Unveiling of Veer Savarkar Jyot at Cellular Jail, Port Blair

PORT BLAIR:
To commemorate the 133 rd birth anniversary of ‘Swatantra Veer’ Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a
specially designed Veer Savarkar Jyot was unveiled in the premises of the Cellular Jail in Port Blair by  Amit Shah, National President, Bharatiya Janata Party, in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (IC) for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India; Lt. Gen. AK Singh, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman &Nicobar Islands.
Also present on occasion were B Ashok, Chairman Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Verghese Cherian, Director (Human Resource) Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Rajesh, CEO, IndianOil Foundation and other senior officials from A&N administration.
Veer Savarkar Jyot has been erected by The IndianOil Foundation at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair as a lasting tribute to Shri Savarkar’s immense contribution to India’s freedom struggle. This Jyot will be a permanently lit flame inside the premises of Cellular Jail with the help of LPG supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. free of cost for this project.
Speaking at the occasion, Amit Shah, said that the great sacrifice of Veer Savarkar, and the exemplary courage and tolerance which he exhibited during his period of imprisonment at the Cellular Jail, is still a major inspiration for us today. He stated that this was the biggest day of his life as the Jyot would serve as a “ Prerna Sthan” for the coming generations.
Dharmendra, MOS (Independent Charge), MoPNG, while addressing the guests, appreciated the efforts for erection of the Veer Savarkar Jyot, which symbolically highlights the sacrifice of numerous freedom fighters who have selflessly worked and sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom struggle. He said that this place would serve as a pilgrimage for Indians.
He expressed gratitude for the support received from Honorable PM for the initiation of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY) across the country. He also stated that he would make all-out efforts for bringing the PMUY to Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the earliest.
The Lieutenant Governor, A K Singh emphasized that the Savarkar Jyot will help today’s citizen of India to realize the valour with which our freedom fighters endured the pain and atrocities of the oppressors and still managed to keep their motivation high by emphatically supporting  Bishnu Pada Ray.
Member of Parliament, Andaman &Nicobar Islands, spoke about history of cellular jail, and it being a landmark monument and an epitome of sacrifices by brave hearts like Veer Savarkar.
Director (Human Resource) IndianOil and Trustee Indian Oil Foundation, Verghese Cherian, rendered the formal vote of thanks. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was one of the many freedom-fighters incarcerated in the Cellular Jail at port Blair during the freedom struggle. He was sentenced to 50 years’ of jail, for his active role in India’s freedom stuggle and spent about 16 years here in the Cellular Jail. He is revered in India even today as ‘Veer Savarkar’, a legendary personality of extra-ordinary valour.
The IndianOil Foundation is a non-profit trust created by Indian Oil Corporation to protect, preserve and
promote India’s heritage monuments. The foundation is working in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Earlier, the National President BJP, Amit Shah, Union Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum & Natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, Lt. Governor, AN Islands, Member of Parliament, Bishnu Pada Ray placed wreath at the Martyrs’ Column, Cellular Jai.