New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually participated at the event to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Island on the occasion of the Parakram Diwas.
The islands have been named after Param Veer Chakra awardees including Major Somnath Sharma, Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, and Nayak Jadunath Singh.
The largest unnamed island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, Major Somnath Sharma, who was martyred in action on November 3, 1947, while repulsing Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport.
He also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to commemorate the freedom fighter's 126th birth anniversary. The memorial will be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, earlier known as Ross Islands.
“Keeping in mind the historic significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and to honour the memory of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ross Islands was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep by the Prime Minister during this visit to the Island in 2018. Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed as Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep,” said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.
The Param Vir Chakra awardees, after whom the islands have been named are as follows:
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 had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,” the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The National Memorial dedicated to Netaji will consist of 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, besides a restro lounge.
(With inputs from agencies)