netaji: Republic Day celebrations begin today; PM Modi to unveil Netaji’s hologram statue at India Gate on his 125th birth anniversary | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a first, India will begin Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include the birth anniversary of late freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
To commence the celebrations of Republic Day, PM Modi, on the occasion of Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary, will unveil the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on Sunday at around 6 pm.
During the programme, the Prime Minister will also confer the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the investiture ceremony. A total of seven awards will be presented during the ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to the nation.
“Wishing all the countrymen a very Happy Parakram Diwas. My respectful tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. Every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to our nation,” tweeted PM Modi today.

Notably, last year, the Government had declared 23rd January as Parakram Diwas to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Till the statue, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place, he said, adding that he will unveil the hologram statue on January 23 .

He had further said, “Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji’s birth anniversary.”

The statue will be placed in the canopy and will replace the Amar Jawan Jyoti, which has been merged with the eternal flame of the National War Memorial Torch on Friday.
Eminent Odia sculptor Adwaita Gadanayak to carve Netaji’s statue at India Gate
The grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, which will be installed at India Gate, will be sculpted by Odisha’s Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).
“It is a matter of pride for me to sculpt the statue. The Ministry of Culture has finalised the design and granite from Telangana will be used for the statue,” Gadanayak was quoted as saying in reports.
The statue will be seen easily from Raisina Hills, Gadanayak added.
On the statue, Gadanayak said “The process of making the statue has started with the prime minister’s announcement. The statue will show Netaji’s strong character.”

Adwaita Gadanayak to carve Netaji statue
The statue will be prepared using both traditional and modern (CNC sculpting) tools. He will be collaborating with granite artisans of Karnataka. A total of 25 to 30 sculptors would be selected by the Ministry of Culture for the work that will begin soon at New Delhi.
The statue will be completed within the next eight months and installed at India Gate on August 15 this year marking the 75th Independence Day, he said.
In a major development, it is learnt from sources that, Republic Day celebrations from this year will start on January 23 instead of January 24 to include the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s “focus to commemorate important aspects of our history and culture.” It will end on January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
Official sources have informed that the dimensions of Netaji’s statue would be 28 feet in height and 6 feet in breadth.