Page 16 - MANN KI BAAT (English)

of this oil. They are also being
Parakram Diwas
imparted special training
in marketing and branding.
This is a big step towards Celebrating Netaji's
Timeless Legacy
economically empowering our
tribal communities. I am sure
that in future, the virgin coconut
oil of Andaman-Nicobar is going
to be a newsmaker in the world
and the biggest contribution in
that will be of the women’s self-
help groups of Andaman and
Nicobar.

My dear countrymen,
imagine a scene for a moment.
It is January in Kolkata. The
Second World War is at its peak
and anger against the British is
at its peak in India. Because of
this, policemen are deployed
display such courage! Actually,
at every nook and corner of the this person is none other than
city. The police presence is more our country’s great personality,
vigilant around a house in the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
middle of Kolkata. Meanwhile, a
We now celebrate the 23rd of
man wearing a long brown coat, January, his birth anniversary,
pants and a black hat comes out as ‘Parakram Diwas’. This saga
of a bungalow in the dark of the related to his bravery also gives
night in a car. Crossing several
a glimpse of his Parakram. A few
heavily guarded checkpoints, years ago, I went to that very
he reaches a railway station house from where he escaped
called Gomo. This station is after dodging the British. That
now in Jharkhand. From here,
car of his is still present there.
he catches a train and moves That experience was very
on. After this, he reaches special for me. Subhas Babu
Europe via Afghanistan—and was a visionary. Courage was
all that happens despite the
ingrained in his nature. Not only
impenetrable fortifications of the that, he was also a very efficient
British rule. administrator. At the age of 27,
Friends, this story may seem he became the Chief Executive
like a film scene to you. You
Officer of the Kolkata Corporation
may be wondering what kind of and after that he also took over
mettle this person embodied, to the responsibility of Mayor. He

12