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काला पानी
काला पानी की भयंकरता का अनुमान इसी एक बात से लगाया जा सकता है कि इसका नाम सुनते ही आदमी सिहर उठता है। काला पानी की विभीषिका; यातना एवं त्रासदी किसी नरक से कम नहीं थी। विनायक दामोदर सावरकर चूँकि वहाँ आजीवन कारावास भोग रहे थे; अत: उनके द्वारा लिखित यह उपन्यास आँखों-देखे वर्णन का-सा पठन-सुख देता है।इस उपन्यास में मुख्य रूप से उन राजबंदियों के जीवन का वर्णन है; जो ब्रिटिश राज में अंडमान अथवा ‘काला पानी’ में सश्रम कारावास का भयानक दंड भुगत रहे थे। काला पानी के कैदियों पर कैसे-कैसे नृशंस अत्याचार एवं क्रूरतापूर्ण व्यवहार किए जाते थे; उनका तथ वहाँ की नारकीय स्थितियों का इसमें त्रासद वर्णन है। इसमें हत्यारों; लुटेरों; डाकुओं तथा क्रूर; स्वार्थी; व्यसनाधीन अपराधियों का जीवन-चित्र भी उकेë
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1937
74 people are currently reading
1316 people want to read
About the author
V.D. Savarkar
70 books184 followersHe was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright. He launched a movement for religious reform advocating dismantling the system of caste in Hindu culture, and reconversion of the converted Hindus back to Hindu religion. Savarkar created the term Hindutva, and emphasized its distinctiveness from Hinduism which he associated with social and political disunity. Savarkar’s Hindutva sought to create an inclusive collective identity. The five elements of Savarkar's philosophy were Utilitarianism, Rationalism and Positivism, Humanism and Universalism, Pragmatism and Realism.
Savarkar's revolutionary activities began when studying in India and England, where he was associated with the India House and founded student societies including Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, as well as publications espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means. Savarkar published The Indian War of Independence about the Indian rebellion of 1857 that was banned by British authorities. He was arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House.
Following a failed attempt to escape while being transported from Marseilles, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms amounting to 50 years' imprisonment and moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While in jail, Savarkar wrote the work describing Hindutva, openly espousing Hindu nationalism. He was released in 1921 under restrictions after signing a plea for clemency in which he renounced revolutionary activities. Travelling widely, Savarkar became a forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. Serving as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar endorsed the ideal of India as a Hindu Rashtra and opposed the Quit India struggle in 1942, calling it a "Quit India but keep your army" movement. He became a fierce critic of the Indian National Congress and its acceptance of India's partition, and was one of those accused in the assassination of Indian leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was acquitted as the charges could not be proven.
The airport at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar's capital, has been named Veer Savarkar International Airport.The commemorative blue plaque on India House fixed by the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England reads "Vinayak Damodar Savarkar 1883-1966 Indian patriot and philosopher lived here".
Savarkar's revolutionary activities began when studying in India and England, where he was associated with the India House and founded student societies including Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, as well as publications espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means. Savarkar published The Indian War of Independence about the Indian rebellion of 1857 that was banned by British authorities. He was arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House.
Following a failed attempt to escape while being transported from Marseilles, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms amounting to 50 years' imprisonment and moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While in jail, Savarkar wrote the work describing Hindutva, openly espousing Hindu nationalism. He was released in 1921 under restrictions after signing a plea for clemency in which he renounced revolutionary activities. Travelling widely, Savarkar became a forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. Serving as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar endorsed the ideal of India as a Hindu Rashtra and opposed the Quit India struggle in 1942, calling it a "Quit India but keep your army" movement. He became a fierce critic of the Indian National Congress and its acceptance of India's partition, and was one of those accused in the assassination of Indian leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was acquitted as the charges could not be proven.
The airport at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar's capital, has been named Veer Savarkar International Airport.The commemorative blue plaque on India House fixed by the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England reads "Vinayak Damodar Savarkar 1883-1966 Indian patriot and philosopher lived here".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 22, 2013
KALE PANI......it literally means Black Water. But in British-era India it was used to refer to the island of Andaman & the Cellular Jail situated there where the most cruel & evil criminals or freedom fighters were sentenced to spend their life-term imprisonment.
In this novel, we meet Malati, an Indian teenage girl who traps in the net of false Sadhus....then Kishan who also helps the Sadhu(Dayananda)in his tasks but is unaware of his true intensions. This novel tells the story of how these two are brought together by fate & then again separated. Both are sentenced to Andaman......this is a story of their survival & escape. The life of prisoners in the jail is vividly depicted.
All in all, the novel catches your attention from the very first chapter and you are never bored throughout the novel. The author gives us some additional information about the Jarava tribe living there & their life-style. It was really a novel experience to read about such historic period from the author who has literally survived through them.
In this novel, we meet Malati, an Indian teenage girl who traps in the net of false Sadhus....then Kishan who also helps the Sadhu(Dayananda)in his tasks but is unaware of his true intensions. This novel tells the story of how these two are brought together by fate & then again separated. Both are sentenced to Andaman......this is a story of their survival & escape. The life of prisoners in the jail is vividly depicted.
All in all, the novel catches your attention from the very first chapter and you are never bored throughout the novel. The author gives us some additional information about the Jarava tribe living there & their life-style. It was really a novel experience to read about such historic period from the author who has literally survived through them.
May 13, 2016
It is simply the best proof of the versatility of Savarkar as an author. Many may not like it as a typical "love-story" but the backdrop it has gives it a tremendous value as literary work. It is a love story, yet it has so much more to it. It says openly about how Hindu people can get deceived by any clever man with bad motives (which is true even today). It touches the life in the cellular jail and on the island of Andaman.
The detail in which Savarkar describes the variety of natural flora and fauna, the history, lifestyle of tribal community living for hundreds of years in isolation on Andaman, simply mesmerizes me thinking how this man could gain so much knowledge about such a place in the adverse condition he was living in during his term as a prisoner of "Kale Pani". Plus, all this is beautifully mixed up in romantic story of Malti and Kishan.
After reading the novel, I couldn't help but wonder how much strong and yet soft mind this person, Savarkar had!! I was always the admirer of him, but this book took it to another level!
The detail in which Savarkar describes the variety of natural flora and fauna, the history, lifestyle of tribal community living for hundreds of years in isolation on Andaman, simply mesmerizes me thinking how this man could gain so much knowledge about such a place in the adverse condition he was living in during his term as a prisoner of "Kale Pani". Plus, all this is beautifully mixed up in romantic story of Malti and Kishan.
After reading the novel, I couldn't help but wonder how much strong and yet soft mind this person, Savarkar had!! I was always the admirer of him, but this book took it to another level!
July 23, 2020
वीर सावरकरांच्या साहित्य व लेखन शैलीविषयी भाष्य वा विश्लेषण करण्याची बौद्धिक क्षमता नसली तरी एक रसिक वाचक म्हणून केलेला हा ऊहापोह:
दैवाच्या खेळाने अमानुष अशा काळे पाण्याच्या शिक्षेकडे लोटल्या गेलेल्या किशन आणि मालती या निष्पाप जिवांची प्रेमकथा हे या कादंबरीचे मध्यवर्ती कथानक.
म्हणायला जरी प्रेमकथा असली तरी अंदमानच्या कारागृहातील विदारक स्थिती, कैद्यांची मानसिकता, तिथल्या मूळ हिंस्र आदिवासी जमाती, त्याहून अधिक हिंस्र व प्रतिकूल घनदाट जंगल आणि अशात स्थापलेल्या पुनर्वसित, सच्छिल "दाखलेवाल्या" बंदिवानांच्या वसाहती असे वेगवेगळे अंग कथेत गुंफले गेले आहेत.
तसेच अंदमानच्या द्विपपुंजांचे आरमार व लष्करी महत्त्व सावरकरांनी तेव्हाच सहज अधोरेखित केले होते हे सद्य स्थितीत विशेष आवर्जून सांगावे वाटते.
माणसाच्या रुक्ष जीवनात येणारे काही थोडे सुखाचे आणि स्थैर्याचे क्षण किती भंगुर असू शकतात याची प्रचिती "काळे पाणी" वाचताना सतत येत असताना शेक्सपिअरच्या अभिजात शोकांतिका "मी" म्हणत डोळ्यांसमोर आल्यावाचून राहत नाहीत.
"काळे पाणी" केवळ मराठी साहित्य संपदा नसून अभिजात भारतीय साहित्य संस्कृतीचा ठेवा आहे हे वेगळे सांगणे नकोच.
अंततः प्रत्येकाने सावरकरांविषयी लिहिलेलं वाचण्याऐवजी सावरकरांनी लिहिलेलं वाचाव.
दैवाच्या खेळाने अमानुष अशा काळे पाण्याच्या शिक्षेकडे लोटल्या गेलेल्या किशन आणि मालती या निष्पाप जिवांची प्रेमकथा हे या कादंबरीचे मध्यवर्ती कथानक.
म्हणायला जरी प्रेमकथा असली तरी अंदमानच्या कारागृहातील विदारक स्थिती, कैद्यांची मानसिकता, तिथल्या मूळ हिंस्र आदिवासी जमाती, त्याहून अधिक हिंस्र व प्रतिकूल घनदाट जंगल आणि अशात स्थापलेल्या पुनर्वसित, सच्छिल "दाखलेवाल्या" बंदिवानांच्या वसाहती असे वेगवेगळे अंग कथेत गुंफले गेले आहेत.
तसेच अंदमानच्या द्विपपुंजांचे आरमार व लष्करी महत्त्व सावरकरांनी तेव्हाच सहज अधोरेखित केले होते हे सद्य स्थितीत विशेष आवर्जून सांगावे वाटते.
माणसाच्या रुक्ष जीवनात येणारे काही थोडे सुखाचे आणि स्थैर्याचे क्षण किती भंगुर असू शकतात याची प्रचिती "काळे पाणी" वाचताना सतत येत असताना शेक्सपिअरच्या अभिजात शोकांतिका "मी" म्हणत डोळ्यांसमोर आल्यावाचून राहत नाहीत.
"काळे पाणी" केवळ मराठी साहित्य संपदा नसून अभिजात भारतीय साहित्य संस्कृतीचा ठेवा आहे हे वेगळे सांगणे नकोच.
अंततः प्रत्येकाने सावरकरांविषयी लिहिलेलं वाचण्याऐवजी सावरकरांनी लिहिलेलं वाचाव.
December 3, 2025
Did I read the same book as others here, or am I too naïve to understand this literary masterpiece. Was there any patriotic fervour? Where was the foundation of nationalism? Well, I didn't find any.
I picked up this book with the expectations of learning more about Savarkar's own trials and tribulations in the cellular jail of Andaman. What I found instead was an ordinary tale of common place folks being swindled and exploited by charlatans ( no prize for guessing the religion of those crooked ones) finding themselves in the harsh realities of the penitentiary. OK OK. I agree. One could masquerade one's own observations through the narrative of another fictitious story. But, if that was the intention, sadly, I found the narration to be quite underwhelming, or I completely missed the point.
The audio book narrator was very good though.
Pongalswamy visibly irritated, "Your bias starts from where the liberal bias ends. You should shove your opinion back in your stinkhole."
I picked up this book with the expectations of learning more about Savarkar's own trials and tribulations in the cellular jail of Andaman. What I found instead was an ordinary tale of common place folks being swindled and exploited by charlatans ( no prize for guessing the religion of those crooked ones) finding themselves in the harsh realities of the penitentiary. OK OK. I agree. One could masquerade one's own observations through the narrative of another fictitious story. But, if that was the intention, sadly, I found the narration to be quite underwhelming, or I completely missed the point.
The audio book narrator was very good though.
Pongalswamy visibly irritated, "Your bias starts from where the liberal bias ends. You should shove your opinion back in your stinkhole."
October 8, 2022
वंदन तात्याराव !
The book is amazing , every Indian should go for it. Just after completing "1857 चे स्वातंत्र्य समर" ( 1857 War Of Independence) By Savarkar ji , I started reading this book.
The writing of Savarkar ji is awesome, the motive of writing this book was to show the real picture of Andaman during those days. I felt really bad for those who had to spend their life in that jail.
The book is amazing , every Indian should go for it. Just after completing "1857 चे स्वातंत्र्य समर" ( 1857 War Of Independence) By Savarkar ji , I started reading this book.
The writing of Savarkar ji is awesome, the motive of writing this book was to show the real picture of Andaman during those days. I felt really bad for those who had to spend their life in that jail.
July 26, 2020
मातृभूमी साठी आपल्या जीवनाची आहुती देणं, कसलीही तमा न बाळगता केवळ स्वातंत्र्याच्या ध्येयामागे झटणारा युगपुरुष . यांच्या संघर्षाची गाथा
August 13, 2020
काळया पाण्याची शिक्षा, गुन्हेगारी प्रवृत्तीचे वर्णन, अंदमान येथील वातावरण, देशप्रेम,एक प्रेमकथा या सर्वांचा उत्तम मिलाफ म्हणजे हे पुस्तक...
May 22, 2021
मस्त
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2022
It's a great book written by great man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2020
इतक्या सुंदर प्रतीचे लिखाण मी सर्वप्रथमच वाचतेय! मी खूप पुस्तके वाचली, लेखक वाचले,अजूनही वाचतेय! विजय तेंडुलकर, एलकुंचवार अजूनही उच्च असणारे लेखक पण अशी मराठीची जाण असणारे सावरकर एकमेव ! कादंबरी खरोखरच वाचणाऱ्याला खिळवून ठेवते.अद्भुत!
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January 1, 2026
A wonderful novel woven among 3 characters & their life.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews