During the launch of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’on 31st October 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “Sardar Patel gave us Ek Bharat. It is now the solemn duty of 125 crore Indians to collectively make Shreshta Bharat”. This is the idea that has guided Narendra Modi, even before he became the Prime Minister of India.
Sardar Patel gave us ‘Ek Bharat.’ Let us work together and make it ‘Shreshtha Bharat.’ https://t.co/WaL5HvWPdk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2016
Modi believes in honouring national heroes, those who have sacrificed a lot for the unity, security, sovereignty and development of our beloved nation. He wants our history and heritage to be part of our national pride and consciousness. The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi, is one example. It honours the spirit and the energy of the 1930 Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi and 80 of his fellow Satyagrahis. The 182 metre tall Statue of Unity, depicting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is the most vivid example of this. What is today, the tallest statue in the world, was first envisioned by Modi while he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The statue is not only a dedication to the Iron Man of India, who unified India, but also a monument of immense pride for all Indians.
On the banks of the Narmada stands the majestic statue of a great man, who devoted his entire life towards nation building.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2018
It was an absolute honour to dedicate the #StatueOfUnity to the nation.
We are grateful to Sardar Patel for all that he did for India. pic.twitter.com/q2F4uMRjoc
For decades, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s family demanded that files relating to events in his life be declassified. Successive Governments refused to take a firm decision. Until October 2015, when Modi hosted Netaji’s extended family at his residence. “I see no reason to strangle history,” he said, adding that those who forget history, also lose the power to create it. The files were swiftly declassified, and put on a digital platform.
There is no need to strangle history. Nations that forget their history lack the power to create it. pic.twitter.com/Nfz94f3tsq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015
Honoured that our Government got the opportunity to declassify files relating to Netaji Bose & fulfil a popular demand pending for decades.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2017
In order to enable widespread reading & study of the Netaji files, a website has been created. Do have a look. https://t.co/aBK5vP2Uhx
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2016
In the mid 1940s, the INA trials at Red Fort, had stirred the nation. However, for decades, the building in which the trials happened, lay forgotten inside the Red Fort Complex. On Subhas Bose’s Jayanti this year, the Prime Minister inaugurated a museum in the same building, dedicated to Netaji, and the Indian National Army. The museum forms part of the complex of four Museums which are collectively known as “Kranti Mandir.” Museums dedicated to the 1857 War of Independence and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre also form part of the complex.
It was extremely humbling to inaugurate four museums relating to India's rich history and culture.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2019
This entire complex of museums will be known as Kranti Mandir as a tribute to the revolutionary zeal and courage of our great freedom fighters. pic.twitter.com/9mNUTWzUIS
This complex includes Museums on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, Yaad-e-Jallian Museum (on Jallianwala Bagh and World War 1), Museum on 1857- India’s First War of Independence and Drishyakala- Museum on Indian Art.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2019
Museums on Netaji Bose and Azad Hind Fauj are a key part of Kranti Mandir. History echoes from these walls. In this very building, brave sons of India, Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan were put on trial by the colonial rulers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2019
Narendra Modi has also announced an award in the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to honour police personnel involved in disaster response operations.
Made a special announcement at the National Police Memorial. pic.twitter.com/ExJPBAmYET
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2018
In the last four years, several other memorials have been made to recall the contributions of many great leaders of our history.
Honoured to inaugurate the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial at 26, Alipur Road in Delhi. Sharing my speech on the occasion. https://t.co/SEi55s07DQ pic.twitter.com/qNXBWXDbAW
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2018
One of Modi’s key ideas is the Panchteerth – five memorials dedicated to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. These include his birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai.
It is our honour to have the opportunity of developing five places associated with Dr. Ambedkar as ‘Panch Teerths.’ We want the whole world to visit these Teerths and know more about Dr. Ambedkar. pic.twitter.com/D2RMjGHHGc
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2017
While he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had inaugurated the memorial dedicated to Shyamji Krishna Varma in Kutch.
In 2010, we dedicated Kranti Teerth to the nation. Kranti Teerth is a memorial that celebrates Shyamji Krishna Varma's life & contribution.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 4, 2014
I urge you to visit Kranti Teerth in Mandvi (Kutch dist). Visit, get inspired by the life of Shyamji Krishna Varma! https://t.co/yuV7htWB1B
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 4, 2014
In Haryana, he unveiled the Statue of Sir Chhotu Ram, a great social reformer.
आज रोहतक के सांपला में मुझे दीनबंधु छोटूराम जी की प्रतिमा का अनावरण करने का सौभाग्य मिला।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2018
यह हरियाणा की सबसे बड़ी प्रतिमाओं में से एक है, जो देश भर के लोगों खासकर किसानों का ध्यान आकर्षित करेगी।
किसानों के उत्थान के लिए छोटूराम जी ने व्यापक रूप से कार्य किया था। pic.twitter.com/WY4SQaqUnm
मुझे दीनबंधु छोटूराम जी के जीवन को समर्पित म्यूजियम को देखने का भी अवसर मिला। वे जीवन भर शिक्षा, कृषि, सिंचाई, महिला सशक्तिकरण जैसे अनेक क्षेत्रों में अपना योगदान देते रहे। pic.twitter.com/PgbEvtouEA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2018
He has laid the Foundation Stone for the Shivaji memorial just off the coast of Mumbai, in the Arabian Sea. In Delhi, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the Sardar Patel Gallery at the National Science Centre. Recently, he dedicated the National Police Memorial to the nation, to salute the courage and sacrifice of over 33,000 police personnel who laid down their lives for the service of the nation.
Today, we not only dedicate the National Police Memorial to the nation but also salute our police personnel for their service.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2018
I am sure this Memorial will stand as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of policemen and policewomen, who keep the nation safe. pic.twitter.com/H6mQ2zydkM
Within weeks, a National War Memorial, will also be unveiled, dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in wars and operations since independence. Memorials are reminders of sacrifices, of those whose contributions now enable us to live a better life. They are a source of inspiration for the present and future generations. These memorials, built under the leadership of Narendra Modi, stand out as souvenirs of nationalism, instilling the feeling of oneness and pride, that needs to cherished and nourished.