Port Blair, Mar 15: The Islands Chief Secretary in charge, Jalaj Srivastava called upon the island youths to be the cultural ambassadors of Andaman Addressing the seminar on the Arrival of first batch of freedom fighters to the islands in commemoration of Andaman day held at Press information Bureau here on Wednesday last, he said every child should be the cultural ambassadors of these islands and preserve the rich history and culture of the region. He also stressed the need for educating the youths of the country about the values of our freedom struggle.
Speaking on the occasion, the veteran islander Mr John Lobo expressed concern over belittling the important occasion of arrival of first batch of freedom fighters to the islands and its commemoration as Andaman Day. He appealed to the administration to observe Andaman day only on this occasion and not as a tourism day in Delhi.
Responding to an appeal made to give up the Yacht Marina Project at the historic viper islands to preserve its distinct identity, he said he would convey it to the appropriate authority for their intervention. Quoting an example of tourism projects coming up in historic places, he stated that Sentosa island, the symbol of freedom struggle against British regime has been developed as a major tourist spot in Singapore.
Mr Jalaj Srivastava also released a special issue on Andamans brought out by the hindi Journal UP Mazdoor Darpan and the Chief Editor of Dweep Samachar, Ram Prasad received the first copy.
Eminent Scholars, Dr R N Rath, Dr J D Singh, Mrs Sakuntala spoke on the importance of the islands in our freedom struggle, while Mr Francis Xavier moderated the programme. They emphasized the need to incorporate the history of freedom struggle in Andamans in the national curriculum.
Earlier, the organizer Mr Madan Mohan Singh delivered introductory address. Mr A Dhanasekaran, Asst Director of Press Information Bureau presided over the programme (PIB).
