Album of Odias in INA on display at Netaji museum

As Odisha celebrated Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary, the Netaji Birthplace Museum authorities in Cuttack on Saturday displayed an album with the names and addresses of Odia people in the Indian National Army (INA) raised by Bose.

The album was prepared after contacting those alive and the family members of the deceased ones, said a museum official.

On Saturday, many leaders including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan offered floral tributes at the statue of Netaji at Janakinath Bhawan, the birthplace of the revolutionary leader, which has been declared a museum by the state government.

"Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is a son of our soil. Cuttack is witness to his early life. His life is an example of rarest courage and patriotism. We all are proud of him. I pay my heartfelt tribute to him on his birth anniversary," Patnaik said.

Patnaik's comments were seconded by state Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda.

With the Centre declassifying the secret files of Bose, Panda said some of the files would be kept at the Netaji museum here for visitors.

BJD legislator Debashish Samantray said the time has come for the Centre to accord national museum status to the Netaji museum.