‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat,’ PM Modi names 21 largest unnamed Andaman & Nicobar islands

Twenty-one large unnamed islands in Andaman and Nicobar were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Parakram Diwas. He also unveiled a model of Netaji’s National Memorial, which will be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, formerly known as Ross Islands.

In his remarks at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the names of the 21 islands, including ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat,’ contain many messages.

“Today, the 21st century is seeing how Netaji Subhash, who was tried to be forgotten after independence, the country is remembering the same Netaji every moment,” PM Modi said.

“For decades, there has been a call to declassify Netaji files. “The country also did this work with zeal,” he added.

The presence of Amit Shah at the event

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, was also present at the ceremony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Speaking at the event, Shah stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to name islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees will ensure their memory for all time.

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

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The 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees

The islands have been named are 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.

“This step will be an everlasting tribute to our heroes, several of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the nation’s sovereignty and integrity,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

In addition to a restro lounge, the Netaji National Memorial will include 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.