• A&N NEWS
• 3 Years, 1 Month ago
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Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

It was the pre-independence era. World War II had impacted the entire world. On 30 December 1943, the Indian National Army, under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, declared the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as part of Independent India, and renamed them as ‘Shaheed-dweep’(Martyr Island) and ‘Swaraj-dweep’ (Self-ruled Island). On this occasion the Indian tri-colour was hoisted at the Gymkhana Ground (now Netaji Stadium) in Port Blair by Netaji as the Prime Minister of the Azad Hind Government. Later, Indian National Army’s General A. D. Loganathan was appointed as Governor of the region. With this achievement, the Azad Hind Government did not remain merely a government in exile anymore but had its own land, own anthem, civil code, stamps, radio station, bank and other organs of the administration. Very few people might be aware of the fact that the anthem of the Azad Hind Government was very similar to our current national anthem. The anthem read as: “शुभ, सुख, चैन की बरखा बरसे, भारत भाग्य है जागा…” (Shubh, Sukh, Chain ki barkha barse, Bharat-Bhagya hai jaga…). Fast forward to 30 December 2018, on the 75th anniversary of the Azad Hind Government, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, again hoisted the tricolour at Port Blair to pay hearty tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and to commemorate the achievement of the Indian National Army. He also renamed the Neil and Havelock islands as ‘Shaheed Dweep’ and ‘Swaraj Dweep’, whereas Ross Island was named as ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island’. The 150-foot-tall tricolour stands tall to pay the nation’s emotional tribute to our beloved leader.