Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the inspiration drawn from Parakram Diwas would continue to strengthen India’s collective resolve towards development, self-reliance and national strength. He was addressing the Parakram Diwas programme held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands via video conferencing on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Highlighting the significance of January 23, the Prime Minister said Netaji’s courage, sacrifice and vision continue to inspire the nation. He noted that Parakram Diwas has emerged as an important national occasion celebrating India’s spirit of bravery and resolve. PM Modi also pointed out that the sequence of national observances between January 23 and January 30 has evolved into a week-long celebration of the Republic, linking Parakram Diwas, National Voters’ Day, Republic Day, Beating Retreat and the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Prime Minister said it was fitting that the main Parakram Diwas celebrations in 2026 were being held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a land deeply associated with India’s freedom struggle. Recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters imprisoned in the Cellular Jail and Netaji’s historic association with the islands, he described Andaman and Nicobar as a symbol of unending belief in freedom. PM Modi recalled that the Tricolour was first hoisted in free Indian territory here on December 30, 1943, even before Independence, and said the islands had witnessed the first sunrise of free India.
Taking a swipe at past governments, the Prime Minister said that after Independence, the glorious history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was neglected due to political insecurity and an attempt to confine the freedom movement’s legacy to a single family. He noted that many places continued to bear colonial names for decades. PM Modi said his government corrected this historical injustice by renaming Port Blair as Shri Vijaypuram and other islands as Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Subhash Dweep, and by naming 21 islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees. These steps, he said, symbolised India’s effort to erase the remnants of slavery and assert the identity of a free nation.
The Prime Minister described Netaji as not only a towering figure of the freedom struggle but also a visionary of independent India, who imagined a nation that was modern yet deeply rooted in ancient Indian values. He said the government was committed to familiarising the younger generation with Netaji’s ideals. In this context, he referred to initiatives such as the Netaji museum at the Red Fort, the grand statue near India Gate, inclusion of INA contingents in the Republic Day parade, and the institution of the Subhas Chandra Bose Disaster Management Awards.
Emphasising Netaji’s belief in a strong nation, PM Modi said a weak country cannot achieve its aspirations. He asserted that 21st-century India is emerging as a powerful and resolute nation. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said India today has the capability to strike decisively against threats. “India now knows how to build power, manage it and use it,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting progress in defence self-reliance, PM Modi noted that India has moved from being largely dependent on imports to becoming a defence exporter, with exports crossing ₹23,000 crore. He said indigenously developed systems such as the BrahMos missile have gained global recognition and the armed forces are being modernised through Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said that 1.4 billion Indians are united in the resolve to build a developed India, guided by the spirit of Swadeshi and self-reliance. He expressed confidence that the inspiration of Parakram Diwas would continue to energise the nation’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.), Chairman of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose INA Trust Brigadier (Retd.) R. S. Chikara, INA veteran Lieutenant R. Madhavan and other dignitaries were present at the programme.
