Three Andaman and Nicobar islands to get new names as a tribute to Netaji Bose
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has decided to rename three islands in Andaman & Nicobar – Ross Island as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, Neil Island as Shahid Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep – coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Bose having hoisted the national flag in Port Blair.
Sources said the Home Ministry has almost completed formalities for the change in nomenclature and the new names will be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Port Blair on December 30. Modi, who will be accompanied by home minister Rajnath Singh, will hoist a 150-metre flag in Port Blair apart from releasing a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.
After the Japanese captured the islands during WWII, Bose, who led the Indian National Army that had allied with Japan, hoisted the national flag in Port Blair on December 30, 1943. He declared the islands as the first Indian Territory freed from British rule. He then suggested Andaman be renamed as Shahid Dweep and Nicobar as Swaraj Dweep, something the Modi government is now taking forward by renaming Neil Island and Havelock Island.
Brief History of the Indian National Army-
Indian National Army (INA) was named as Azad Hind Fauz, was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Its aim was to secure Indian independence from British rule. It formed an alliance with the Empire of Japan in the latter’s campaign in the Southeast Asian theatre of WWII.
This first INA collapsed and was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership and the Japanese military over its role in Japan’s war in Asia. It was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943. The army was declared to be the army of Bose’s Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind. Under Bose’s leadership, the INA drew ex-prisoners and thousands of civilian volunteers from the Indian expatriate population in Malaya (present-day Malaysia) and Burma.
On this day in the year 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the National Flag for the first time at the then-named Gymkhana Ground at present Netaji Stadium, in Port Blair. He also announced the Islands, the first Indian Territory freed from the British rule.
The island at the time was liberated from British rule by Japan which captured it during the World War -II.
Bose named Andaman Island as Shaheed and Nicobar Island as Swaraj and appointed INA General AD Loganathan as the governor of the Islands.
Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS)
FANS is a non-political and non-religious organization engaged in creating awareness among our people about the issues affecting the security of our nation. We believe in on a nation, one people and that everybody belongs to one nation. (राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा जागरण मंच) was formed on 17th September 2014 and started formally working from 25th December 2014.
FANS has been organizing an annual patriotic yatra for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a place of the pilgrimage, as “Shaheed Swaraj Dweep Samooh Naman Yatra” to hoist the Tricolour on 30th December every year to celebrate the Flag Hoisting done by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on 30th December, 1943 – the first ever Tricolour on Indian Territory.
Hundreds of nationalists participate in various programmes and tours during 29th December to 2nd January under the leadership of Mananiya Indresh Kumar, Margdarshak FANS.
