Intro: Preparations in full swing to commemorate the birth anniversaries of the icons at national level in 2015-16. To monitor the celebrations PMO has formed a national implementation committee led by Union Home Minister.
Paying due respect to the forgotten heroes of India, the Central Government has accorded the status of National Icon to some prominent personalities which were mostly neglected by the successive governments after Independence.
The Government on April 23 released the first list of such seven great personalities declaring them national icon. The list includes the names of freedom fighter Lal Lajpat Rai, Maharana Pratap, 1857 freedom movement hero Tantya Tope, Naga leader Rani Gaidinliu, Jan Sangh founder leader Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya, former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and Hindi writer Bhisham Sahni.
The list is also said to have names of revolutionary Ashfaqulla Khan, leader of Salt Satyagraha Abbas Tyabji, Quit India Movement leader from Kerala Vakkom Abdul Khadir, political activist and freedom fighter Ubaidullah Sindhi, TM Varghese, George Joseph, Pherozeshah Mehta and Bhikaji Cama, Bi Amma (Abadi Begum), Begum Hazrat Mahal, who rebelled against British rule, Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, poet Iqbal, who penned the song ‘Saare jahan se achha’, and scholar of Indian Unani medicine system Hakim Ajmal Khan. There are reports that some more names can be added in the list.
The Centre has decided to commemorate the birthdays of these icons at the national level in 2015 and 2016. To monitor the birthday celebrations of these national icons, the PMO has formed a national implementation committee headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma are the other members of the panel.
The respect shown to Rani Gaidinliu has sent a good message in the entire north-east region of the country. This is the honour not only to Ranima but also to the people of whole of the region. This will strengthen emotional bond of unity of the country.
Commenting on the list, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that during Congress rule there has been ignoring of Muslim nationalists as all the welfare schemes were centred around one family. He said the BJP government wants to pay respect to the great personalites of the country so that young generation could draw inspiration from their life and work.
— Jagdamba Mall
