**Executive Summary**
This document is an English rendering of the Prime Minister's address during the Parakram Diwas program in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, delivered on January 23, 2026. The address reflects on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary and highlights the historical significance of the islands in India's freedom struggle. It also focuses on the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Parakram Diwas & Republic Day Celebrations:**
* Parakram Diwas (January 23rd) has become an integral part of India's national spirit.
* A new tradition of celebrating the Republic is established, starting from Parakram Diwas, Voters' Day (January 25th), Republic Day (January 26th), Beating Retreat (January 29th), until the death anniversary of Bapu (January 30th).
* **Historical Significance of Andaman & Nicobar Islands:**
* The main event of Parakram Diwas 2026 is being held in Andaman and Nicobar.
* The islands became the witness to the first sunrise of independent India on December 30, 1943, when the tricolor was unfurled.
* The Prime Minister unfurled the tricolor at the same spot in Andaman in 2018, marking the 75th year of the event.
* **Renaming of Islands:**
* The address notes that post-independence, the islands retained names of British officers.
* Port Blair is now known as Sri Vijaya Puram.
* Other islands were renamed as Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Subhas Dweep.
* In 2023, 21 islands were named after 21 Param Vir Chakra winners.
* **Vision of a Developed India:**
* The government is building a museum dedicated to Netaji Subhas in the Red Fort and has installed a statue near India Gate.
* The contribution of the Azad Hind Fauj is now remembered in the Republic Day parade.
* The Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar has been initiated.
* India is focused on becoming a powerful and self-reliant nation, especially in the defense sector, with defense exports exceeding 23 thousand crores.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Citizens**
* **Impact:** The address aims to inspire national pride, particularly among the youth, by highlighting the historical importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India's freedom struggle, the vision of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and the nation's progress towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation.
* **Action Required:** To imbibe the values and ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and contribute to building a developed India.
**Indian Armed Forces**
* **Impact:** The address highlights the government's commitment to strengthening the armed forces and promoting indigenization in the defense sector. The naming of islands after Param Vir Chakra winners honors their bravery and sacrifice.
* **Action Required:** To continue to serve the nation with dedication and contribute to the vision of a powerful and self-reliant India.
**Residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands**
* **Impact:** The renaming of the islands seeks to erase the symbols of slavery and establish a new identity reflecting independent India. The focus on the islands' historical significance may increase tourism and investment.
* **Action Required:** To embrace the new identity of the islands and contribute to their development.
Key Entities Referenced
Parakram Diwas: An annual event celebrating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: A prominent leader in the Indian independence movement.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Location of the Parakram Diwas programme and historically significant in India's independence.
Azad Hind Fauj (INA): Military organization founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM’s address during
Parakram Diwas programme in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands
प्रव तथ: 23 JAN 2026 6:33PM by PIB Delhi
Namaskar,
Admiral D.K. Joshi, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, chairman of Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose INA Trust, Brigadier R. S. Chhikara Ji; participant of the Indian independence movement
and the eternal man of the INA, Lieutenant R. Madhavan Ji,
This glorious date of 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Netaji’s prowess,
his valor—today's date inspires us and also fills us with a sense of reverence toward Netaji.
Friends,
In the past years, Parakram Diwas has become an integral festival of the country’s national spirit. It is a
pleasant coincidence that a new tradition of celebrating the great festival of the Republic has been
established, starting from Parakram Diwas on 23rd January, Voters' Day on 25th January, Republic Day on
26th January, Beating Retreat on 29th January, and then until the death anniversary of revered Bapu on
30th January. On this occasion, I extend many, many best wishes for Parakram Diwas to all of you and all
the countrymen.
Brothers and sisters,
In the year 2026, the main event of Parakram Diwas is being held in Andaman and Nicobar. The history of
Andaman and Nicobar, steeped in valor, prowess, and sacrifices; the sagas of countless patriots like Veer
Savarkar in the Cellular Jail here; its connection with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose—these things make
this organization of Parakram Diwas even more special. The land of Andaman is a symbol of the belief
that the idea of freedom never ends. So many revolutionaries were tortured here, so many fighters
sacrificed their lives here, but instead of being extinguished, the spark of the freedom struggle kept getting
stronger. And its result was that this very land of Andaman and Nicobar became the witness to the first
sunrise of independent India. Even before 1947, on 30th December 1943, keeping the waves of the ocean
as witness, India’s tricolor was unfurled here. I remember, in the year 2018, when 75 years of this great
event were completed, then on the day of 30th December itself, I had the privilege of unfurling the tricolor
at the same spot in Andaman. To the tune of the national anthem on the seashore, that tricolor waving in
the strong winds was as if calling out that look, today the dreams of so many countless freedom fighters
have been fulfilled.
Brothers and sisters,
After independence, this glorious history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands should have been
preserved. But, there was a sense of insecurity within the people who reached power in that era. They
wanted to limit the credit of independence only, only to one family. In this political selfishness, the history
of the country was neglected! Andaman and Nicobar were also allowed to remain associated with theidentity of slavery! Even 70 years after independence, its islands were known by the names of British
officers. We ended this injustice of history. That is why Port Blair has today become Sri Vijaya Puram. Sri
Vijaya Puram, this new name, this identity reminds of Netaji’s victory. Similarly, the names of other
islands were also kept as Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Subhas Dweep. In the year 2023, the names
of 21 islands of Andaman were also kept after the names of 21 Param Vir Chakra winners, the brave men
of the Indian Army. Today, the names of slavery are being erased in Andaman-Nicobar; the new names of
independent India are making their identity.
Friends,
Along with being the great hero of the freedom struggle, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a great
visionary of independent India. He had conceptualized such an India whose form would be modern and its
soul would be connected to India's ancient consciousness! It is the responsibility of all of us to introduce
today’s generation to this vision of Netaji. And I am happy that our government is fulfilling this
responsibility very well. We have built a museum dedicated to Netaji Subhas in the Red Fort of Delhi. A
grand statue of Netaji has been installed near India Gate. The country has also remembered the
contribution of the Azad Hind Fauj in the Republic Day parade. We have also started the Subhas Chandra
Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. These various works are not just a respect for Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose. These are sources of eternal inspiration for our young generation and also for the future. This
respect for our ideals, inspiration from them—this is what is filling our resolve of a Developed India with
energy and self-confidence.
Friends,
It is difficult for a weak nation to reach its goals. Therefore, Netaji Subhas always dreamed of a powerful
nation. Today, the India of the 21st century is also making its identity as a powerful and determined
nation. You have just seen, Operation Sindoor, entering the homes of those who gave wounds to India, we
destroyed them. Today’s India knows how to increase strength, knows how to manage strength, and knows
how to use it. Walking on Netaji Subhas’s vision of a capable India, today we are engaged in making the
defense sector self-reliant. Earlier, India used to remain dependent only on importing weapons from
abroad. Today our defense export has crossed 23 thousand crores. BrahMos and other missiles made in
India are attracting the attention of so many countries. We are modernizing India's armies with the power
of indigenousness.
Brothers and sisters,
Today, we 140 crore countrymen are working together for the resolve of a Developed India. This path of a
Developed India gets strengthened by the Self-Reliant India campaign; it gets strength from the mantra of
Swadeshi. I am confident that in this journey of a Developed India, the inspiration of Parakram Diwas will
continue to give us strength in the same way. I once again give many, many congratulations to all of you
on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas.
Victory to Mother India!
Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
****
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