Port Blair, Feb 27: A 3-days National Seminar on ‘Swantantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Freedom Struggle and Bharatiya Nationalism’, got underway in the conference hall of the DBRAIT, Dollygunj here yesterday. Organised by the Indian Council of Historical Research, Ministry of Education, Govt of India, in academic collaboration with Akhil BharatiyaItihasSankalan Yojana, New Delhi, the seminar was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, GoI, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh as the chief guest by lighting the traditional oil lamp.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister expressed happiness over the conduct of the seminar and appreciated the efforts of the organisersin creating awareness among the young generations about the contributions of both-Swantantryaveer VinayakDamodar Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the freedom struggle of India, through this three days seminar.
The Hon’ble Minister said that the whole country is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’. The idea behind ‘Azadi Ka Amrit mahaotsav’ is to bring forth the history of those persons, institutions and writings etc. who/which contributed immensely for the cause of the Motherland. He said, for attainment of independence, thousands of people sacrificed their lives and lakhs of people suffered agony. Unfortunately we know very little about our unsung heroes. It is in this regard, the onus lies on the Indian Council of Historical Research to bringforth the stories of the unsung heroes of our freedom movement.
The Hon’ble Minister further said that both Swantantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose fought for India’s freedom in their own ways and played instrumental roles in forcing the British to leave India. Both the sons of the ‘Bharat Mata’, that is, Veer Savarkar and Netaji Subhas had a special connection with A&N Islands as Veer Savarkar suffered tortures during his imprisonment in National Memorial Cellular Jail for the cause of the motherland and Netaji Subhas managed to get Andaman free from the British and Japanese Forces and unfurled the National Flag here on Dec. 30, 1943, the Hon’ble Minister said.
The Hon’ble Minister also released books titled ‘Philosophy of Hindutva and Veer Savarkar’, written by Prof. Ashok Modak,‘The Indian Memoir: Subhas Chandra Bose’ (Coffee table book) and ‘Dismantling Casteism Lessons from Savarkar’s Essentials of Hindutva’ by Umesh Ashok Kadam, Member Secretary, ICHR, New Delhi, ‘Indian Migrant Labourers’ and their Socio-Economic Status: a comprehensive study on Islands Migrant Labourers’ by Dr. Hema Banerjee, Dr. Palash C Coomar and Dr. Swapan Kumar Biswas and a book titled ‘Indian Voters and Caste Equation in Elections: a study on A&N Islands Politics’ by Dr. Swapan Kumar Biswasand Dr. Hema Banerjee.
In his address, the Chairman Swantantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial, Shri Ranjit Savarkar informed about the establishment of the ‘Abhinav Bharat Society’, also referred as the Young India Society which was a secret society founded in 1904 by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,which grew to include several hundred revolutionaries as well as political activists with branches in various parts of India. He urged the young students present in good numbers to acquire more knowledge about the freedom struggle of India and the contributions of our great freedoms fighters.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Ashok Modak, Vice Chancellor, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur said today with high esteem and gratitude, we all are gathered here to pay our obeisance and recall the contribution of great sons & patriots Swantantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in India’s freedom Struggle. He further stated that it is our bonded duty to inform/enlighten the younger generations about the contribution of our freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifices to liberate our Country from the clutches of Britishers.
In his introductory speech, Prof. Smriti Kumar Sarkar, Former, VC, Vardhman University said this seminar has been organised on two great sons of India, freedom fighters and theoreticians of Indian Nationalism. He also enlightened the gathering about the contributions of both these patriots in the freedom struggle of India.
Speaking on the occasion, the National Secretary, All India ItihasSankalan Yojana, New Delhi, Shri Hemant DhlingMazumdersaid that today we pay our homage to Veer Savarkar on the occasion of his death anniversary. He said knowing the correct history of a nation enables its citizens to lead a dignified life keeping their head high.
The inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Assistant Professor, Mahatama Gandhi Govt. College, Mayabunder, Dr. Swapan Kumar Biswas.
Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs & Education, Govt of India, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh visited the National Memorial Cellular Jail in the evening and also visited the solitary cell of Veer Savarkar, galleries of the Cellular Jail and witnessed the Light & Sound Show. Earlier, the Hon’ble Minister visited Mt. Manipur.
