CM Himanta pays tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on November 5 honoured freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary, calling his life an inspiring example of patriotism, sacrifice, and public service to the nation.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted a tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary on November 5, 2026 .
Sarma described Das as a 'great freedom fighter, nationalist leader and public servant' who gave the independence movement a new direction.
Chittaranjan Das , born in 1870 , presided over the 1922 Indian National Congress session and co-founded the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru.
Das is popularly known as Deshbandhu , meaning 'Friend of the Nation,' a title reflecting his mass appeal and moral authority.
Indian political leaders across parties routinely issue tributes on anniversaries of independence-era figures as part of national commemoration.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most consequential freedom fighters, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, November 5 paid solemn tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, saluting his sacrifice, leadership, and lifelong service to the nation.
Sarma's tribute, posted in Hindi, read: 'स्वाधीनता संग्राम के महान सेनानी, राष्ट्रवादी नेता एवं जनसेवक देशबंधु चित्तरंजन दास जी की जयंती पर सादर नमन' — 'Respectful salutations on the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, nationalist leader and public servant Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.' He added that Das gave the independence movement a new direction through his sacrifice and national service, and that his life remains an inspiring example of patriotism and public service.
Who was Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das?
Chittaranjan Das, born in 1870, was a towering figure of the Indian freedom struggle — a distinguished lawyer, orator, and political organiser whose popular title Deshbandhu ('Friend of the Nation') captured the deep affection he commanded. He presided over the 1922 Indian National Congress session, one of the movement's most charged periods, and later founded the Swaraj Party alongside Motilal Nehru, channelling nationalist energy into legislative arenas when mass agitation was constrained.
His decision to enter and disrupt colonial councils from within — rather than boycott them — was a defining strategic contribution to the independence movement's evolution. Das resigned a highly lucrative legal practice to join the struggle full-time, a renunciation that cemented his moral authority among contemporaries and continues to be cited as a symbol of selfless service.
A routine tribute — and what it reflects
India's political class, across party lines, regularly marks the birth and death anniversaries of independence-era icons with public tributes. These commemorations serve both as an act of historical remembrance and as a way for contemporary leaders to align themselves with the values of the freedom movement. Sarma's tribute follows that well-established tradition.
As Chief Minister of Assam and convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), Sarma is one of the BJP's most prominent regional voices, and his public commemorations frequently highlight figures from across the ideological spectrum of the independence era — underscoring a broader political consensus around the memory of the freedom struggle.
Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das may belong to history, but the values his admirers invoke — sacrifice, public service, nationalist commitment — remain live currency in Indian political discourse.
Point of View
Cutting across party ideologies — they signal a leader's connection to the broader national narrative rather than a narrow partisan one. For CM Sarma, regularly commemorating figures like Chittaranjan Das reinforces his positioning as a mainstream nationalist voice extending beyond the BJP's core ideological lineage. The invocation of Das's sacrifice and public service also carries implicit normative weight, setting a standard of political conduct that leaders implicitly claim to follow. Such commemorations, while ceremonial, are a low-cost, high-visibility form of political brand-building in India's memory-conscious public sphere.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das?
Chittaranjan Das, popularly known as Deshbandhu or 'Friend of the Nation,' was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer and politician born in 1870. He presided over the 1922 Indian National Congress session and co-founded the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru, playing a pivotal role in channelling nationalist energy into legislative politics.
Why is Chittaranjan Das called Deshbandhu?
The title Deshbandhu, meaning 'Friend of the Nation,' was given to Chittaranjan Das in recognition of the deep affection and trust he earned from the Indian public through his sacrifices, his renunciation of a lucrative legal career, and his tireless service to the independence movement.
What was the Swaraj Party founded by Chittaranjan Das?
The Swaraj Party was founded by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru as a faction within the Indian National Congress. Its strategy was to contest elections to colonial legislative councils and obstruct British administration from within, as an alternative to mass non-cooperation during periods when agitation was constrained.
Why did CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pay tribute to Chittaranjan Das?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted the tribute on November 5, 2026, the birth anniversary of Chittaranjan Das. Such commemorations of freedom fighters are a standard part of Indian political practice, observed by leaders across parties.
When is Chittaranjan Das's birth anniversary?
Chittaranjan Das was born on November 5, 1870. His birth anniversary is observed on November 5 each year.
