CM Majhi pays tribute on August Kranti Diwas 2026
Synopsis
On August Kranti Diwas, 9 August 2026, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid tribute to the freedom fighters of the Quit India Movement, calling their courage and sacrifice a lasting guide for national service and dedication.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted a tribute on 9 August 2026 — August Kranti Diwas — honouring freedom fighters of the independence struggle.
The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee.
Majhi called the movement's spirit of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism a guide toward rashtraseva (national service).
Majhi has been Chief Minister of Odisha since June 2024 , following the BJP's victory in state assembly elections.
State-level commemorations in Odisha mark 9 August each year with official programmes honouring the independence struggle.
Eighty-four years after Mahatma Gandhi electrified a nation with two words — 'Bharat Chhodo' — Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paused on Sunday, 9 August 2026, to bow before the freedom fighters who answered that call with their lives.
In an Odia-language post on X, Chief Minister Majhi offered what he called 'bhaktiputa pranama' — a devotion-filled salute — to every brave soul of the independence struggle. He wrote that the indomitable courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of the Quit India Movement should 'forever guide us on the path of national service and dedication.'
The movement that shook an empire
The Quit India Movement, formally launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee, was among the most decisive mass uprisings in the long arc of India's freedom struggle. The demand was stark and non-negotiable: immediate British withdrawal. Thousands were imprisoned; hundreds died. The date that followed — 9 August — became immortalised as August Kranti Diwas, or August Revolution Day.
Every year, the day is observed across India with official tributes, school programmes, and state events. In Odisha, the occasion carries particular resonance, with state-level commemorations reminding citizens of the sacrifices that made self-rule possible.
A ritual of remembrance, and a call to serve
Chief ministers across party lines mark August Kranti Diwas with public statements — but Majhi's message went a step further than ceremony. He framed the movement's spirit not as history to be archived, but as a living compass: a guide toward 'rashtraseva' (national service) for those in public life today. It is a framing consistent with the BJP's broader emphasis on nationalist historical narratives since 2014, but the sentiment itself crosses partisan lines.
Majhi, who assumed office in June 2024 after the BJP's decisive victory in Odisha's state assembly elections, has used commemorative occasions to reinforce themes of sacrifice and public duty — values he has consistently linked to his government's stated mission.
On a day when India remembers those who gave everything for a free nation, the Chief Minister's message is a reminder that the debt is never fully repaid — only honoured, year after year, in how those who govern choose to serve.
Point of View
Invoking sacrifice and national service on a high-visibility commemorative date serves both symbolic and political purposes. The message is ceremonial in form, but its subtext is about the legitimacy of those who govern today.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is August Kranti Diwas and why is it celebrated on 9 August?
August Kranti Diwas, or August Revolution Day, is observed on 9 August every year to mark the launch of the Quit India Movement in 1942. Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for immediate British withdrawal on 8 August 1942 , and 9 August became the day the movement swept across India, making it a national day of remembrance.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say on August Kranti Diwas 2026?
CM Majhi offered a devotion-filled salute to all freedom fighters of the independence struggle, writing that the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of the Quit India Movement should forever guide the nation on the path of national service and dedication.
Who launched the Quit India Movement and when?
The Quit India Movement — also known as the Bharat Chhodo Andolan — was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee, demanding immediate British withdrawal from India.
When did Mohan Charan Majhi become Chief Minister of Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024 after the BJP won the state assembly elections, ending the Biju Janata Dal's long run in power.
How does Odisha observe August Kranti Diwas?
Odisha marks 9 August each year with state-level official programmes, school events, and public tributes honouring the freedom fighters of the independence struggle, consistent with national commemorations across India.
