SRI VIJAYA PURAM: Vice‑President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday inaugurated the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by hoisting the national flag at Flag Point during the State function marking August Kranti Diwas, officials said.
Campaign launched at historic setting
Addressing the gathering at a Tiranga concert held at the DBRAIT Auditorium, the Vice‑President described the islands as a fitting venue to launch the drive, given their association with India’s freedom movement and the history of the Tricolour, according to an official release.
Recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters who suffered at the Cellular Jail, he paid tribute to Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and others incarcerated there, and said their example continues to inspire later generations, the release said.
Message of unity and national pride
Mr Radhakrishnan said the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to bring citizens together under one Flag and one motherland. He invoked lines from Tamil poet Subramania Bharati to underline the emotional and cultural resonance of the national banner.
“Do or Die”
The Vice‑President also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s call of “Do or Die” from the Quit India Movement, saying the August 1942 appeal gave decisive momentum to India’s struggle for independence, the statement added. He further noted the islands’ unique place in Tricolour history, referring to the hoisting of the national flag by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the islands on December 30, 1943.
What the campaign seeks to achieve locally
- Encourage every household to display the national flag during the campaign period.
- Foster a sense of unity and collective responsibility associated with the Tricolour.
- Commemorate the islands’ role in the freedom struggle and public memory of martyrs.
Officials at the event reiterated that the campaign is being implemented as a nationwide people’s movement, and called upon residents to participate actively by hoisting the flag and engaging in related civic activities, the release said.
Context and commemorative significance
The launch coincided with observance of August Kranti Diwas, which marks the Quit India Movement of 1942. The choice of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for the inauguration was emphasised because of the islands’ historical connections to political imprisonment and symbolic acts of defiance during the colonial era.
| Date / Event | Significance |
|---|---|
| 8–9 August | Commemoration of Quit India Movement (August Kranti Diwas) |
| 30 December 1943 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the national flag on the islands |
Speakers at the function, as noted in the official account, sought to tie the contemporary civic exercise of flag‑hoisting to the islands’ past, stressing remembrance of those who endured the penal settlement known as Kala Pani.
Officials and public participation
The statement did not list all dignitaries present but described a state function and concert themed around the national song Vande Mataram. Residents were urged to observe the campaign by flying the Tricolour at homes and participating in local events organised to commemorate the freedom struggle.
Organisers promoted the drive as a non‑partisan civic initiative focused on national pride and unity. The administration indicated it would support publicity and local events to facilitate citizen participation during the campaign period, the release said.
The Vice‑President’s remarks linked literary and historical references to the contemporary drive, aiming to strengthen public sentiment around the flag and the collective memory of sacrifice associated with the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Further details about campaign activities and schedules in the islands are expected from local administration offices and the state‑level implementation committee overseeing Har Ghar Tiranga events, the release added.
