Tributes to Bhai Parmanand and Narinder Singh Kapany Highlight Freedom Struggle and Scientific Milestones

In his national address on October 25, 2026, the Prime Minister commemorated revolutionary freedom fighter Bhai Parmanand ahead of his 150th birth anniversary and pioneering scientist Narinder Singh Kapany ahead of his centenary. The address also drew attention to indigenous technological research, national health milestones, and historical anniversaries.

Significance for UPSC

Detailed study of key personalities in India's anti-colonial movement, their international linkages, and diaspora outreach is central to General Studies Paper I (Modern Indian History). Simultaneously, pioneering scientific legacies and public health platforms such as digital tele-consultations align with General Studies Paper II (Governance and Health) and Paper III (Science and Technology).

Bhai Parmanand and the Nationalist Struggle

• Diaspora and Arya Samaj Outreach: Closely associated with the Arya Samaj, Bhai Parmanand travelled to South Africa, where he interacted with Mahatma Gandhi. He later journeyed to Guyana to assist and organise Indian indentured labourers.
• Ghadar Movement and Incarceration: He was a founding member of the Ghadar Party, which sought to overthrow British rule. For his revolutionary activities, the British authorities sentenced him to penal transportation to the Andaman Islands (Kala Pani).
• Educational Legacy and Later Politics: Following his imprisonment, he entered the field of education, during which time he taught Bhagat Singh. He was also actively associated with the Hindu Mahasabha for many years. His 150th birth anniversary falls on November 4.

Scientific and Digital Health Advances

• Father of Fibre Optics: Narinder Singh Kapany, born in Punjab's Moga district, conducted seminal research on transmitting light through thin fibres, paving the way for contemporary communications networks. His 100th birth anniversary falls on October 31.
• Advanced Brain Research: The Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras is conducting brain imaging studies on 100 human brains utilizing the Param Shakti supercomputer, with the collected data intended for open-source research.
• Digital Healthcare Delivery: The government noted that the e-Sanjeevani platform has recorded about 50 crore tele-consultations reaching remote areas, complemented by nearly 1.9 lakh operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country.