Rajnath Singh Lauds Tri-Services Team for Tribute Swim to Param Vir Chakra Heroes

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday praised a tri-services team for their bravery during a successful swimming expedition, held in tribute to Param Vir Chakra awardees, as they overcame numerous challenges at sea.

At an event in New Delhi, Singh welcomed back the team after completing a first-of-its-kind open water swim to 21 islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which have been named after Param Vir Chakra recipients, according to the Defence Ministry.

In his speech, Singh applauded the team's courage and resilience, highlighting how they faced and conquered multiple challenges during the expedition, bringing the stories of the valiant soldiers' sacrifices to the public.

“The expedition aligns with the government’s mission to ensure that the heroic deeds of our soldiers, who gave their lives for the nation, are recognized, especially by the youth, making these Bravehearts their heroes,” Singh said, as per a ministry statement.

He expressed hope that the armed forces will continue to inspire the nation and serve as role models for the younger generation.

During the event, the expedition flag was formally handed over to the Defence Minister by the team.

The expedition is part of a broader initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who named the 21 largest unnamed islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees on January 23 last year, during Parakram Diwas, which marks the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

To commemorate the first anniversary of this renaming, the Tri-Service Andaman & Nicobar Command launched ‘Expedition Param Vir.’ Personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard swam to all 21 islands, paying tribute to the valour and sacrifices of the awardees by raising the national flag at each location, the ministry said.

Throughout the expedition, the swimmers encountered numerous difficulties, including severe exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, and rough seas.

“There were also encounters with dangerous marine life. Remarkably, the entire mission was completed without any mishaps, a significant achievement, especially since many participants were swimming in open waters for the first time,” the statement added.

The 11-member team was led by renowned open-water swimmer and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee Wing Commander Paramvir Singh, according to the ministry.

The expedition flag, carried throughout the journey, symbolized the cause, camaraderie, and patriotism experienced by the team.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, and other senior officials attended the flag-in ceremony.

The expedition began on March 22, World Water Day, when CINCAN formally flagged off the mission from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), starting with a swim to Netaji Subhas Chandra Dweep, according to the statement.

The team covered over 300 kilometers, swimming to all 21 islands over a span of five months. The mission concluded on the 78th Independence Day , August 15.

The final leg saw 78 armed forces and Coast Guard personnel swimming from Netaji Subhas Chandra Dweep to Sri Vijaya Puram, the ministry said.

All swimmers followed international standards for ‘Unassisted Open Water Swim,’ wearing only swim trunks, goggles, and caps, it added.