Ranchi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday named one of the Islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Group after Jharkhand’s brave son martyr Lance Nail Albert Ekka. Lance Naik Albert Ekka was in the forward company of 14 GUARDS during the attack on the enemy defences in Gangasagar in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
On 04 December 1971, Lance Naik Ekka noticed an enemy Light Machine Gun inflicting heavy casualties on his company. With complete disregard to his personal safety, he charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the LMG. Suddenly another Medium Machine Gun opened up from a building. Despite being grievously injured, he crawled forward and lobbed a grenade, killing one soldier.
As the MMG continued firing, he displayed utmost bravery, entered the bunker and silenced the enemy, thereby ensuring the success of the attack. For his conspicuous bravery, determination and gallantry of the highest order, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous).
The Prime Minister participated in a ceremony to name 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees through video conferencing. During the programme he also unveiled a model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.
On this historic occasion, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah participated in a special function organized at Port Blair. He honoured the family members of Param Vir Chakra awardees Subedar Major Retired (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav, Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, Naib Subedar Bana Singh and family members of other soldiers. Several dignitaries including Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Admiral DK Joshi, were also present in the programme.
In his address, Amit Shah said that it is a very important day for all the tri-forces of the country because before this no other country in the world has honoured the valour of soldiers by naming islands after them. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to create a forever memory of our Param Vir Chakra Awardees is very encouraging for all three forces. He said that today,
the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is being celebrated as Parakram Divas across the country.
On this occasion, it has also been decided to make a memorial for Netaji at Subhas Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he stayed during the freedom movement. Shah said that these two decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will connect the memories of the independence of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the whole country and through these decisions, patriotism, bravery and valor will be instilled in the young generation of India for ages.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had already become a place of pilgrimage for freedom due to the Cellular Jail, then Netaji liberated and hoisted the tricolor on this holy land. Following the footsteps of Netaji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Subhas Dweep and named 21 islands in the name of those who fought for the freedom and sovereignty of the country by sacrificing their lives.
Shah said that by naming 21 islands after these bravehearts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honored their valor. Whenever the history of the entire India will be written, then this incident will be written in golden letters. He said that on the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who made unparalleled contribution in the country’s freedom struggle, a Subhas memorial has also been announced.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose traveled 15,000 kilometers from Kolkata to Berlin through minus-45-degree temperatures and adverse weather conditions to liberate the country, but unfortunately, many efforts were made to suppress his contribution for the cause of freedom.
But it is said that heroes are not dependent on anyone for their memory, the memory is linked with their bravery. He said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the statue of Netaji Subhas ChandraBose, the pride of our nation, was installed on ‘Kartavya Path’.