21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar renamed after Param Vir Chakra Awardees

21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar renamed after Param Vir Chakra Awardees: Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees on  January 23, 2023, via video conferencing.

The naming was done on the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary, which is officially observed as Parakram Diwas (Day of Valor).  He has also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji, to be constructed on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (earlier known as Ross Islands).

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The memorial to Netaji will be located on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, which was called Ross Island before 2018. Facilities available at the site will include a museum, a cable car ropeway, a laser-and-sound show, a guided heritage trail through historical buildings and a theme-based children’s amusement park, next to a resto-lounge.

The largest unnamed island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the second largest unnamed island after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on. The first recipient of the award was Major Somnath Sharma, who lost his life while fighting against Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar airport on November 3, 1947.

Of the 21 people who have received the Param Vir Chakra, 20 served in the Indian Army and one in the Indian Air Force. The event was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief of Defence Staff General, Anil Chauhan.