“India First” only resolution for all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated shortly after designating 21 unidentified Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra recipients that ‘India First’ was the sole resolution for all 21 ‘Paramveers’. Today, Prime Minister Modi spoke on a virtual show on the potential of the Andaman Islands, saying that the country has been working on this for the past eight years.

“‘India First’ was the only resolution for all 21 Paramveers; today in the naming of these islands, their resolution has become immortal forever. The potential of Andamans is huge. In the past eight years, the country has made continuous efforts in this direction,” PM Modi said.

He also emphasised that the potential of the Indian islands was not recognised for decades and no action was made, but circumstances have changed.

“For decades, the potential of the country was underestimated. But now, India is seen as capable of touching the heights of modern development. The islands of India can offer a lot to the world. But earlier this potential was not recognised, and no action was taken,” said Modi.

PM Modi mentioned that many messages are contained in the naming of the 21 islands. “Many messages are contained in the naming of the 21 islands which have got new names today. The message is of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat; this message is of the bravery of our Armed Forces,” he said.

PM Modi stated that these islands would be a source of inspiration for future generations. “The generations to come will remember this day as an important chapter of the nectar of freedom. These islands will be a site of everlasting inspiration for generations to come. I congratulate everyone on this,” he said.

In his address to the virtual gathering, PM Modi also noted that for decades, there has been a need to make public the information relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s life.

“For decades, there was a demand to make public the files related to the life of Netaji, this work was also taken forward with full devotion by the country. Today, the grand statue of Netaji on the ‘Kartavya Path’ in front of our democratic institutions reminds us of our duties,” Modi said.

He went on to say that Netaji’s memorial in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will instil even more patriotism in the people’s hearts.
PM Modi went on to say that these projects should have been completed years ago in the interest of the country.

“These works should have been done long ago in the interest of the country because the countries which connected their heroes with the public well in time…went far ahead in the race of development and nation building,” he said.

Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, was killed in battle on November 3, 1947, while repelling Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport.

“These islands have been named after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, viz. Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt GS Salaria; Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; CQMH. Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; 2nd 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 (Hony Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav,” PMO further stated.

In 2021, the government announced January 23 as Parakram Diwas to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary. To honour Netaji’s legacy and the historical significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Prime Minister called Ross Islands Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep during his visit to the Island in 2018. Neil Island and Havelock Island were renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.

On January 23, 1978, the then-President of India, N Sanjiva Reddy, unveiled a painting of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the Central Hall of Parliament House.

According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, flower tributes were recognised as an effective means for disseminating better information and understanding about the lives and accomplishments of these towering national heroes among the country’s young.

As a result, the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) has established the ‘Know Your Leaders’ campaign. Netaji, who was born on January 23, 1897, was a pivotal figure in India’s liberation struggle.

The Azad Hind Fauj was founded by Subhash Chandra Bose. While there is still debate over Bose’s death in a plane accident in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central Government acknowledged his death in an RTI (Right to Information) request in 2017.