Ruins of a church at Ross island, Andamans
The main edifice of the ruins of this church at Ross island, Andamans is fairly intact although everything else is gone. One look at it and you can make out that this must have been a beautiful church which served the British settlement on this island. The island belongs to the Port Blair Islands and lies in the entrance of Port Blair. With its stained glass and other paraphernalia, this structure would be very charming and inviting. ( Ross island, Andamans, 2008 )
History
Ross island was named after marine surveyor, Daniel Ross. It remained the Administrative Headquarters for the islands for 85 years before an earthquake rocked it in 1941. The remains of an opulent past can be seen in the ruins of the church, bazaar, bakery, stores, water treatment plant, tennis court, printing press, secretariat, hospital, cemetery, swimming pool, Chief Commissioner’s residence, Troop Barracks and other structures. Mostly in dilapidated condition, these are reminiscent of the old British regime. In December 2018, it was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose dweep as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose, the legendary freedom fighter and founder of INA (Indian National Army). Ross Island experienced an earthquake about nine months prior to the Japanese take-over of the entire set of islands. This led to many people to abandon the island. Except for a brief period when the Japanese occupied, the exodus from Ross Island continued in the aftermath of the earthquake. Subsequently, the headquarters were shifted to Port Blair. From 1942 to 1945 during the period of second world war, the island was occupied by the Japanese. The Government House became the residence of the Japanese admiral for three years. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who took the help of Japanese in his fight against the British, stayed at the island for a day on 30th December 1943. Netaji declared the formation of Azad Hind government and hoisted the national tricolour at the top of the Government House. The Japanese too left their imprint on the island which can be seen in the form of bunkers used as watch points to safeguard the island from any invasion from the Bay of Bengal. Recaptured in 1945, the allies reoccupied the island in Bay of Bengal and later abandoned it.
