India owes a lot to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose because without his Ajad Hind Fauj India would not have gotten its independence from the British. It was only when the Ajad Hind Fauj started making its way from the north-east India towards Delhi & Calcutta did the British finally agree to leave India.
His freedom struggle was years in making and on 30th Dec 1943, Netaji hoisted the Tricolour for the first time on the Indian Soil in Port Blair at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands declaring the Islands as the first Indian Territory to be freed from the colonial rule.
According to the Government of India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had visited the South Andaman district in 1943. On December 30, 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Commander of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA), hoisted the Indian National Flag for the first time on the soil of Port Blair.
This historic event occurred after his escape from British surveillance on January 16, 1941, when he entered Indian soil. The flag hoisting symbolised the realisation of his promise that the Indian National Army would set foot on Indian soil by the end of 1943. This also marked a declaration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the “first liberated territory of India”.
Now every year on 30th December a function is organized at Flag Point commemorating the first flag hoisting by Netaji. Without the struggle and sacrifice of these brave men and women India would not have won its independence and we owe it to them to ensure that their sacrifice and hard-work is not whitewashed and gaslit out of our history books. While I was writing this post I remembered this old Hindi song which is completely apt so sharing it here.
ये देश है वीर जवानों का
अलबेलों का मस्तानों का
इस देश का यारो क्या कहना
ये देश है दुनिया का गहनायहाँ चौड़ी छाती वीरों की
यहाँ भोली शक्लें हीरों की
यहाँ गाते हैं राँझे मस्ती में
मचती हैं धूमें बस्ती मेंपेड़ों पे बहारें झूलों की
राहों में क़तारें फूलों की
यहाँ हँसता है सावन बालों में
खिलती हैं कलियाँ गालों मेंकहीं दंगल शोख़ जवानों के
कहीं कर्तब तीर कमानों के
यहाँ नित नित मेले सजते हैं
नित ढोल और ताशे बजते हैंदिलबर के लिए दिलदार हैं हम
दुश्मन के लिए तलवार हैं हम
मैदाँ में अगर हम डट जाएँ
मुश्किल है कि पीछे हट जाएँ
A very rough Translation:
This country has brave young men who are carefree
Friends, this country
Friends, this country is great
This country is an ornament of the worldHere the courageous people have a brave heart
Here the women have an innocent face
Here the lovers sing
Here the lovers sing in joy
There are gatherings in the colonyThere are swings of spring on the trees
There are flowers lined up in the paths
Here the rainy season smiles
Here the rainy season smiles in the tresses
The flowers blossom on the cheeksSomewhere the young are wrestling
Somewhere there’s a talent show of archery
Here there are carnivals
Here there are carnivals adorned all around
Where the drums and music are playingI’m a lover for my beloved
I’m a sword for my enemy
If I step my foot on the battlefield
If I step my foot on the battlefield
Then it’s impossible to turn me back
It is good to see India taking back its seat at the world stage and leading it towards a better future. (Yes there are issues that need to be solved but while we are working on that we do need to celebrate our progress as well)
– Suramya