Bhubaneswar: Odisha occupies a special place in India’s civilisational journey, where history, spirituality, and culture blend seamlessly, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan said on Friday as he attended the Parakram Diwas celebrations at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birthplace Museum in Cuttack.
Radhakrishnan was in the city to mark the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Addressing the gathering at Netaji’s ancestral home, he paid rich tributes to the freedom fighter, describing him as a great son of Bharat whose life and ideas continue to shape the nation’s conscience.
Calling his visit to Netaji’s birthplace deeply enriching, Radhakrishnan said Bose was not only a fearless leader of India’s freedom struggle but also a visionary who had a clear roadmap for the country’s governance after Independence. Netaji, he said, imagined an India that was strong, self-reliant, and free from poverty.
Invoking the iconic INA marching song “Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja”, the vice-president said Netaji’s ideals of courage, unity, and supreme dedication to the motherland remain a source of inspiration even today. He urged citizens to draw strength from those values and collectively work towards the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047, according to an official statement.
In a post on X, he also praised Odisha’s role in India’s historical and cultural narrative, noting that the state’s legacy of resistance – from ancient times through the freedom movement – resonated strongly with Netaji’s revolutionary path.
The land that preserved its identity despite repeated challenges, he said, deeply understood Netaji’s belief that freedom is won through resolve and unity, not submission.
Commending the Odisha government’s efforts, Radhakrishnan highlighted initiatives aimed at tribal welfare, improving living standards, and strengthening infrastructure. With continued good governance, he said, Odisha had the potential to emerge as one of the country’s leading states in the years ahead.
During the programme, a recorded address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was telecast. The vice-president noted that the PM had ensured due national recognition for Netaji by observing his birth anniversary as Parakram Diwas since 2021 and by renaming Ross Island as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. He said Parakram Diwas was not just a day of remembrance, but a call for every Indian to act boldly in the service of the nation.
