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What is the news?
Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command(CINCAN) has inaugurated Sankalp Smarak at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
What is Sankalp Smarak?
Sankalp Smarak is a monument dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
It is a tribute not only to the resolve of the soldiers of the Indian National Army and their innumerable sacrifices but also reminds us of the values enshrined by Netaji himself.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose & Andaman and Nicobar Islands
During World War II (1942–45), Japan had conquered the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the British and handed it over to Netaji and his army, the Azad Hind Fauj.
Netaji then arrived at Andaman and Nicobar Island on 29th December 1943 and declared the island free from British rule, much before India got its Independence in 1947.
On the next day, i.e. 30 December 1943, Netaji hoisted the national flag for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair.
During his visit, he also visited the Cellular Jail and met the freedom fighters lodged there.
Before his departure, he renamed Andaman as Shaheed (“Martyrs”) Island, and Nicobar as Swaraj (“Freedom”) Island.
What is the significance of Netaji’s visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Firstly, Netaji’s visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the Head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army marked a symbolic fulfilment of his promise that the Indian National Army would stand on Indian soil by the end of 1943.
Secondly, this historic visit also marked a declaration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the “first liberated territory of India”.
Source: This post is based on the article ‘‘Sankalp Smarak’ dedicated to the nation by CINCAN’ published in PIB on 29th Dec 2021.
