Journalism of Courage
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be remembered for his fierce resistance to colonial rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday while paying tribute to Bose on his birth anniversary, which is marked as Parakram Diwas.
“Deeply influenced by his thoughts, we are working to realise his vision for India,” PM Modi added.
The prime minister also virtually inaugurated a model of a proposed memorial dedicated to Bose in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and named 21 islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees. The memorial will be set up on Ross Island, which was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018.
It will have a museum, a cable car ropeway, a laser-and-sound show, a guided heritage trail through historical buildings, and a theme-based children’s amusement park, officials said.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said: “Netaji’s memorial in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will infuse feelings of patriotism in the hearts of people. There were demands to make public secret files on Netaji, and we have done that. The entire country, right from Delhi and Bengal to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is paying tribute to Netaji, preserving the heritage associated with him.”
“The islands named today after Param Vir Chakra awardees will be the site of inspiration for generations to come. People are now visiting Andamans to learn our history (of freedom struggle),” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in Port Blair on the occasion, where he will also address a public meeting on the occasion of Netaji’s 126th birth anniversary. Shah is likely to hoist the national flag during the day and deliver a public speech at Netaji Stadium—the same place where the freedom fighter had unfurled the Tricolour on December 30, 1943.
President Droupadi Murmu too paid her homage to Netaji calling him one of the greatest sons of India. “On Parakram Diwas, we pay homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat Mata, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Netaji epitomises exceptional courage and patriotism. Under his leadership, millions joined the struggle for India’s freedom. Indians will remain forever indebted to him,” the President tweeted.
As for renaming the 21 islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees, the government said in a statement Sunday, “The largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the second largest unnamed island will be named after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on.”
This step will be an everlasting tribute to our heroes, several of whom had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, it said. Besides renaming Ross Islands Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018, Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
The 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees include Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Honorary Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt G S Salaria; Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; Second Lt. Arun Khetrapal; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon; Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran; Naib Subedar Bana Singh; Captain Vikram Batra; Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey; Subedar Major (then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar; and Subedar Major Retd (Honorary Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, as per government statement.
