PM’s address at a programme to name 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees
Speaker: Narendra Modi
Date: 23 Jan, 2023

Namaskar! Present in the program the Home Minister of the country Shri Amit Bhai Shah, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar, Chief of Defence Staff, Chiefs of our three armed forces, Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command, all officers, family members of the Param Vir Chakra brave soldiers, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen! Today is the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas and the country celebrates this inspiring day as ‘Parakram Diwas’ (Bravery Day). Many best wishes to all the countrymen on the occasion of Parakram Diwas. Today, the rays of new dawn are writing a new history in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the occasion of Parakram Diwas. And, when history is made, the coming centuries also remember, assess, evaluate and continue to get inspiration from it. Today 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar have been named. These 21 islands will now be known after Param Vir Chakra awardees. The foundation stone of ‘Prernasthali memorial’ dedicated to the life and contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has also been laid on the island where he lived. The future generations will remember this day as an important chapter in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence. This memorial of Netaji, these islands in the memory of martyrs and brave soldiers, will become a place of eternal inspiration for our youth and 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 Subhas and Param Vir Chakra warriors. Brothers and sisters, This land of Andaman is where the Tricolor was hoisted for the first time. The first independent Indian government was formed on this land. Along with this, Veer Savarkar and countless other heroes like him touched the pinnacle of penance and sacrifices for the country on this very land of Andaman. The voices of that unprecedented passion along with immense pain are still heard from the cells of the Cellular Jail today. But unfortunately, the identity of Andaman was associated with the symbols of slavery instead of those memories of the freedom struggle. Even the names of our islands had the imprint of slavery. I am fortunate that I had the opportunity to give Indian names to the three main islands when I went to Port Blair four-five years ago. Today Ross Island has become Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island. Havelock and Neil Islands have become Swaraj and Shaheed Islands respectively. Interestingly, the names Swaraj and Shaheed were given by Netaji himself. This name was also not given importance after independence. When the Azad Hind Fauj government completed 75 years, our government reinstated these names. Friends, Today, the 21st century India is witness to the fact that the country is remembering the same Netaji every moment who was made to be forgotten after independence. Today the sky-high Tricolor is eulogizing the might of Azad Hind Fauz from where Netaji hoisted the Tricolor for the first time in Andaman. When people from all over the country come here, their hearts are filled with patriotism when they see the Tricolor waving on the seashore. Now the museum and memorial which is going to be built in his memory in Andaman will make the trip to Andaman even more memorable. One such museum related to Netaji was also inaugurated in the Red Fort of Delhi In 2019. Today, that museum serves like a place of inspiration for the people visiting the Red Fort. Similarly, special events were held in Bengal on his 125th birth anniversary and the country celebrated the day with great pomp. His birth anniversary was declared as Parakram Diwas. That is, there is no part of the country from Bengal to Delhi and Andaman which does not salute Netaji and does not cherish his legacy. Friends, Many projects related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have been taken up in the country in the last eight-nine years which should have been done immediately after independence. But it did not happen at that time. The first government of independent India was formed in a part of the country in 1943 and now the country takes pride in celebrating that event. The country saluted Netaji by hoisting the flag at the Red Fort on the completion of 75 years of the formation of the Azad Hind Government. For decades, there was a demand to declassify files related to Netaji’s life. The country made progress in this regard with full devotion. Today, the grand statue of Netaji Bose in front of our democratic institutions and Kartavya Path is reminding us of our duties. I think these things should have been done long ago in the interest of the country. Because, the countries which attached their heroes with the public in time, created shared and capable ideals, went far ahead in the race of development and nation building. Therefore, India is doing the same in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence with all its might. Friends, Serious messages are also hidden in the renaming of the 21 islands today. This message is the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’. This is the ‘message of immortality of the sacrifices for the country’. ‘Vayam Amritsya Putra’ is the message of the unique bravery and valor of the Indian Army. The 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, after whom these islands will be known, considered every particle of the motherland as their own. They sacrificed everything for the protection of Mother India. Those brave soldiers of the Indian Army were from different states, spoke different languages, dialects and lived different lifestyles of the country. But, the service of Maa Bharti and unwavering devotion for the motherland united them and made them one. They had only one goal, one path, one purpose and complete dedication. Friends, Like the ocean connects different islands, similarly the feeling of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ unites every child of Mother India. From Major Somnath Sharma, Piru Singh, Major Shaitan Singh to Captain Manoj Pandey, Subedar Joginder Singh and Lance Naik Albert Ekka, from Veer Abdul Hameed and Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran to all 21 Param Virs, everyone had only one resolve – Nation First! India First! This resolution has now become immortal forever in the name of these islands. A hill in Andaman is also being dedicated in the name of Captain Vikram Batra who gave a war cry ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ during the Kargil War. Brothers and sisters, The renaming of the Andaman and Nicobar islands is not only homage to those Param Vir Chakra awardees, but also an honour for the Indian forces. The country’s forces are deployed east to west, north to south, far and wide, whether it is sea or mountain, deserted or remote areas, to protect every particle of the country. Our armed forces had to face wars soon after independence. Our forces have proved their bravery on every occasion, on every front. It was the duty of the country to recognize the soldiers who dedicated themselves in these national defence operations and the contributions of the army. Today the country is making every effort to fulfill that duty and responsibility. Today the country is being recognized in the name of soldiers and armies. Friends, Andaman is a land which has everything from water, nature, environment, bravery, tradition, tourism, enlightenment to inspiration. Which person in the country would not want to come to Andaman? The potential of Andaman is huge, there are immense opportunities here. We have to recognize these opportunities and potential. The country has made continuous efforts in this direction in the last eight years. Even after the shocks of Corona, the results of these efforts are now visible in the tourism sector. The number of tourists visiting Andaman in 2022 has almost doubled since 2014. With the doubling of the number of tourists, the employment related to tourism has also increased. Along with this, another major change has happened over the years. Earlier people used to come to Andaman only for its natural beauty and beaches. But, now this identity is also getting expanded. Now there is increasing curiosity about the independence history related to Andaman. Now people are also coming here to know and live the history. Also, the Andaman and Nicobar islands have been identified with our rich tribal tradition. The feeling of pride in one’s heritage is creating attraction for this tradition as well. Now the memorial related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and honoring the bravery of the army will create a new curiosity among the countrymen wishing to come here. Infinite tourism opportunities will be created here in the near future. Friends, The country’s potential was always underestimated due to decades of inferiority complex and lack of self-confidence in the earlier governments, especially due to distorted ideological politics. Be it our Himalayan states, especially the North-Eastern states, or the oceanic island regions like Andaman and Nicobar, these were considered as remote, inaccessible and irrelevant areas. Due to such a mindset, such areas were neglected for decades and their development was ignored. The Andaman-Nicobar Islands have also been witness to this. There are many developed islands in different countries in the world whose size is less than our Andaman and Nicobar. Be it Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles, these countries have become a huge tourist attraction due to proper utilization of their resources. People from all over the world come to these countries for tourism and business opportunities. The islands of India also have similar potential. We can also give a lot to the world, but it was never taken care of before. The situation was such that no account of islands and islets was even kept in the country. Now the country is moving in this direction. Now natural balance and modern resources are being taken forward together in the country. We launched the project connecting Andaman with fast Internet through ‘Submarine Optical Fiber’. Now faster internet is available in Andaman like the rest of the country. Digital payments and other digital services are also expanding rapidly here. Tourists visiting Andaman are also benefiting from this. Friends, In the past, Andaman and Nicobar had given a new direction to the freedom struggle. In the same way, this region will also give a new impetus to the development of the country in the future. I am confident we will build an India that is capable and will touch the heights of modern development. With this wish, I once again bow down at the feet of Netaji Subhas and all our brave soldiers. Wish you all a very Happy Parakram Diwas! Thanks a lot.