New Delhi: On his latest edition of the monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to visit railway stations in their vicinity which have historical significance related to the Indian freedom struggle. The Indian railways had observed a week of 'Azadi ki Rail Gadi', from July 18-23, through 27 trains and 75 railway stations, across 24 states that are linked to the Indian freedom struggle. Apart from the usual decorations of lights and other ornamentations, various events such as street plays in the local language, light-and-sound shows, and display of patriotic films and songs were also played at these 75 railway stations.
"These 75 stations are being decorated very ornately. Many types of programmes are also being organised in these stations. You should also take out time to visit one such historical station in your vicinity. You will get to know in detail about pages from the history of the freedom movement that you have not been aware of," said PM Modi.
He also urged school students and teachers to take small children of their school to such nearby railway stations and narrate the whole chain of events to those children".
During his radio broadcast, Modi also referred to Jharkhand's Gomoh Junction which is now officially known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Junction Gomoh, and explained why it has been renamed.
"Netaji Subhash was successful in dodging British officers by boarding the Kalka Mail. All of you must have heard the name of Kakori Railway Station near Lucknow. The names of bravehearts like Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaq Ullah Khan are associated with this station.
"The brave revolutionaries had displayed their might to the British by looting the treasury of the British being carried by train. Whenever you talk to the people of Tamil Nadu, you will get to know about Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction in the Thoothukudi district. This station is named after Tamil freedom fighter Vanchinathan Ji. This is the same place where Vanchi, 25 years of age then, had punished one British collector for his actions," he said.
Of the 27 trains identified for the celebrations organised by the Indian Railways, many were linked to great Indian personalities like Mahatma Gandhi — the Ahimsa Express which runs between Ahmedabad and Pune, Ashram Express (Ahmadabad – Delhi); some to famous poet Rabindranath Tagore who wrote songs hailing the Indian independence movement and raising the spirits of the freedom fighters like the Shantiniketan Express (Howrah – Bolpur), Gitanjali Express (Mumbai CST–Howrah) and Gurudev Express (Nagercoil – Shalimar) while some other linked to Netaji Subhash Bose like Netaji Express (Howrah - Kalka) and Azad Hind Express (Pune – Howrah).