Ross Island: History

Ross Island situated North of Port Blair just across a narrow stretch of sea. Ever since Dr. James Pattison Walker arrived in Port Blair aboard the East India Company’s steam frigate ‘Senuramis’ on 10th March 1858, this island remained under British occupation till 1942. From 1942 to 1945, the island was under the occupation of Japanese. However, the allies reoccupied the island in 1945 and later abandoned it.

During British occupation, this island was the seat of power of the Britishers. It was developed into self-equipped township with all facilities required for a civilized colony. Dr. Walker, Chairman of the Andaman Committee, established the infamous and the dreaded Penal Settlement with 200 convicts. The Britishers even persuaded the aborigines to come and live in some huts at Ross Island and even established an Andaman Home for them in 1863. Later on the services of these Andamanese were used to catch the escaping convicts from Ross Island.

In the past, the administrative headquarters of the British were here as well as the residence of the British Chief Commissioner. In 1941 the island was devastated by an earthquake and in 1942 it was occupied by the Japanese. The British recaptured it in 1945 but the headquarters were no longer at Ross, which became uninhabited, bearing only a light house, church, cemetery and tennis court to remind one of the past, standing as reminders of the British and Japanese colonialization of the island. Today the Island is deserted.