22/10/2026
English Summary
In the 19th century, British prisoners—including women and children—endured a brutal punishment known as "oakum picking." They were forced to spend 12 hours a day tearing apart hard, tar-covered ship ropes with their bare hands, which caused severe cuts, bleeding, and chemical burns. Prisoners had to meet strict daily quotas just to receive their food, and the extracted fibers were then sold to the Navy to waterproof ships.
Roman Urdu Summary
1800s ki British jailon mein qaidion (jin mein aurtein aur bacche bhi shamil thay) ko ek nihayat dardnak saza di jati thi jise "oakum picking" kehte thay. Unhein rozana 12 ghante tar lagi purani behri rassiyon ko nange hathon se khol kar reshe (fibers) alag karne hote thay. Is sakht kaam ki wajah se unke hathon mein zakham aur khoon nikal aata tha. Agar wo apna target poora na karte toh unhein khana nahi diya jata tha. Ye nikale gaye reshe baad mein Navy ko beche jate thay taake behri jahazon (ships) ko leak hone se bachaya ja sake.