Parakram Diwas 2026 at Netaji Birthplace Museum, Cuttack to commemorate the 129th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

I touch and salute the holy feet of Bharat Mata – the Most Powerful and the Most Merciful.

     Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Ji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi Ji, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Government of Odisha, Shri Surya banshi Suraj Ji, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Cuttack, Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab Ji, Hon’ble MLAs, Shri Souvic Biswal Ji, Smt.  Sofia Firdous Ji, Shri Prakash Chandra Sethi Ji, Hon’ble Mayor of Cuttack, Shri Subash Chandra Singh Ji and others.

I am immensely happy that on my first official visit to Odisha, I have come here to honour and pay tribute to Cuttack’s son of the soil and a great son of Bharat, Bharat Ratna Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji on his 129th birth anniversary. The State of Odisha carries with quiet pride, a rich heritage where history, spirituality, and art flow seamlessly through everyday life. From the majestic Konark Sun Temple and the graceful classical Odissi to the sacred calling of Lord Jagannath at Puri, Odisha is a living witness to the soul of a great civilisation. My visit to the Bharat Ratna Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Birth Place Museum Trust has been truly enriching. The 12 galleries explain to us the life story of this great son of Maa Bharat. I am happy to have inaugurated the postal stamp gallery, Netaji Smriti Bhawan and the exhibition today. Such exhibitions will enable the younger generations to understand the immense sacrifices and hardships endured by our freedom fighters, who laid down everything during the independence movement so that we could breathe the air of freedom today.

I sincerely appreciate the State Government under the leadership of Shri Mohan Ji supported strongly by the Ministry of Culture of the Central Government for honouring Bharat Ratna Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in a befitting manner. Just before my speech, we all heard the video message of our beloved Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shriman Narendra Modi ji. Shriman Narendra Modi Ji conferred due honour to Bharat Ratna Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose by celebrating his birthday every year as Parakram Diwas since 2021.  In 2018, Shri Modi Ji renamed the Ross Island as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep. Shri Modiji’s decisive action, fearless vision, and unwavering commitment to national security and self-reliance, expresses the spirit of parākram that is the spirit of courage and resolve. Parakram Diwas stands not just as a remembrance of Netaji’s valour, but as a call to every Indian to act boldly in the service of the nation.

Dear friends, I was deeply moved, when the police band played “Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja” a marching tune of the soldiers of the Indian National Army. Today, as we commemorate his birth anniversary it will be fitting tribute to Bharat Ratna Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, if we all pledge to work collectively marching towards the goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Kadam Kadam Badao Viksit Bharat Ki Ore. I am very pleased to see Shri Mahtab Ji who was my colleague in Lok Sabha during the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha. The people of Odisha continue to shower their love on him by electing him for the seventh term to the august House of the People. It is recognition of his hard work for the people of Odisha. During my brief travel to Cuttack from Bhubaneswar, Hon’ble Governor, Dr. Hari Ji, briefed me about the development activities being undertaken by the State Government all around the State, including its tribal areas. The events organised today to pay our respects to the great leader Shri Netaji have offered me a glimpse of the immense good work being done by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi Ji.

Odisha’s history of resistance, from ancient times to the freedom struggle found a powerful echo in Netaji’s revolutionary path. The land that had withstood invasions and preserved its identity understood Netaji’s message: that freedom is won not by submission, but by courage and unity. Even today, Netaji’s memory lives vibrantly in Odisha in institutions, in stories passed down generations, and in the silent pride of families whose ancestors answered his call. I bow in respect to this land, which gave to Mother Bharat, a great warrior Bharat Ratna Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The fire that Bharat Ratna Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose lit against the colonial powers of the day continues to spark within each Indian today. Shri Netaji continues to live wherever courage defeats fear, wherever duty rises above self, and wherever Bharat dares to dream big and stand tall. Jai Jagannath! Jai Hind! Long live Mother Bharat!