Port Blair, Dec 30: The 69th anniversary to mark the historic occasion of hoisting of National flag for the first time on the Indian soil at Port Blair by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was observed in a befitting manner here today. At a function held at the Memorial of 30th December, Netaji Stadium, the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM hoisted the National Flag in commemoration of the day.
It was on this day in 1943 that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the National Flag for the first time at Gymkhana Ground (present Netaji Stadium), Port Blair declaring these islands, the first Indian Territory to be liberated from the British rule. To commemorate this day, a memorial stands today opposite Andaman Club, Netaji Stadium as a mute testimony of his visit to the Islands as the head of Provisional Government of Azad Hind during the Japanese occupation and the historic moment of hoisting of the tri-colour.
Earlier, the Lt Governor paid tributes to all the heroes of freedom struggle by laying wreath at Netaji Statue and 1857 Memorial at Marina Park, Battle of Aberdeen Memorial at Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex and Martyrs’ Column at National Memorial Cellular Jail.
The Chief Secretary (i/c), Chairperson (PBMC), senior officers of the A&N Administration, public representatives, representatives of Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad and members of the public also paid homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and all those freedom fighters who had made supreme sacrifice for the cause of the motherland.
