In his recent visit to Andaman Nicobar Islands, PM Modi paid a rich tribute to freedom fighter Veer Savarkar by visiting the Cellular Jail or Kala Pani in Port Blair where thousands of Indian freedom fighters suffered incarceration. PM Modi hoisted the Tricolor on a 150-ft-high mast and said, “This place is no less than a place of worship for me”.
Cellular Jail…this is where colonial rulers sent several nationalists and freedom fighters who fiercely resisted imperialism.
Today, I had the privilege of visiting the Cellular Jail and paying homage to those greats who toiled for us and our freedom. pic.twitter.com/ofPCLmxjs3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2018
PM Modi further announced the renaming of three islands; Ross Island would now be called Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep; Neil Island would be known as Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island would be renamed as Swaraj Dweep. In his speech, PM said that Andaman and Nicobar is not just a symbol of the nation’s natural beauty but are also a pilgrimage place for Indians.
On reaching the jail premises, PM Modi laid a wreath at the Martyr’s Column before proceeding towards a cell, where Veer Savarkar spent his days in captivity. PM Modi gave the tribute to the great freedom fighter and tweeted, “Among those imprisoned at Cellular Jail was the great Veer Savarkar. I visited the cell where the indomitable Veer Savarkar was lodged. Rigorous imprisonment did not dampen Veer Savarkar’s spirits and he continued to speak and write about a free India from jail too.”
Among those imprisoned at Cellular Jail was the great Veer Savarkar. I visited the cell where the indomitable Veer Savarkar was lodged. Rigorous imprisonment did not dampen Veer Savarkar’s spirits and he continued to speak and write about a free India from jail too. pic.twitter.com/dbsyzuVUjA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2018
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar occupies a unique spot among India’s long and illustrious list of freedom fighters. A born leader, even as a kid he would gather a bunch of boys and be the leader of the ‘Vanarsena’. He envisioned the idea of complete freedom and liberation from the chains of British slavery. Advocating the use of arms and force to achieve the mentioned cause, he was thus known to differ with Gandhi on the policy of India’s struggle for freedom. Earlier this year, The President of Muslim Youth Association, Md. Amir Rashid has demanded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India for the late freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar. Md. Amir has written a letter to the central government making this demand in express terms. He also released a poster regarding this. He has questioned why three generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family were bestowed the Bharat Ratna. Rashid added that Savarkar was the biggest revolutionary India ever produced but he has been denied any credit for his immense sacrifices due to ideological differences on the part of previous governments.
It is important for us as a nation to be proud of our rich history and those who toiled for our freedom.
The response of the people of Andaman and Nicobar islands to a decision taken by the Government must be seen to be believed! pic.twitter.com/HIWlryX7oe
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2018
Since, the BJP government came to the power in 2014; it took many notable steps to glorify the freedom fighters besides those having the Nehru Gandhi family lineage. Be it the renaming of Mughalsarai junction after the name of RSS thinker Deendayal Upadhyaya or dedicating the Statue of Unity to the first deputy PM Vallabhbhai Patel, Modi government has always acknowledged the contributions of freedom fighters.