New Delhi: Government of India has named 21 islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the names of Param Vir Chakra awardees. PM Narendra Modi attended the ceremony on January 23, which is the Parakram Diwas. PM also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. Bollywood actors who have played Param Vir Chakra awardees in films lauded the government’s efforts.
Naming of 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees fills heart of every Indian with pride. https://t.co/tKPawExxMT
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2023
Talking on Twitter, actor Ajay Devgn thanked PM Modi for naming an island after Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey. Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey of Gorkha Rifles was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his leadership during the 1999 Kargil War. Devgn played the role of Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey in the film ‘LOC: Kargil’.
The decision to name an island after Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey (Param Vir Chakra) is assuring that the example of supreme sacrifice for the motherland he left us with will continue to inspire generations to come. Thank you PM @narendramodi Ji. #IndiaHonoursParamveers
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) January 23, 2023
Likewise, Siddharth Malhotra shared a tweet and wrote that an island being named after Capt. Vikram Batra gives him goosebumps. He thanked PM Modi for making ‘Shershaah’ immortal. Siddharth played the role of Capt. Vikram Batra in his film ‘Shershaah’ and his portrayal gained a lot of appreciation. Capt. Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his heroics in the Kargil War.
The very news that an island in Andaman & Nicobar is named after our hero Capt. Vikram Batra leaves me with goosebumps!
My heart swells with pride that I was fortunate to live his role on screen. This step taken by PM @narendramodi ensures that Shershaah lives on forever.
— Sidharth Malhotra (@SidMalhotra) January 23, 2023
Actor Suniel Shetty thanked the government and the Prime Minister for taking this initiative on the birth anniversary of Netaji. The actor is known for playing the role of Naik (Retd.) Bhairon Singh Rathore in ‘Border’. Naik Rathore, Sena medal awardee, is known to be the hero of Longewala for his bravery in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. He passed away last month and was cremated with all the honours by BSF.
Thank you Hon. PM @narendramodi ji for renaming 21 islands of #AndamanNicobar in the names of the 21 #ParamVirChakra awardees, the true heroes of our Nation, on the 126th Birth Anniversary of the great #NetajiSubhasChandraBose. So proud! #JaiHind #ParakramDivas
— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) January 23, 2023
The largest unnamed island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, Major Somnath Sharma. Major was martyred on 3 November 1947 while stopping the Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport.
