Dagshai or Daag-e-Shahi – The Central Jail & Jail Museum

The Dagshai Central Jail in India was built in the year 1847, a T- shaped building of local stone masonry with 54 tiny cells.

Apart from the Cellular Jail in the Andamans, it is the only other Indian museum that once was a jail.

It is situated around 11 km. from Solan, in Dagshai, Himachal Pradesh, and maintained by the Engineering wing of the Indian Army.

The structure holds 54 maximum security cells, out of which 16 cells were used for severe punishments. The cells were hardly ventilated and there was no source of natural light.

There was a special cell at the jail that was kept for an extreme punishment called “Bread and Water Punishment”.

Under this punishment, a prisoner was made to stand still in a small gap between the cell door and the outer iron grills and given only bread and water.

This gap is so small that anyone standing can’t even move or stretch their arms.

The architecture of both the jail and the museum is typically British and green in colour. It was for prisoners accused of treachery who were subjected to cruel chastisement, barricades and doors.

The museum today in the jail compound has old photographs of houses that recreate the history of the place and some memorabilia from the colonial period.

The 173-year-old Central Jail is now designated as a heritage site by Himachal Tourism. The jail was converted into a museum by the curation & exhibit furnishing efforts of Dagshai resident Dr Anand Kumar Sethi.

The establishment of the restoration project was also due to the drive of Brigadier Ananth Narayanan, the Brigade Commander of Kasauli who Anand Kumar Sethi had approached.

Anand Kumar Sethi helped him in the curation of the museum with vintage and archival photographs and other materials sourced from India, the U.K. and Ireland.

Dagshai Jail museum was inaugurated by Major General SK Gadeock on 13 October 2011.

The history of bicycle infantry worldwide is quite fascinating.

In the mid-1890s several armies experimented with their use to replace their horses in military duties, especially as messengers and scouts; in effect, taking over the functions of dragoons (mounted infantry).

Dagshai was home to the 1/9th Cyclist Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. There is an extraordinary engraving on a rock that depicts the old military insignia of the cyclist battalion.

There was also the more “colourful” 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion, The London Regiment, stationed in Dagshai in 1918, with a detachment in Jutogh, near Shimla.

Among those fighting side by side with the Indian troops at the battles near Ypres and Somme were the Irish soldiers of the first battalion of the Connaught Rangers (the “Devil’s Own”), as part of the Lahore Division.

In 1920, the Connaught Rangers battalion was posted back to India and a garrison was deployed in Solon (now Solan) area presumably in or around Dagshai.

After this, there was a mutiny in protest of the activities of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black & Tans in Ireland in Solon (now Solan).

The Irish at this Indian station grounded their arms and refused to soldier until all British soldiers had left Ireland.

However, the initial mutiny started at Jullundur (now Jalandhar).

Five men from the C Company of the First Battalion at Wellington Barracks protested against the consequences of martial law in Ireland by refusing to do their jobs.

This part of the mutiny was peaceful and may even have absorbed the values of Mahatma Gandhi’s campaign against British rule.

Following this mutiny by Irish soldiers, in support of the independence struggle then unfolding in Ireland, dozens of Irish mutineers were incarcerated at Dagshai Prison.

Dagshai jail’s notoriety peaked in 1920 when sixty-one men were convicted for their role in the mutiny. Of these, fourteen mutineers were sentenced to death by firing squad. These sentences were later commuted.

However, James Daly, a private from the 1^st battalion of Connaught Rangers, was the only one shot by a firing squad on November 2, 1920.

Daly was just 21 years of age at that time and was considered the leader of the mutiny at Dagshai by the British.

His brother William Daly was involved in the mutiny at Jullundur & James may have been inspired by him.

James Daly was buried at the Dagshai Cemetery until 1970 when his remains were repatriated to Ireland and given a funeral with full military honours.

This precipitated a chain of events that led to the independence of Ireland and inspired India’s struggle for independence.

His sympathies with Irish soldiers prompted Mahatama Gandhi to rush to Dagshai and and stand in solidarity with the Irish. Gandhi was a friend and admirer of the Irish leader Eamon de Valera.

Perhaps, the Indian Independence movement took some inspiration from the Irish struggle against British rule and vice versa.

The visit by Gandhiji to Dagshai was not liked by Winston Churchill, who was the Defence Secretary. Hence, strong action against the Irish mutineers was taken to set an example for any Indians who were so inclined.

Mahatma Gandhi was lodged in the sole VIP cell. The cell had luxuries such as a fireplace and washroom.

According to the information, to provide moral support and show his solidarity with the Irish cause, Gandhi voluntarily spent a night and two days at Dagshai jail.

Due to this visit of Mahatma Gandhi, the British made arrangements for his stay in the cantonment area.

However, Gandhi refused the arrangements for staying at the cantonment & asked to stay with the prisoners in the jail itself, upon which he was kept in the VIP cell.

It has been mentioned that Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Gandhiji was kept in the Dagshai Jail. He was imprisoned and kept in cell number 6.

He was being transferred from Delhi to Simla to face the judges at the High Court for his trial. His transfer records show that he was kept in jail “near Solan”.

In 1949, there was no jail in Solan and “near Solan” may mean Dagshai. Hence, it is firmly believed that Nathuram Godse was kept in Dagshai Central Jail.

Possibly the “hazy” record is on purpose for security reasons. Godse did have de-tractors who would have gladly taken the law into their own hands.

However, Anand Kumar Sethi endorses this as a fact to The Wildcone. Records show that Godse was brought from Delhi and kept in this jail before he was taken to Shimla for his trial.

I know it for a fact that this is true because my nana was one of the two judges, who heard this case,” said Mr Sethi.

Godse was sentenced to death by hanging on November 8, 1949, and was executed in the Ambala jail on November 15, 1949.

Dagshai is a small town in Himachal Pradesh but full of amazing history. The weather in Dagshai is just like that of Shimla and it has to offer Dagshai Jail Museum, especially to those interested in History.

The following are the timings for visiting Dagshai Jail Museum.

The quaint but beautiful town of Dagshai Solan is an offbeat hill station in India. Dagshai Hills has some breathtaking landscapes, crisp and clean air, and attractions.

Many people visit this place every year to have an enjoyable time with their family and friends.

Kasauli and Dagshai are neighbours. Both the hills face each other with Dharampur town in between.

To reach Dagshai, you first need to get to Dharampur, which is around 10 km from Kasauli. From Dharampur, Dagshai is just about a 10-minute drive.

How to reach Dagshai?

By road: Take the NH22 to reach Dharampur via the Pinjore-Kalka-Parwanoo bypass. After Dharampur, a road branches off to the right with a signboard announcing the same.

A steep climb takes you to the town at Dagshai Cantonment.

Upon entering the town, take a left at the T-junction to enter the precincts of Army Public School Dagshai. Drive along this road to reach the Dagshai Jail Museum.

By rail: The nearest train stations are Dharampur or Kumarhatti. To get to Dagshai, you have to use the “Toy Train” up to Kumarhatti/ Dagshai station and then take the road as given above.

By air: You can choose between Chandigarh and Shimla airports.