CM Dhami Pays Tribute to Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand on Jayanti
Synopsis
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 1 November 2026 paid tribute to Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand — an Azad Hind Fauj soldier from Uttarakhand — on his birth anniversary, calling his supreme sacrifice for India's freedom an eternal golden chapter in history.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted a tribute on 1 November 2026 marking the birth anniversary of Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand .
Kesari Chand was an Uttarakhand-origin freedom fighter and member of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) .
The Azad Hind Fauj was formed during World War II under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to militarily challenge British colonial rule.
CM Dhami described Kesari Chand's sacrifice as 'inscribed in golden letters in history' and a perpetual inspiration for national service.
BJP-led governments have consistently amplified tributes to INA figures as part of the mainstream independence narrative.
On the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and Azad Hind Fauj hero Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered a heartfelt salute — honouring a son of the soil whose supreme sacrifice remains etched in the history of India's independence struggle.
Posting on Sunday, 1 November 2026, CM Dhami wrote: 'अमर स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी और आजाद हिंद फौज के नायक वीर शहीद केसरी चंद जी की जयंती पर कोटिशः नमन।' — 'Countless salutations on the birth anniversary of immortal freedom fighter and Azad Hind Fauj hero Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand.' He added that Kesari Chand's sacrifice, dedication, and supreme offering for the freedom of Mother India would remain inscribed in golden letters in history, and that his inspiring life would continue to motivate generations in the service of the nation.
A Soldier of Bose's Army
Kesari Chand was an Uttarakhand-origin member of the Indian National Army (INA) — the Azad Hind Fauj — the armed force raised during World War II under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to militarily challenge British colonial rule in India. The INA drew tens of thousands of soldiers, many from Indian communities across Southeast Asia, united by a singular goal: to drive the British out and secure India's independence. Kesari Chand is remembered among those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that cause.
Uttarakhand's Tradition of Honouring Its Freedom Fighters
Chief ministers across India mark the jayantis of freedom fighters as a matter of public record and official commemoration. BJP-led governments have notably amplified tributes to INA figures — placing them alongside the mainstream independence narrative and affirming their central role in the freedom movement. For Uttarakhand, a state with a strong tradition of military service, honouring soldiers who gave their lives — whether on the battlefields of empire or in the organised resistance of the INA — carries particular resonance. State-level memorial events or educational initiatives highlighting local freedom fighters like Kesari Chand remain a possibility in the days ahead.
The tribute is a reminder that India's road to independence was paved not by one path alone — and that figures like Kesari Chand, drawn from the hills of Uttarakhand into the global theatre of anti-colonial resistance, deserve their place in the national memory.
Point of View
Sustained BJP effort to foreground INA soldiers in India's official memory of the freedom movement — elevating Netaji Bose's armed resistance alongside the Gandhian tradition. For a state like Uttarakhand, where military identity is deeply woven into social fabric, commemorating local INA martyrs also serves a regional pride dimension. Such jayanti tributes, while ceremonial in form, are part of a broader political-cultural project of redefining whose sacrifices are remembered and taught. The pattern signals that state governments are increasingly curating freedom-movement memory as both heritage policy and political identity.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand?
Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand was an Uttarakhand-origin freedom fighter and member of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) who made the supreme sacrifice for India's independence from British rule.
What is the Azad Hind Fauj?
The Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army (INA), was an armed force formed during World War II under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to militarily fight British colonial rule and secure India's independence.
Why did CM Dhami post a tribute to Kesari Chand?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted the tribute on 1 November 2026 to mark the birth anniversary (jayanti) of Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand, honouring his sacrifice for India's freedom.
What did CM Dhami say about Kesari Chand?
CM Dhami said Kesari Chand's sacrifice, dedication, and supreme offering for the freedom of Mother India would remain inscribed in golden letters in history, and his inspiring life would continue to motivate generations in national service.
Does Uttarakhand have a connection to the Indian National Army?
Yes, Uttarakhand has produced soldiers who served in the Azad Hind Fauj. Veer Shaheed Kesari Chand is among the INA members from the region who are commemorated for their role in the independence struggle.
