the State. That my anna-worth of gita and my spectacles, the last things I had with me, should also be taken away form me, grieved even my fellow- prisoners. And some of the warders resolved that they would not purchase a single thing of mine to be sold by public auction. I had to expostulate with them so that they might change their mind. I told them, “Look here, in that baggage, there were costly clothes. Lest any one else get them for a trifle, I would be very pleased that you should go in for their purchase. If you desisted, a foreigner might have them practically as loot. I would prefer that they fall to the lot of my own countrymen. I feel if you and your children used my clothes and other articles, they would be put to good use.” I persuaded some of my warders, the sensible ones among them, to go in for them. On the following day my copy of the Bhagvatgita and my pair of spectacles were restored to me with the understanding that I was to use them as property belonging to Government. The Party Bound For The Andamans The prison to-day is all agog. A party bound for the Andamans is to arrive here. The party is known in prison parlance as ‘chalan’. Of all the convicts in the presidency, those who are branded as hardened criminals are always sentenced for transportation. Out of those the worst are picked out and detailed to confinement in prisons scattered all over the province. After a few days they are roll-called and inspected. Such of them as are unfit to be stayed in their own country and in local surroundings, are then dispatched to the goal in Thana. Here they rally and reside for some time whence they are put on a steamer bound for the Andamans. These are designated as ‘chalan’ for they proceed from here for their destination across the seas. The thief, the murderer, the incendiary, the poisoner, the heartless dacoit and the cold-blooded killer- all downright cruel and fiercest of the fierce- a troop of these, a veritable procession of them was to march today into the prison at Thana. Hence this stir and excitement inside.