AGARTALA, January 23 (TIWN): Alongwith whole country the 118th birth anniversary of the greatest Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was celebrated in the city with patriotic fervor today. A colourful cultural rally was taken out from Netaji Subhas Vidyaniketan School by Netaji Subhas Vidyaniketan Students. The rally, which passed through the main thoroughfares of the city, converged in front into of the playground again. A total of 26 themes were organized by Netaji Subhas Vidyaniketan. Thousands of people from various walks of life participated in the rally. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday paid homage to freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 118th birth anniversary at New Delhi.

President Mukherjee paid a floral tribute at a portrait of Netaji at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Officers and staff of the Rashtrapati Bhavan were present at the occasion

Prime Minister Modi in a statement said: "His bravery, courage and patriotic zeal inspire us. On his birth anniversary, I bow to the proud son of India, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose."

"Subhas Babu's organisation and leadership skills were exceptional. He was a phenomenal personality, for whom the good of the nation was paramount," he added.

Born in a Bengali Hindu, Kayastha family in Orissa, Netaji was one of the most prominent Indian nationalist leaders who attempted to gain India's independence from British rule by force during the waning years of World War II with the help of the Axis powers.

Bose, who had been ousted from the Indian National Congress in 1939 following differences with the more conservative high command, and subsequently placed under house arrest by the British, escaped from India in early 1941.

He turned to the Axis powers for help in gaining India's independence by force. With Japanese support, he organized the Indian National Army, composed largely of Indian soldiers of the British Indian army who had been captured in the Battle of Singapore by the Japanese.

His attempt was however short lived and it's still an unacceptable issue for the Indians especially the among the Bengali community, that no specific inquiry was made into Bose's mysterious disappearance or possible death.