New Delhi: On the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, his daughter Anita B Pfaff said that it was unfortunate that he could not live to see a free India but if his remains could return it will be a great substitute, news agency ANI reported.

  


“It was very unfortunate that he could not live to see a free India. But at least it would be a great substitute if his remains eventually could return to his motherland”, Anita B Pfaff said, as quoted by ANI.






Anita said that SC Bose was one of the iconic leaders of the independence movement. She further said that seeing India independent was the first aim of his life.    


“Today, we celebrate the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Netaji was one of the iconic leaders of the independence movement. Seeing India become independent was his first and foremost aim in life," Anita B Pfaff said, as quoted by ANI.


Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees in a ceremony on the occasion of Parakram Diwas. PM Modi also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, earlier known as Ross Islands. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the ceremony in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.


The largest unnamed island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, Major Somnath Sharma, who lost his life in action on November 3, 1947 while repulsing Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport.


"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," PMO further stated.


The Government declared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.