21 islands in Andamans named after Param Vir Chakra bravehearts

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ The government has decided to name 21 uninhabited islands in the Union territory of Andaman & Nicobar after recipients of Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest wartime gallantry award. Out of the 21 islands, 16 are located in North and Middle Andaman district, while five islands are in South Andaman. Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, welcomed the move taken by the Centre for naming the 21 islands after decorated soldiers in assistance with the Defence and the local administration.

”I am happy that the Centre has chosen 21 islands from Andaman to honour our brave soldiers. I would also like to request the administration to publish a small handbook for schoolchildren so that they can learn more about their supreme sacrifice for our motherland. ”Andaman and Nicobar Island is a tirtha sthan (pilgrimage) because of sacrifices made by the freedom fighters and now such honour for the Param Vir Chakra recipients is a matter of pride for us,” Sharma said.

The first uninhabited island numbered ’INAN370′ in North and Middle Andaman was named after Major Somnath Sharma. Now ’INAN370′ will be known as ’Somnath Dweep’. He was the first and the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. Sharma lost his life in the line of duty on November 3, 1947, while handling Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar airport. He was posthumously awarded the highest military award for his gallantry and sacrifice during the Battle of Badgam.