On Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate through video conference in a ceremony to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra recipients on January 23 at 11 am, according to an official statement issued by Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday.
During the programme, the Prime Minister will also unveil the model of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose National Memorial, which will be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the statement said.
To honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's memory and the historic significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Prime Minister christened 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, the statement said.
The Prime Minister has always placed a great value on paying tribute to the country's real-life heroes. In keeping with this ethos, it has now been decided to name the island group's 21 largest unnamed islands after the 21 Param Vir Chakra recipients, the statement added.
According to the statement, the largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra recipient, the second after the second Param Vir Chakra recipient, and so on. This step will be a lasting homage to our soldiers, several of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard the nation's sovereignty and integrity.
"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," the statement said.