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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.
On the occasion of Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees, receipts of India’s highest military honours. The Prime Minister 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.
Addressing the event via video conferencing, PM Modi said that many messages are contained in the naming of these 21 islands, including that of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’.
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:
Andaman and Nicobar islands named after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees
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
Subedar Major Retd (Hony Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav..
