Chirag Paswan pays tribute to V.V. Giri on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan marked the birth anniversary of V.V. Giri — India's fourth President, freedom fighter, and Bharat Ratna laureate — with a tribute on X, offering 'koti-koti naman' to the late constitutional leader.
Key Takeaways
Chirag Paswan , Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, paid tribute to V.V.
Giri on his birth anniversary on 10 August .
Varahagiri Venkata Giri served as India's fourth President from 1969 to 1974 .
Giri was a freedom fighter, trade union leader, orator, and author before ascending to the presidency.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975 , India's highest civilian honour.
Paswan described Giri in Hindi as a 'valiant soldier of the independence struggle' and offered koti-koti naman — a salute a million times over.
On the birth anniversary of Varahagiri Venkata Giri, Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan offered his respects to the freedom fighter, orator, author, and India's fourth President — honouring a life that stretched from the barricades of the independence struggle to the highest constitutional office in the land.
Posting in Hindi on 10 August, Paswan wrote: 'koti-koti naman' — 'a salute a million times over' — to Giri, describing him as a 'valiant soldier of the Indian freedom struggle, a powerful orator, a great writer, and a recipient of the Bharat Ratna.'
Who was V.V. Giri?
V.V. Giri remains one of the most distinctive figures in post-independence India. He served as President from 1969 to 1974, but his public life began long before Rashtrapati Bhavan — rooted in the labour movement and the fight against British rule. A committed trade union leader, he championed workers' rights at a time when organised labour was still finding its voice in a newly free nation. The government of India recognised his extraordinary contributions by conferring the Bharat Ratna upon him in 1975. Across party lines and portfolios, Indian political figures routinely mark the birth anniversaries of former presidents and freedom fighters with public tributes — a practice that keeps constitutional history alive in public memory.Point of View
Whose party traces its identity to the legacy of social justice and Dalit assertion, invoking a President associated with labour rights carries a degree of ideological resonance beyond mere ceremony. The tribute also reflects how X has become the primary platform for such official commemorations, compressing what were once formal press statements into a single public gesture. In aggregate, these anniversary posts form a living calendar of constitutional memory that all parties contribute to, irrespective of ideological differences.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chirag Paswan pay tribute to V.V. Giri?
Chirag Paswan paid tribute to mark V.V. Giri's birth anniversary on 10 August , honouring his contributions as a freedom fighter and India's fourth President.
What is Bharat Ratna and did V.V. Giri receive it?
The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour. V.V. Giri was conferred the award in 1975 in recognition of his exceptional service to the nation.
What does 'koti-koti naman' mean?
Koti-koti naman is a Hindi phrase meaning 'a salute or bow a million times over' — a common expression of deep reverence used in tributes to national figures.
When did V.V. Giri serve as President of India?
V.V. Giri served as President of India from 1969 to 1974 , making him the country's fourth President.
