Last updated on July 15th, 2023 at 04:02 pm
PM Modi said, “Today is the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash, the country celebrates this inspiration day as Bravery Day. Many many best wishes to all the countrymen on the occasion of Parakram Divas”.
He said, “Today, on the Day of Bravery, the rays of the new dawn are writing a new history in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. And, when history is made, the coming centuries also remember it, assess it, evaluate it, and continue to get inspiration”.
Today 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar have been named. These 21 islands will now be known as Param Vir Chakra winners. The foundation stone of a Prernasthali memorial dedicated to his life and contributions has also been laid today on the island where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose lived.
Modi said The generations to come will remember this day as an important chapter in the golden age of independence. This memorial of Netaji, these islands in the name of martyrs and brave soldiers, will become a place of eternal inspiration for our youth, for generations to come.
“I congratulate the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all the countrymen for this. I respectfully bow down to Netaji Subhash and Paramveer Chakra winner warriors”.
Friends, The first time the tricolor was hoisted in the sky was on the land of Andaman. This land was the site of the formation of the first independent Indian government. With all this, on this very land of Andaman, Veer Savarkar and countless other heroes like him touched the pinnacle of penance, Titiksha, and sacrifices for the country.
The cells of the Cellular Jail, everything studded on that wall, along with immense pain, the voices of that unprecedented passion are heard in the ears of everyone who reaches there. But unfortunately, instead of those memories of the freedom struggle, the identity of Andaman was associated with the symbols of slavery.
The names of our islands were even imprinted with slavery. I am fortunate that when I went to Port Blair four-five years ago, I had the opportunity to give Indian names to the three main islands there. Today Ross Island has been renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island. The Swaraj and Shaheed Islands were formerly Havelock and Neil Islands.
it is also interesting that the names Swaraj and Shaheed were given by Netaji himself. This name was also not given importance after independence. Our government reinstated these names when the Azad Hind Fauj government completed 75 years.
Comrades,
Today, the time of the 21st century is seeing how Netaji Subhash, who was tried to be forgotten after independence, is remembering the same Netaji every moment. At the place where Netaji hoisted the tricolor for the first time in Andaman, today the sky-high tricolor is praising the might of the Azad Hind Army.
Friends, When people from all over the country and from every corner of the country come here, seeing the tricolor waving on the seashore fills their hearts with patriotism. Now the museum and memorial which is going to be built in his memory in Andaman will make the journey to Andaman even more memorable.
In 2019, one such museum related to Netaji was inaugurated in the Red Fort of Delhi as well. For the people visiting the Red Fort today, that museum is like a place of inspiration for every generation.
Similarly, special events were held in Bengal on his 125th birth anniversary, the country celebrated this day with great pomp. His birthday was declared as Parakram Divas. That is, from Bengal to Delhi and Andaman, there is no such part of the country that is not paying homage to Netaji, and not cherishing his legacy.
Comrades,
In the last 8-9 years, many such works related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose have happened in the country, which should have been done immediately after independence. But it did not happen at that time.
The first government of independent India was also formed in 1943 on a part of the country, now the country is accepting this time with more pride. When 75 years of the formation of the Azad Hind Government were completed, then the country saluted Netaji by hoisting the flag on the Red Fort.
For decades there was a demand to declassify the files related to Netaji’s life. The country took this work forward with full devotion. Today, the grand statue of Netaji Bose in front of our democratic institutions, even on the path of duty, is reminding us of our duties.
I think these works should have been done long back in the interest of the country. Because, the countries which connected their heroes and heroines with the public in time, created shared and capable ideals, and went a long way in the race of development and nation-building. Therefore, India is doing the same thing in the golden age of independence, doing it wholeheartedly.
