KANNUR: As India marks 50 years since the declaration of Emergency on June 25, 1975, the Kannur Central Prison—once a silent witness to the nation’s darkest hours—prepares to honour its historical significance. The jail, which housed 385 detainees during the Emergency, is set to preserve these memories through a dedicated museum.
Conditions inside the prison then were harsh—overcrowded halls, poor facilities, and confined uncertainty. Among those jailed were political leaders, student protesters, and common citizens, many detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) without formal charges.
Prominent leaders incarcerated here included Pinarayi Vijayan, then the Kuthuparamba MLA, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, E K Nayanar, M P Veerendrakumar, and M V Raghavan, among others. Naxalite leaders like Civic Chandran and Mandakini Narayanan were also held.
A poignant reminder of the personal cost of the Emergency is a letter written by Pinarayi Vijayan in 1976, pleading for parole to visit his critically ill mother. His emotional appeal humanised the plight of many like him, caught in political crossfire.
Now, the Kannur prison authorities are curating artefacts, letters, and stories from the Emergency, the Malabar Rebellion, and other key events, to be displayed in the upcoming museum. “We plan to open it soon,” said a senior officer.
The effort is a step towards acknowledging and preserving the resilience of those who endured oppression in silence.