Republic Day celebrations will begin on January 23 instead of January 24 this year so as to include Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's "aim to highlight important aspects of our history and culture," an official said on Saturday.
What this entails was not immediately evident. One option is that the government may consider annual events commemorating Bose's birth date as part of the Republic Day celebrations. Last year, the central government announced that January 23 will be celebrated as Parakram Diwas, or day of valour.
Other such days, which have become annual events, are August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, October 31 as National Unity Day (birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel), November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (birth anniversary of Birsa Munda), November 26 as Constitution Day, and December 26 as Veer Baal Divas (a tribute to Guru Gobind Singh's four sons), the official said, requesting anonymity.
Although it was a wise move, the government must comprehend and implement Netaji's ideology in order to really honor the freedom fighter, according to Chandra Bose, kin of Netaji.
"In the 21st century India, Subhas Chandra Bose is immensely relevant. We see it all throughout the country, and I'm not referring to any one political party; all parties are involved in divisive politics. "This has to end," he said. "Netaji envisioned a united India. There would have been no partition of India or partition of Bengal if Netaji had returned to India. Unless Netaji's ideology is brought into the national mainstream of politics, India will again get divided."
Before Netaji's 125th birthday this year, Chandra Bose, a member of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to have the freedom fighter’s image on currency notes. He also suggested declaring January 23 a national holiday.
