New Delhi: A special 'Sankalp-Smarak' dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was inaugurated in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Wednesday at the place where the freedom fighter had hoisted the Tricolour for first time after India attained independence.
The monument was inaugurated after 73 years on the same day when Subhash Chandra Bose had landed on the runway of Port-Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar, in a plane, on 29th December 1943.
The country's first and only tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, has erected a resolution memorial at Port Blair airport, near the same runway where Netaji's plane had landed, for Subhas Chandra Bose's significant contribution to the freedom struggle.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman Command, Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar, inaugurated the memorial on Wednesday. The motto of this memorial is loyalty, duty and sacrifice.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the memorial, the Commander of the Andaman and Nicobar Command remembered Netaji and the brave soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj as he paid his respects.
During World War II (1942–45), Japan had conquered the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the British and handed it over to Netaji and his army, the Azad Hind Fauj. Netaji had declared the island free from British rule, much before India got its Independence in 1947, making it the first Indian Territory.
When Subhash Chandra Bose reached Port Blair on 29th December 1943, the tricolor was first hoisted on Ross-Island (now 'Netaji Island') of Andaman.
During his visit, he also visited the Cellular Jail and met the freedom fighters lodged there. Netaji changed the name of Andaman to 'Shaheed' and Nicobar to 'Swaraj'. However, due to Japan's defeat in the Great War, the British had once captured the group of islands, known for its strategic importance.
After independence, the country's first tri-service i.e. joint command of Army, Air Force and Navy was established in Andaman and Nicobar--Andaman Nicobar Command i.e. ANC.
The portion of Port Blair Airport where Sankalp Smarak has been built is now under INS Utkrosh of the Indian Navy(and Tri-Service Command). A new runway has been prepared at Port Blair Airport on which Netaji's plane had landed and is being used for civil traffic.