Homage to Netaji on his 125th birth anniversary

NEW DELHI: : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled a holographic statue of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at central Delhi's India Gate, and exhorted citizens to build a new India before the 100th year of Independence in 2047.

The 3D hologram, which will later be replaced by a 28-feet high and six-feet wide granite statue of the freedom fighter, was opened to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Bose. On the occasion, the PM also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to seven individuals and organisations.

"We have a goal to fulfill the dreams of independent India. We have the goal of building a new India before the hundredth year of Independence," the PM said.

He said that it was unfortunate that after Independence, work was done to erase the contribution of many great personalities along with the culture of the country.

"The freedom struggle involved the penance of lakhs of countrymen, but efforts were made to confine their history as well. But today, the country is boldly correcting those mistakes," Modi said while citing the development of the Panchtheerth in honour of BR Ambedkar, observing Birsa Munda Jayanti to remember the contribution of the Adivasi leader, and building the Statue of Unity in honour of Vallabhbhai Patel.

The PM said that the granite statue of Bose will soon be installed at India Gate. "This is a historic location and a historic occasion. Netaji refused to bow before the British. His statue will inspire democratic values and future generations," said Modi.

Addressing the gathering, he said that Bose, who had established the first independent government in India, gave the country the confidence to achieve a sovereign and strong India.