PM Modi renames 21 islands in Andaman and Nicobar on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lamented on Monday that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was denied his due place in the history of India's struggle for Independence. His sacrifices are being commemorated in the 21st century, he underlined, while announcing the renaming of 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Paramvir Chakra awardees.

In a video address, Modi observed that Netaji was lost in the pages of history after India gained freedom due to "ideological" biases.

Home minister Amit Shah echoed these sentiments, stating that Bose was like a "pole star" but several efforts were made to ignore his contribution. It was Prime Minister Modi who paid true homage to Netaji by declaring his birth anniversary as Parakram Diwas, installing his statue at Kartavya Path among other steps, Shah said.

Among the various steps taken to honour Bose's contribution during Modi's prime ministership are a memorial with a museum that is being built in Andaman while a Netaji museum has already been inaugurated at the Red Fort in 2019. A statue of Bose has also been installed at India Gate.

"Today a grand statue of Netaji in front of our democratic institutions and Kartavya Path reminds us of our duties," the prime minister said.

Modi also noted the special events that were held in Bengal on his 126th birth anniversary (January 23). "From Bengal to Delhi to Andaman, every part of the country salutes and cherishes the legacy of Netaji."

Among the important achievements of Netaji, Modi said, is the formation of the first government of independent India in Andaman and Nicobar in 1943. It was Bose who had hoisted the tricolour for the first time at the spot where the Indian flag flies high today in Andaman. Modi said his government had with "full devotion" met the popular demand for decades to declassify files related to Netaji's life.

The PM lamented the identity of Andaman was associated with the symbols of slavery instead of the memories of the freedom struggle. "Even the names of our islands had the imprint of slavery."

Modi recalled his visit to Port Blair five years ago to rename the three main islands. "Today, Ross Island has become Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Havelock and Neil Islands have become Swaraj and Shaheed Islands," he said.

He noted that the names, Swaraj and Shaheed, were given by Netaji, but no importance was given even after Independence. "When the Azad Hind Fauj government completed 75 years, our government reinstated these names."

Naming the 21 islands after the Paramveer awardees, Modi said such historical moments serve as an inspiration to future generations.