Netaji's legacy inspiration for achieving Viksit Bharat: Modi

Unity among people is as significant in pursuit of "Viksit Bharat" (developed India) today, as it was during the fight for "Swaraj" (self-rule) during the freedom struggle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he cautioned people to stay vigilant against those seeking to weaken the country and break its unity.

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI:

Paying tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, commemorated as "Parakram Diwas", the prime minister said that a favourable environment exists globally for India's progress and that the world is watching how the country makes the 21st century its own.

Modi also stressed the need to draw inspiration from Bose's life. "Today when we are engaged in achieving the resolution of Viksit Bharat, the legacy of life of Netaji Subhas will constantly inspire us," he said, virtually addressing an event held at Bose's birthplace in Cuttack.

Born in 1897, Bose was an iconic freedom fighter who founded the Azad Hind Fauj to fight the British rule in India. Noting that the Azad Hind Fauj included brave men and women from every region and class, Modi emphasised that despite speaking different languages they were united through the sentiment of country's freedom.

Bose was born in a prosperous family and after clearing the civil services examination, he could have been a senior officer in the British government and lead a comfortable life, but he chose the path of difficulties and challenges in the quest for Independence, the PM said.

"Netaji Subhas was not bound by the comforts of the comfort zone. Today, we all need to step out of our comfort zones to build a Viksit Bharat," Modi said, underlining the importance of becoming the best globally, choosing excellence, and focusing on efficiency.

Bose took pride in India's heritage and often spoke about India's rich democratic history, encouraging people to draw inspiration from it, the PM noted. He highlighted that India is emerging from a colonial mindset and moving towards development with pride in its heritage.