The Government of India has decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. This High-Level Committee will decide on the activities for a one-year-long commemoration starting January 23, 2021. The High-Level Committee will be headed by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. The Commemoration is being held as a tribute and as a mark of gratitude to the colossal contribution Netaji made to India’s freedom struggle.
Speaking about Netaji Bose, Prime Minister Modi said, “India will always remain grateful to Subhas Chandra Bose for his bravery and memorable contribution to resisting colonialism. He was a stalwart who committed himself towards ensuring every Indian leads a life of dignity. Subhas Babu was also known for his intellectual prowess and organisational skills. We are committed to fulfilling his ideals and creating a strong India.”
The members of the High-Level Commemoration Committee will include experts, historians, authors, family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as eminent persons associated with Azad Hind Fauj/INA. The Committee will also lend guidance to the commemoration activities in Delhi, Kolkata and other places related to Netaji and Azad Hind Fauj, both in India as well as overseas.
In the recent past, the Government of India has taken several steps towards preserving and conserving the precious heritage of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. A museum has been set up on Netaji at Red Fort, New Delhi, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on January 23, 2020. A permanent exhibition and a Light and Sound show on Netaji has been planned to be set up at Kolkata in the historic Victoria Memorial building.
In 2015, the Government of India decided to declassify the files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and make them accessible to the public.
The first lot of 33 files were declassified on December 4, 2015. The Prime Minister, Modi released digital copies of 100 files relating to Netaji on January 23, 2016, to meet the long-standing demand of the people.
During his visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2018, the Prime Minister joined the programme to mark 75th anniversary of hoisting Tricolour by Netaji Bose. He paid tributes to Subhas Chandra Bose’s Provisional Government of Azad Hind, which administered the Islands during World War II. PM Modi renamed three islands in Andaman and Nicobar. The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep; the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep; and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.
