Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the government had a target to build a new India before the 100th year of Independence. “Netaji used to say ‘Never lose faith in the dream of independent India. There is no power in the world that can shake India. Today we have a goal to fulfil the dreams of an independent India. We have a target to build a new India before the 100th year of independence, 2047,” he said. He was speaking after unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate on Sunday evening.
Paying tribute to security personnel who lost their lives while serving the nation, PM Modi stated, “It was my good fortune that our government got the opportunity to declassify files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. “
The Prime Minister also urged people to move ahead in their lives by taking inspiration from Netaji’s “Can Do, Will Do” spirit. “Nothing could stop Netaji if he intended to do something. We also need to move further in our lives by taking inspiration from his ‘Can Do, Will Do’ spirit,” he said.
PM Modi also spoke of his visit to the ancestral home of Netaji in Kolkata.
“It was an honour for me to visit Netaji’s ancestral home last year on his birth anniversary in Kolkata. I cannot explain in words the feeling to see his car in which he left Kolkata, his room where he used to study,” the Prime Minister added.
The freedom struggle involved the sacrifices of many countrymen, but efforts were made not to mention the contribution of all of them in history, he said.
“But today, the country is correcting those mistakes after decades of Independence,” the Prime Minister said.
He said that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav aims at reviving India’s identity and inspirations.
“It is unfortunate that efforts were made to erase the contribution of many great personalities in India after Independence,” PM Modi stated.
On the occasion, the PM also spoke of disaster management in India, and said that for the first time, India has started the tradition of Joint Drill for Disaster Management. “Earlier disaster management was handled by the agricultural department. Our government strengthened NDRF. International agencies hailed our initiatives in the disaster management sector,” the Prime Minister added.
He said that the Central government has laid emphasis on reform as well as an emphasis on relief, rescue and rehabilitation. “We modernised NDRF, expanded it across the country. Space technology and other best possible practices have also been adopted for planning and management,” PM Modi said.
The PM also said that “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose refused to bow before the British. His statue will inspire democratic values and future generations.”
The Prime Minister also said that the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is being installed in digital form near India Gate and soon this hologram statue will be replaced by a big granite statue.
The hologram statue is powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. An invisible, high gain, 90% transparent holographic screen has been erected in such a way that it is not visible to visitors.
The 3D image of Netaji is projected on it to create the effect of a hologram. The size of the hologram statue is 28 feet in height and 6 feet in width.
After unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The award is announced every year on 23 January. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present at the occasion said that PM Modi has taken a historic decision on Parakram Diwas to honour Netaji’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle. “This is not just a granite statue but a befitting tribute to the legendary Netaji, who gave up everything for India’s freedom”, he said.
Netaji’s birth anniversary is now celebrated as Parakram Diwas and Republic Day celebrations began from 23 January.