Sutar, who hails from Fakirpur village in Keonjhar district and is presently working as a director in a multi-national company in Singapore, paid tributes to Netaji by singing the Indian national song- Vande Mataram - at Saigon in Vietnam.
On this grand occasion, Sutar has disclosed his vivid plans to celebrate Netaji’s birthday. He will visit the nations where Netaji had travelled during the days of struggle for freedom and pay him tribute by singing aloud the nation song in those countries.
Speaking to odishatv.in from Singapore, Sutar said, “I left Odisha 10-12 years ago. I want to visit all those countries where Netaji went during the freedom fight against the Britishers. After fulfilling my dream, I will return to my homeland.”
Shading more lights on his plan , Sutar said, “As planned, I paid my respect to the great freedom fighter by singing national anthem at Saigon in Vietnam today. I will go to Taiwan in 2023, Burma in 2024, Singapore in 2025 and Germany in 2026 to remember the charismatic leader.”
Earlier in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi and people from all walks of life paid tributes to Netaji.
Taking to Twitter, President Kovind wrote, “India gratefully pays homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. The daring steps that he took to fulfill his fierce commitment to the idea of a free India — Azad Hind — make him a national icon. His ideals and sacrifice will forever inspire every Indian.”
“I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. Every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to our nation,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Consul General of Japan in Kolkata Nakamura Yutaka received the honour on behalf of Abe at a function at the Elgin Road residence of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.
Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki addressed the programme virtually from New Delhi.
Sugata Bose, the grand-nephew of the legendary freedom fighter and Director of Netaji Research Bureau, described Abe as a great admirer of Netaji.
However, for inexplicable reasons this portion of the letter was not translated and a bland edited English version was attached to the Justice Mukherjee Commission's report on the disappearance of Bose as evidence that "on account of the Temple Authorities reticence... the commission could not proceed further (on the issue of DNA tests)".
The Commission later used this to conclude that the ashes were not of Netaji's, giving credence to speculations that he may have survived to become an ascetic or prisoner in a Russian prison.
Madhuri Bose, the legendary freedom fighter's grand-niece -- the grand-daughter of his brother Sarat Bose, told PTI, "We recently commissioned the fresh translation after we found inconsistencies in the Mukherjee Commission report and found several paragraphs in the letter written in Japanese missing from the official English version in the Justice Mukherjee Inquiry Report."
The new translation by a Japanese language expert revealed that Nichiko Mochizuki, the chief priest of the Renkoji Temple -- a 427-year-old Buddhist temple, had written "I agreed to offer my cooperation for the testing. The same was agreed upon at the meeting with (Indian) Ambassador (M.L) Tripathi (to Japan) last year (2004)" in the omitted portion.
The translation could not be independently authenticated by PTI.
"We do not understand why this permission was not made public earlier or why DNA tests were not conducted," said Madhuri Bose, who has served in the Commonwealth Secretariat and at the United Nations, besides authoring books on the Bose brothers.
The Mukherjee Commission, which tabled its report in Parliament in 2006, had concluded that Bose "did not die in the plane crash, as alleged" by eye-witnesses, including his close confidantes from the INA, and that "the ashes in the Japanese temple were not of Netaji".
Eye-witnesses, including Col Habib-Ur-Rahman of the INA, had said Bose died in a plane crash in August 1945 in Taipei.
Theories that he survived or was never on the aircraft that crashed gained ground as a result of the report, as also a hypothesis that he may have turned into an ascetic or imprisoned in a Russian gulag.
A movie suggesting that he might have become someone called 'Gumnami Baba' was also made in recent years, while several news reports indicated he might have been imprisoned by Russian leader Joseph Stalin in Siberia.
"We had great faith in the Mukherjee Commission and we saw a glimmer of hope at one time that the truth about Netaji's disappearance will come out with the final report... However many glaring discrepancies in the report forced us to look at it again," said Madhuri Bose.
"What we find is that the Japanese temple wanted a DNA test and we (India) never conducted one," she said.
The portion of the chief priest's letter, which was omitted from the official translation, also said that after the Japanese lost the war, conditions under US-UK occupation were severe, yet the temple authorities undertook the then dangerous task of preserving Netaji's ashes as sought by an Indian delegation, which included "Col Raman (Habib-ur-Rahman), Mr (SA) Iyer and Mrs (Sati) Sahay", and by the Japanese foreign minister.
The letter went on to say "therefore, I strongly believe these to be the same remains, the ashes of Subhas Chandra Bose without a doubt".
Mochizuki also said that his late father, then chief priest, "would sleep while embracing them (the urn with the ashes) in his arms so no tampering or harm would come to them".
Three members of the Bose family, including Netaji's daughter Anita Pfaff, Dwarka Nath Bose -- a well-known physicist and son of his elder brother, and Ardhendu Bose -- another nephew of Netaji, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2016 and December 2019, asking him to order a DNA test of the ashes at Renkoji.
The letter written in December 2019 said that "in view of the fact that some Indians, also some members of our family, have previously voiced their doubts regarding the death of Netaji in Taipei, we hope the scientific evidence of such a test will bring closure to the discussion in India".
However, Madhuri Bose said no response has yet been received by the family for "a DNA test and final closure" to the mystery of Netaji's disappearance and the ashes.
Modi also greeted people on 'Parakram Diwas', which has been announced by his government to mark the Azad Hind Fauj founder's birthday.
The prime minister tweeted, "I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. Every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to our nation."
सभी देशवासियों को पराक्रम दिवस की ढेरों शुभकामनाएं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2022
नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस की 125वीं जयंती पर उन्हें मेरी आदरपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि।
I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. Every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to our nation. pic.twitter.com/Ska0u301Nv
He is also scheduled to unveil Bose's hologram statue at India Gate in the evening.
On the other, paying tributes to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray on his 96th birth anniversary today, Modi said that he will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people.
A hardline Hindutva leader, Thackeray was born in 1926 and founded the Shiv Sena, which was a BJP ally for a long time before it severed ties in 2019. Thackeray died in 2012.
Modi tweeted, "I pay homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. He will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people."
I pay homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. He will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2022
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik remembered one of the greatest sons of the state and expressed his happiness on visiting Netaji Birthplace Museum once again on his birth anniversary.
Visitors thronged the birthplace in large numbers on the occasion. People from other parts of the country were also delighted to visit the birthplace of one of the greatest freedom fighters. They visited different galleries of the museum depicting student life, political life, spiritual life and other important moments of the leader’s life and the Azad Hind Fauj.
“It is a beautiful place to visit. I have come here for the first time and feeling really great to offer my tribute to the great leader,” said Sharad from Kolkata.
"I am very happy to come here and its really great to see all these items used by him and I am proud that he was born here,” said another visitor Jayashree.
“I am really proud that he studied in our school. I am glad to visit his birthplace on his birth anniversary,” said a student from Ravenshaw Collegiate School Elina.
A striking sand art on Netaji was showcased along with paintings on the great leader in an exhibition organized by Odisha Lalit Kala Academy at the museum.
After a review of the largest bridge in the State accompanied by Health Minister Pratap Jena, Cuttack Collector Nirmala Mishra and DCP Akhileswar Singh, Samantray told media the bridge will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 19.
The legislator said, “This is a big gift from the chief minister to people of the twin city."
Built by the Road and House Development Department, the bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 107 crore. Construction work of the bridge started in 2011. The distance between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will decrease by 12 km after the bridge opens for commuters.
The Cuttack Collector said, “This bridge will facilitate better connectivity for people of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.”
The Commissionerate Police has proposed the State government for establishment of a beat house near the bridge apart from traffic outpost on both the sides.
The Cuttack DCP stated, “Assessment for traffic arrangement is over and soon the service will be open for public,” adding the beat house will come up on the Barang side.
The police moved in after the Cuttack unit of Congress lodged a complaint against one Pramod Dey and his wife Lopamudra Dey of Bhubaneswar. Pramod, during his visit to the museum, while appreciating Bose's contribution in India's independence, had reportedly used derogatory language against India's first Prime Minister.
“We have filed an FIR against the Dey couple. We demand that they should be booked and punished in the court of law for defaming a national figure,” City Congress president Mohammad Mukim said.
Police said they have begun an investigation into the incident.
“Based on the complaint, we have formed a team to probe the matter,” Cuttack DCP Sanjeev Arora said.
The matter came to light during the visit of Congress parliamentarian and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh to NBM. After completing his visit, when Ramesh wanted to share his experience in the visitors’ book at the museum, he noticed the remark written by Dey and informed the museum authorities.
Meanwhile, Dey has apologized for his remarks.
“I am extremely sorry for the incident. I had no intention to say anything negative against the first Prime Minister of India. I was a little sentimental after visiting the museum. What I have written in the visitors’ book is completely based on emotion. I will not do it in future,” Dey told OTV over phone.
In his first "Mann Ki Baat" address of 2019, Modi said: "Subhash babu will always be remembered as a heroic soldier. He played an important role in the freedom struggle. With slogans like 'Dilli Chalo' and 'tum mujhe khoon do main tumhe aazadi doonga', he awakened every Indian.
"For many years it was being demanded that the files related to Netaji be made public and I am happy that we fulfilled this demand."
Sharing an anecdote about Netaji's life, the Prime Minister said: "I have always considered radio as an important means to communicate with the people. In the same way, Netaji too had a very deep connection with the radio and he also chose radio to communicate with the countrymen.
"In 1942, Subhas Babu started the Azad Hind Radio through which he communicated with the people and the jawans of the Azad Hind Fauj. "
Modi also highlighted the museum dedicated to Netaji inagurated on January 23 in the Red Fort.
"On January 23, the whole nation marked Netaji's birth anniversary and on the same day, I had the privilage of inaugurating a museum dedicated to the heroes who contributed towards India's freedom struggle.
"When I was seeing the memories associated with Netaji at the 'Kranti Mandir' at Red Fort, the members of the Netaji's family presented me with a very special cap, which was worn by him. I kept the cap in the museum so that it serves as an inspiration for people visiting the museum," he said.
In his speech, he also mentioned his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands last month.
"I went to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and at a programme, the national flag was hoisted at the same place where Netaji had unfurled it 75 years ago.
"Similarly, when the flag was hoisted on the Red Fort in October 2018, everyone was surprised, as it is the only tradition on August 15 to hoist a flag there. But it was an opportunity to mark 75 years of the formation of the Azad Hind government," he said.
Modi also paid tribute to the late Sidaganga Mutt Seer Shivakumar Swami, saying that he had dedicated his entire life to social service, working for the social, educational welfare of thousands of people.
"It was a priority for Swami that people get food, shelter, education and spiritual knowledge."
The award carries a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh.
"The award has been instituted to acknowledge the contribution and selfless service of organisations and individuals to humanity in the aftermath of any disaster," said the statement.
This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) located at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh has been selected for the award for its commendable work in disaster management.
The NDRF battalion, which was raised in 2006, is a highly specialised rescue and response force and has a responsibility of a large area covering the National Capital Region (NCR), Uttarakhand, western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It has participated in 314 major operations and rescued over 50,000 people.
In the recent Kerala floods, the battalion rescued 5,338 victims and evacuated 24,000 persons to safety. Other major disasters in which this NDRF battalion participated are Leh cloud burst (2011), Kedarnath floods (2013), Cyclone Hudhud (2014), Chennai floods (2015) and Tripura floods (2018). The battalion had also worked efficiently to neutralise the threat during radiation incident at Mayapuri, Delhi in 2010.
The battalion has also done commendable disaster management-related work internationally. In the aftermath of Nepal earthquake in 2015, six teams of the battalion were amongst the first responders to land at Kathmandu. Their teams were also sent to Japan during Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011) and recent Tsunami in Indonesia (2108).
"The Centre recently gave information about Netaji through a reply under the RTI Act. I am shocked to see this unilateral decision of the central government without evidence," Banerjee said in a Facebook post.
"Netaji is a great son of the soil. Our state, the country and the whole world is proud of him. Any matter involving a person of his stature does not deserve to be handled in such a casual manner," she said.
"I have drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to this matter and have sought the considered stand of the central government in this regard," she added.
The Trinamool Congress supremo was referring to the Union Home Ministry's statement on Tuesday in reply to a query under the Right To Information Act, that accepted that Netaji had died in an air crash in 1945.
Many among Netaji's supporters, especially in Bengal, refused at the time -- and have refused since -- to believe either the fact or the circumstances of his death. Conspiracy theories appeared within hours of his death and have thereafter had a long shelf life, keeping alive various martial myths about him.
"It will be released sometime in the future," Swamy said at a programme here when asked about declassification of Netaji files.
He said that America had given it in writing to the Mukherjee Commission, which probed Netaji's disappearance, that there was no record of any plane crash and no record of any charred body in any hospital in Taiwan.
"So this story (of death in air crash) is a bogus story," Swamy said while claiming that Netaji "was alive in 1947 and Nehru knew about it".
Swamy said he would pursue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the files from government records.
The Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) in a recent RTI reply accepted that there were 41 files related to Netaji, of which two had been declassified, but refused to disclose the others, arguing that the "disclosure would prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries".
Swamy said that Netaji had faked his death after both his friends Japan and Germany lost the war and escaped to Manchuria in China which was under Russian occupation.
When under house arrest by the British in then Calcutta, Netaji had escaped in 1941 to seek international support for his efforts to free his country and formed the Indian National Army with Japanese help. He went missing in 1945.
The Mukherjee Commission had rejected the opinion that he had died in a plane crash at Taihoku airport in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.
Seeking an end to the mystery behind the death of the "real hero" of the country, Singh said it was the responsibility of the Union government to let people know the truth.
"The entire country is impatient to know as to how Netaji died and under what circumstances," the BJP president said while releasing a book on the great leader here on the eve of Netaji's birth anniversary here.
Rajnath also said that he would visit Netaji's birth place at Odia Bazaar in Cuttack and garland his statue before leaving the state tomorrow.
Former Odisha Assembly deputy speaker Rama Chandra Panda has written the book titled: "Subashbad, Antarang Adhayan" on the life and politics of Netaji.
Noting that Netaji's dream of making India the "Jagat Guru" (world teacher) was not fulfilled, Singh said that he wanted 'Bharat' to emerge as the economic superpower besides being a world teacher in spiritualism.
"Netaji's ideological politics and his life would be remembered by generations," the BJP president said, adding that January 23 was a historic day for the state of Odisha as it marks the birth anniversary of Netaji and Vir Surendra Sai.
Delivering a lecture on "Bay of Bengal and its Cultural Connections" here at an event to mark the 118th birth anniversary of Netaji, Harvard University professor Sunil Amrith dubbed Netaji's effort to recognise the Indian diaspora as "a bold experiment in citizenship".
"The migrants had all moved in an imperial system in the 1920s and 1930s and they did not have any sense of citizenship or rights as such. One of the things which Netaji did, which I think was unprecedented, was to treat these Indians overseas as citizens of a nation of the future," Amrith said.
It was the efforts of Netaji as the head of the 'Provisional Government of Free India' that around two lakh Indian migrants had taken the oath of allegiance for the government that was set up in Singapore in 1943, said Amrith, the author of "Crossing the Bay of Bengal: The Furies of Nature and the Fortunes of Migrants".
The book tells the story of centuries of trade and migration that have linked the various countries situated along the Bay of Bengal.
Commenting on the issue, historian and Netaji's grand nephew Sugata Bose pointed out to the pioneering concept of "extra-territorial citizenship" which the world embraced a lot later.
"India embraced the concept of overseas citizenship only in the 21st century, so it is a testimony to Netaji's farsightedness. While the territory of the Provisional Government was confined, the fact that two lakh people had taken the oath of allegiance meant they were kind of given extraterritorial citizenship," said Sugata Bose, also a Trinamool Congress parliamentarian.
Anita Bose Pfaff lauded Modi for his efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the legendary freedom fighter's death.
She said she shared the belief that her father had died in the air crash on August 18, 1945, unless there was proof to the contrary.
Pfaff said she would like to meet the prime minister and the Japanese authorities to request them to allow a DNA test of the ashes, believed to be Bose's, kept at the Renkoji temple in Japan.
"Until proved otherwise, I do believe he died in the plane crash on August 18, 1945. But many people don't believe it. I certainly would like the mystery settled.
"I think the best way to solve the mystery is to conduct a DNA test on the ashes kept in Renkoji temple in Japan. DNA tests would prove if it was actually him or not," Pfaff told PTI in a telephonic interview from Germany.
She said she wanted to meet Modi and thank him for his efforts to untangle the mystery over Netaji's death by declassifying some files in the possession of the central government.
Pfaff said she would also appeal to the Japanese government to declassify files relating to her father, if they have any in their possession.
Her comments come in the backdrop of a recent controversy over a tweet by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on August 18 which said: "#PIB remembers the great freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his death anniversary.
#Netaji #subhashchandrabose."
It was withdrawn after protests by a section of Netaji's family, which is divided over when and how the leader, whom Mahatma Gandhi once called "prince among the partiots", died.
When asked whether successive governments, including those of the Congress, had deliberately chosen to "neglect" resolving the mystery, Pfaff, a noted economist based in Germany, said she did not have any evidence that they did so.
"But certain people in previous governments never wanted the mystery to be solved and neglected it," she added.
"The previous governments said declassification of files would harm diplomatic relations between countries. Had the previous governments released the evidences and documents available to them in pubic domain, it would not have created such a huge mystery," she said.
Different theories have swirled around Netaji's disappearance in 1945, with one being that he returned to India and lived under the guise of 'Gumnami Baba', a reclusive Sadhu, in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad.
Pfaff, however, does not believe it. "Netaji's disappearance gave birth to several unrealistic stories, as mysteries always fascinate and attract people," she noted.
Sharply reacting to the PIB's tweet, Chandra Kumar Bose, a BJP leader and grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, said it was not the "right approach" as the mystery over the leader's death was yet to be resolved.
Any announcement regarding the death of Netaji should only be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi based on documentary evidence.
The PIB tweet was, however, welcomed by author Ashis Ray, another grandnephew of Bose.
Academician Sugata Bose and his mother Krishna Bose, both former parliamentarians, are among the Bose family members who are of the opinion that the leader died in the air crash.
According to several accounts, Bose had boarded a plane on the fateful day in 1945 at Taihoku airport in Taiwan which crashed leading to his death.
However, many people, particularly in Bengal, believe he survived the crash and lived a life of anonymity in hiding.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to universities across the country to organise special activities from January 23, 2021 to January 23, 2022. In a letter, UGC has asked vice-chancellors to organise year-long activities to commemorate the indomitable spirit and selfless service of Netaji towards the nation.
In its letter, UGC secretary Rajnish Jain has clearly advised universities to ensure that there is strict observance of the COVID-19 protocols during the celebrations.
Moreover, UGC has suggested some activities which can be taken up by the universities in their respective campuses. The list include:
1.Online lectures & webinars on Netaji’s teachings
2.Short films/ documentaries on Netaji’s life & times
3.Nukkad nataks/skits on Netaji’s dreams for India
4.Painting competitions /virtual posters on Netaji’s life
5.Sports activities (Cyclathons/Yogathons)
Apart from students, the commission has asked universities to ensure that faculty, officials and other staff of the higher education institutions also participate in such activities with enthusiasm.
All the universities have been asked to submit the list of activities undertaken by respective universities on the University Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP) of UGC.
As per an official announcement, the Films Division will screen two documentary films on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his life, marking the year-long 125th birth anniversary celebrations on January 23 (tomorrow).
Earlier, the Government of India had declared 23rd January, Netaji’s birthday, as Parakram Diwas in recognition of his indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.
The films which will be streamed are -The Flame Burns Bright (43 min./English/1973/Ashis Mukherjee), and Netaji (21 min/Hindi/1973/Arun Chaudhuri) on the great leader’s life and his heroic and relentless fight for India’s independence from the imperial British rule.
Both the documentaries will be streamed on January23, 2021 on Films Division website and You Tube channel, throughout the day.
Please visit https://filmsdivision.org/ and click @ “Documentary of the Week” or follow https://www.youtube.com/user/FilmsDivision to enjoy the films.
(With PIB Inputs)
The President took to twitter to pay his tributes and said, "Netaji is one of our most beloved national heroes who made extraordinary contribution to India's freedom struggle. Netaji’s patriotism and sacrifice shall always inspire us. We are committed to strengthen the spirit of freedom so strongly espoused by him."
Tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as the nation commences his 125th birth anniversary celebrations. It is befitting to celebrate this day as “Parakram Diwas” to honour his boundless courage & valour. Netaji instilled the fervour of nationalism among his countless followers
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 23, 2021
On the other hand, Modi will be in West Bengal on Saturday to address "Parakram Diwas" celebrations in Kolkata to commemorate Bose's birth anniversary.
"Tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great freedom fighter and a true son of Mother India, on his birth anniversary," the prime minister said in a tweet in Hindi.
"A grateful nation will always remember his sacrifice and dedication for the independence of the country," he said.
महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी और भारत माता के सच्चे सपूत नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र देश की आजादी के लिए उनके त्याग और समर्पण को सदा याद रखेगा। #ParakramDivas
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary and said the youngsters of the country were united under his charismatic leadership, which gave new strength to India's freedom struggle.
"The courage and valour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave new strength to the Indian freedom struggle. He organised the youngsters of the country with his charismatic leadership under adverse circumstances. On the 125th birth anniversary of such a great hero of the freedom movement, I pay my heartfelt tributes," Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.
The home minister, who is on a two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya, also paid tributes to Bose in front of his portrait in Guwahati.
"There was an infinite flow of immense courage and unique resolve within Subhas Babu. His amazing personality and vibrant voice created the tide of freedom in the heart of people. His life is a role model for the youngsters of the country," he said in another tweet.
प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी ने निर्णय किया है कि सुभाष बाबू की 125वीं जयंती को देशभर में #ParakramDivas के रूप में बहुत उत्साह से मनाया जाएगा। जिससे देश की आजादी के लिए नेताजी के योगदान से बच्चे व युवा राष्ट्रसेवा की प्रेरणा लेकर आत्मनिर्भर भारत बनाने में अपना योगदान दे सकें। pic.twitter.com/4hImC3pLIA
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 23, 2021
Internationally acclaimed sand artist and Padma Shree awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art on sea beach at Puri on the occasion. He also shared the images of the sand art on his Twitter handle.
#ParakramDiwas . Remembering a great nationalist leader, a defiant patriot and an inspiring personality #Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.
My SandArt SandArt Puri beach in Odisha.#JaiHind pic.twitter.com/h2wG4sYfKD— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) January 23, 2021
The government has decided to observe January 23 as "Parakram Diwas" to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bose, who was born on this day in 1897.
Patnaik unfurled the National Flag at the Netaji Birth Place Museum at Odia Bazar. Elaborate security measures were undertaken by Commissionerate Police for the Chief Minister’s Cuttack visit today.
Later, Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art inter-state bus terminal at Khannagar area in the city. The proposed bus terminal has been named after freedom fighter
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and aims at facilitating hassle-free movement of passengers. The cost of the entire project is estimated to be over Rs 65 crore.
“Today, with the laying of foundation stone for the Netaji Bus Terminus, the year-long celebration of 125th anniversary of Netaji has begun,” said Patnaik.
The bus terminal will be constructed on 12 acres of land and have modern facilities for passengers. As many as 180 buses can be parked at the terminal at a point of time. The three-storey terminal building will have waiting rooms for passengers, food court, cloak rooms, e-vehicle charging points, among other facilities.
An area of around 2 acres adjoining the proposed Netaji Bus terminal, will be reserved for development of commercial complex on public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)
The prime minister was greeted with 'Jai Shri Ram' chants by people waiting outside the Netaji Bhawan in the Bhawanipore area, and he waved at them.
He was received at the entrance of the house by Sugato Bose and his brother Sumantro Bose, the freedom fighter's grandnephews.
His bravery and ideals inspire every Indian. His contribution to India is indelible.
India bows to the great Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
PM @narendramodi began his Kolkata visit and #ParakramDivas programmes by paying homage to Netaji Bose at Netaji Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/2DG49aB4vW
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 23, 2021
Modi was shown the 'Wanderer' car, which Netaji used to escape from Kolkata to Gomoh, said Sugato Bose.
The prime minister was also shown the bedrooms of Netaji and his brother Sarat Chandra Bose.
Modi was also given a quick walkthrough of the museum, which houses the photographs of the Azad Hind Fauj.
The prime minister was also shown the table used by Netaji in Singapore, Sugato Bose said.
Governor Jagdeep Dhankar was also present during the visit.
Later, PM Modi paid floral tributes at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's statue at the National Library in Kolkata.
He went around seeing paintings by around 100 artists on a 40-metre long canvas on the sprawling lawns of Belvedere House at the National Library compound.
The prime minister paid floral tributes at the feet of Netaji's statue on his arrival at the library.
Glimpses of PM @narendramodi 's visit to the National Library, Kolkata
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/P10MkDj9fz pic.twitter.com/XgRCPJpDmU
— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 23, 2021
Modi interacted with some of the artists as he went around seeing the paintings and folk art of Bengal.
The prime minister also greeted participants in an international conference on "Revisiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose" at Belvedere House to mark his 125th birth anniversary.
Modi was at the National Library for 18 minutes, following which he left for Victoria Memorial to attend Parakram Diwas programme.
PM @narendramodi arrives at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata for #ParakramDiwas programme pic.twitter.com/0JdS4ZXohB
— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 23, 2021
(With PTI Inputs)
In his editorial 'Taniaani Samman', Sathpathy expressed his views on Netaji's 125th birth anniversary celebrations and other allied activities.
However, the opinion did not go down well with Mahtab who slammed Satpathy and said, "Sometimes ignorance is bliss for some people."
"Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack. He not only spent his childhood here, but also completed his matriculation. Later, when he was rusticated from Presidency College of Kolkata, he spent about one and half year in Cuttack," Mahtab said.
Mahtab said Netaji used to communicate with his neighbours in Odia while living in Odia Bazaar. He said Netaji in collaboration with Odia people had even worked for eradication of certain epidemic during his visit to Jajpur Road and Salepur.
"The whole world is proud of Netaji for his indomitable velour and love for the country. It is not right to write something like this against him," the Parliamentarian added.
Meanwhile, Tathagata Satpathy could not be contacted to comment on the issue.
A total of 1,063 residential facilities (383 residential schools and 680 hostels) have been sanctioned to various States and UTs across the country. It has been decided to rename the residential schools and hostels funded under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme as "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose residential schools.
“The association of these schools with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will act as an inspiration to the children and also motivate the teachers, staff and administration to enable them to achieve high standards of excellence. This will also help create awareness about the facility of these
Residential Schools and Hostels in difficult areas and inspire these schools to achieve high standards of quality education,” an official statement read.
It is to pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Education under Samagra Shiksha provides financial assistance to states and UTs for opening and running of Residential Schools and Hostels in hilly terrain, small and sparsely populated areas for children who are in need of shelter and care, in addition to the provision of regular schools.
The objective is to ensure universal enrolment and provide schooling facilities in areas which are sparsely populated (mostly tribal areas) where opening of schools may not be viable and for children in urban areas who are in need of care and protection.
The residential facilities are also provided to child labour rescued, migrant children who belong to poor landless families, children without adult protection, separated from their families, internally displaced persons, and children from the areas of social and armed conflict and natural calamities. Preference is given to EBBs, LWE affected districts, SFDs and the Aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog.
Residential Schools and Hostels Approved under Samagra Shiksha (Cumulative )