The PreSense and Next Gen Political Leaders (NGPL) Team visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the first week of January 2023. The purpose of our visit was to spread democratic and Constitutional awareness amongst the students. With the help of Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, sitting MP of the Islands, we could visit many schools and a few social projects. He also accompanied us to the schools and we had useful interaction with the youth. We offered to provide online training programme free of cost, to young students who want to join politics, irrespective of the party, on Indian democracy and Constitution.
After the First War of Independence in
1857, British Government transported around 30,000 aggressive and revolutionary
freedom fighters to this Island in phases.
It was known as Indian Penal Settlement. Freedom fighters were kept in
Ross Islands (Now known as Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Island) and Viper
Island. In 1906, the Britishers opened
the Cellular Jail. Between 1943 and
1945, Japanese forces took control of this Island during World War II. Both British and Japanese authorities
tortured our freedom fighters and even killed them.
Sadly, our text books do not talk about such great warriors, who sacrificed themselves to get freedom for us. We found many of the citizens of Andaman Islands are the descendants of one or other freedom fighter. They belong to different States, religion, language. They live peacefully like a family. Though the Island is separated from the mainland, by a distance of 1300 km, their patriotism towards Mother India is enormous. When we visited the Schools, students greeted us with 'Jai Hind'.
A & N Islands consists of 836 small Islands, of which only 37 are inhabited. 84% of the Island is Forest. This Island is strategically important for Indian defence. Hence, the Lt. Governor of this UT is a retired official from the Defence.
Only three years back, this Island got
4G internet connectivity through a single cable laid from Chennai. If the Government adds one more cable and
provide a seamless internet facility, many IT companies can set up their
back-office and BPO facilities. This is
an ideal place for IT Industry, with the availability of skilled manpower.
Though the Island is surrounded on all sides with sea and has 3000 mm of rains every year, the people do not get drinking water on a daily basis. Already, the local MP and the UT Administration are working on some projects. This is a serious issue to be considered by the Indian Government urgently.
Shortly, an International Airport will be opened there. This will open up more tourism opportunities. There is a great potential for Shipping and Fisheries, with rare kind of fishes available in the sea.
Though this Island is represented in Lok Sabha, the people feel that they do not have any Legislature and membership in Rajya Sabha.
Sadly, our text books do not carry the contributions made by Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the freedom movement. This is the Capital of the Indian Freedom Movement. Many freedom fighters were tortured and killed. Since many of the freedom fighters were members of Indian Independence League (IIL) and Indian National Army (INA), founded by Netaji, probably for political reasons, they might have been ignored from the history. Only during the Morarji Desai regime, the Cellular Jail was dedicated to the nation as a 'National Monument'. Many of the freedom fighters who were killed by the British and Japanese authorities have not yet been declared as Freedom Fighters, though many of them have been declared as 'Martyrs'. The descendants of freedom fighters, with whom we spoke feel that their ancestors, who were killed by the British and Japanese authorities, be declared as 'freedom fighters'.
PreSense appeals to the Indian Government:
1. Andaman Island being the capital of freedom movement, Indian history and Text books should be rewritten giving the factual report about the contribution made by thousands of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for Indian Independence.
2. There is a great potentiality to improve this Island with more employment opportunity in Information Technology, Shipping, Fisheries and Tourism. They should be explored.
3. Above all, the residents should be provided with clean drinking water 24 x 7 x 365 days, besides improving Health and High Education facilities. That will be the greatest homage that we, Indians, can pay to their ancestors who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
4. Already Prime Minister Modi has named / renamed some of the Islands. There are many Islands that are not named. Prime Minister may consider naming them after many martyrs / freedom fighters who were killed by British and Japanese Authorities before Independence.
Every Indian should visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a 'Patriotic Pilgrimage' and pay homage to the freedom fighters.
Jai Hind
Source: This is the editorial published in the Jan 2023 edition of PreSense
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