Kolkata: The Central government’s announcement on Tuesday that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday on January 23 will be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ has not gone down well with the political parties in West Bengal.
Debabrata Biswas, general secretary of All India Forward Bloc, a party formed by Netaji himself, said the secular and Left parties have been demanding inside and outside the Parliament to declare the day as Desh Prem Diwas for the last 25 years. Netaji had integrated many religions and people speaking different languages in the freedom struggle, he added.
“The inspiration behind the unification was out of love for the nation. It is a philosophy because the freedom fighters felt so deeply for their motherland. We have to again bring back the feeling in the present condition,” he said.
For Biswas, both the words, ‘parakram’ and ‘deshprem’ convey divergent ideas. He feels ‘parakram’ does not convey the message that the sacrifices made by the leaders for the country. “Also, the word is not unifying. Love for the nation is the driving force. We will keep celebrating January 23 as Desh Prem Diwas,” he said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress too is also not very happy with the announcement of Parakram Diwas. TMC leader and MP Saugata Roy said, “The announcement to observe it as a day of valour is not enough. January 23 should be announced as a national holiday. As he was a national leader, these two aspects are not reflected through Parakram Diwas.”
“It appears to be a stunt keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, and not as a mark of respect to Netaji,” he said.
Netaji’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose said, “The people of India have been celebrating January 23 as ‘Desh Prem Diwas’ or Patriots’ Day. Had it been declared Patriots’ Day, it would have been more topical. Netaji’s valour and bravery can’t be compared to any other. So Prakram Diwas is also not wrong in that sense.”
