A grand statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will come up at the India Gate, New Delhi as a symbol of national gratitude to the leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement today on Twitter.

At a time when the entire nation is marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, I am glad to share that his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of India’s indebtedness to him. pic.twitter.com/dafCbxFclK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2022

Till the statue comes up, a hologram will come up at the same place.

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. pic.twitter.com/jsxFJwEkSJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2022

Subash Chandra Bose was an Indian freedom fighter and one of the causes of Indian freedom. He was known as Netaji. He was the President of the Indian National Congress from 1938 to 1939. He attempted to get rid of British rule in India during World War II.

The honorific Netaji (Respected Leader) was first applied to Bose in Germany in early 1942 — by the Indian soldiers of the Indische Legion and by the German and Indian officials in the Special Bureau for India in Berlin. It is now used throughout India.

Bose raised the first Indian National Army (INA), Azad Hind Fauj in 1943 and started an armed struggle and inspired thousands of Indian youths to join the struggle for independence from the British colonial rule. His famous slogans are ‘tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazadi dunga’, ‘Jai Hind’, and ‘Delhi Chalo’.

The statue of Netaji will be made of granite and will be installed under a canopy that was once occupied by the statue of King George V, which was installed in 1938. The dimensions of Netaji’s statue would be 28 feet in height and 6 feet in breadth.

Standing behind India gate is an empty canopy made out of sandstone, also designed by Lutyens, and inspired by an 18th-century Mahabalipuram pavilion.

The canopy was made about 150 meters towards the east side of the India Gate. Canopy’s original top, with gilded Tudor Crown bearing Royal Cyphers of King George V was removed on May 12, 1958. After India declared Independence, it pulled down the statue of King George V that had stood in the canopy and left it empty as a testimony to their struggle and victory. In 1968, the statue of King George V was removed, kept in store briefly and then moved to Delhi’s Coronation Park.

Last week, the Union government announced that starting this year, the annual Republic Day celebrations will commence on January 23, instead of January 24, to coincide with the birth anniversary of Netaji Bose. Also, since last year, January 23 has been observed as ‘Parakram Diwas’ in memory of the former commander of the erstwhile Indian National Army (INA).

The decision, albeit late, to install an imposing statue of one of the greatest freedom fighters of India, Netaji Bose on his 125th birth anniversary is a fitting tribute to his struggle and sacrifice of thousands of Indians under his leadership. Jai Hind!