Netaji, Shaheed, Swaraj: India To Rename Three A&N Islands On 75th Anniversary Of Netaji’s Port Blair Tiranga Hoisting

The central government has decided to rename three islands in Andaman and Nicobar on the seventy fifth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose having hoisted the national flag in Port Blair, Times of India has reported.

According to the report, three islands in Andaman & Nicobar- Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island - will be renamed as Netaji Island, Shahid Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.

The report quoting sources said that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has nearly completed all the formalities in the matter. The new names will be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the islands’ capital Port Blair on 30 December.

Prime Minister will be accompanied by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. In Port Blair, Modi will hoist a 150-metre national flag apart from releasing a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.

During the World War II the Japanese captured the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, leader of the Indian National Army that allied with Japan, hoisted the national flag in Port Blair on 30 December 1943. He declared the islands as the first Indian territory freed from the occupation of British. Netaji suggested that Andaman be renamed as Shahid Dweep (Martyr Island) and Nicobar as Swaraj Dweep (Self-Rule Island).

As per the report, the Modi government, in line with Bose’s initiative is renaming Neil Island and Havelock Island as Shahid Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.