Two days ahead of legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a granite statue of the icon will be installed at India Gate in New Delhi.
"Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place," Modi wrote on Twitter on Friday, 21 January, attaching a photograph with his tweet.
He added that the 'grand' statue would "be a symbol of India’s indebtedness to him".
Subhas Chandra Bose, also known as Netaji, was born in Cuttack, Odisha, on 23 January 1897. He was one of the most important figures in India’s struggle for independence. Netaji was also behind the revival of the Indian National Army or the Azad Hind Fauj.
The announcement also comes after government sources indicated that the Republic Day celebrations, which begin on 24 January, will begin from 23 January to include Netaji's birth anniversary.
"This is in line with Narendra Modi government's focus on celebrating/commemorating important aspects of our history and culture," NDTV quoted government sources as saying.
The government had earlier commemorated Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary as 'Parakram Divas'.
Gratifying That So Many Young People Still Know Who He Is, Says Daughter Anita Bose Pfaff
Reacting to the development, Subhash Chandra Bose's daughter Anita Bose Pfaff said she is "very happy that Netaji's statue would be put up in a prominent place in Delhi".
"Gratifying that so many young people still know who he is and respect him. Great tribute to a man who suffered so much for the well-being of his country," she was quoted as saying by ANI.
"Honouring him by setting up his statue is very remarkable. But what I would find even more important is having revival and strengthening of Netaji's values and ideas in today's lives and politics not only of high-level politicians but of every single man and woman," she added.
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