Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 May 2024
In a poignant ceremony on May 17, 2024, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), led islanders in paying homage to the Great Andamanese who perished in the ‘Battle of Aberdeen’ on the same day in 1859.
The solemn event, orchestrated by the Department of Art & Culture, unfolded at the ‘Memorial of Battle of Aberdeen’ at the Water Sports Complex. Here, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor laid a wreath at the Memorial, initiating the tributes. Following suit were floral offerings by Mr. Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, and Mr. Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS, the DGP, alongside senior officers of the A&N Administration, Chief of the Great Andamanese Tribe, Ms. Surmai, and members of the Great Andamanese Community, joined by the general public.
Subsequently, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor engaged with the Great Andamanese Tribe, particularly the attending students, at the ‘Memorial of Battle of Aberdeen,’ underscoring the significance of commemorating the sacrifices made by the Great Andamanese.
This commemoration serves not only as a mark of respect but also as a bridge to connect with the history and heritage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, acknowledging the enduring spirit of its indigenous communities.