Maharashtra won’t give metal from Gandhi’s cell for trophy

The Maharashtra home department has decided not to provide metal rods from the cell where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned in Yerwada central jail, for making the trophy for Freedom Trophy Cricket series going on between India and South Africa. The department was of the view that the cell has become a heritage structure and thus they are not willing to deface it by cutting off its metal rods. The department had sought a report from Yerwada prison authorities before taking the decision but even they were not supportive of the idea.

Making it a unique concept, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wanted the trophy for the Freedom Trophy cricket series to be made of metal rods of jails where both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were imprisoned.

BCCI chief Shashank Manohar had even written a letter asking Yerwada central prison authorities to provide two metal pieces from the cell where Gandhiji was imprisoned during India’s freedom struggle. Similarly, metal pieces from Robben Island prison, South Africa where Mandela was imprisoned, would also be brought to be used for the trophy.

However, the prison authorities have said that it would be impossible for them to provide metal rods from the cell where Gandhi was imprisoned as the cell now has a heritage status. Bipin Kumar Upadhyay, additional DG (prisons) confirmed with this newspaper that no metal pieces would be given to BCCI to create the trophy.

“The jail authorities have been preserving the cell for the last 60 years. It has become a heritage property and is invaluable to us. Any changes in the cell will result in defacing the entire cell and therefore it will not be possible for us to provide any metal parts from it to the BCCI,” said Mr Upadhyay.

According to the sources, the ADG prisons has also sought a report from the Yerwada prison authorities for checking the feasibility of providing the required metal portions. The prison authorities also had given a negative report after it was decided that the cell’s metal parts would not be used to make the trophy for the cricket series. “The BCCI will be informed about the decision

soon,” said a senior official requesting anonymity.Freedom Trophy is a cricket trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the ongoing test series between India and South Africa. The trophy is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela who won independence for their countries by using non-violent means.