Rich tributes were paid to freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai on his 215th birth anniversary for his valor, bravery and heroism at a function in the premises of the Indian Consulate, Dubai, on Monday.
The event also commemorated Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary, which was celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ in India.
Paying the tributes, Dr Aman Puri, the Consul General of India in Dubai, spoke about the two stalwarts of Indian freedom movements who epitomized courage and patriotism.
“Veer Surendra Sai is an iconic hero and today is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the his heroic life,” he said.
He said that the Jharsuguda airport in western Odisha, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, was named after Sai to pay the nation’s tribute to the brave patriot.
A video on Sai’s life and time was also played out in front of the gathering.
Prominent Non Resident Odia Captain Soumya Ranjan Patnaik talked about Sai’s first revolt at the age of 18 and also about his participation in the sepoy mutiny of 1857.
Another prominent Non Resident Odia, Priyadarshee Panigrahi, talked about this commemoration being an emotional moment for all Odias.
The speakers expressed that an official documentary needs to be made on Sai’s life and a request could be made to the Odisha Government in this regard.
