Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest nameless islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after recipients of the Param Vir Chakra in a ceremony held on Monday in honour of Parakram Diwas.
Additionally, PM Modi revealed a replica of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep formerly known as the Ross Island where a national memorial honouring Netaji would be erected. Amit Shah, the Union Minister of Housing, attended the ceremony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well.
The decision was made on Parakram Diwas popularly known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti. The national celebration honours notable Indian freedom warrior Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.
Actor Anupam Kher called the move “a fitting tribute to the warriors who made the supreme sacrifice.”
“The central government has taken this initiative to honour the Param Vir Chakra awardees. Of the 21 islands, 16 are located in North and Middle Andaman district, and five in South Andaman,” an official said.
PM Modi said that the “islands named today after Param Vir Chakra awardees will be site of inspiration for generations to come.”
According to Home Minister Amit Shah, the effort to rename islands after recipients of the Param Vir Chakra will ensure that they are remembered forever.
The largest unnamed island was given Major Somnath Sharma’s name in honour of the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra who lost his life in action on November 3, 1947 while repelling 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.