CM Mohan Yadav pays tribute to revolutionary Jatin Das on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A man who chose a slow, deliberate death over colonial submission — Yatindranath Das, the revolutionary freedom fighter who died after a 63-day hunger strike in Lahore Central Jail in 1929 — was remembered on his birth anniversary on Tuesday, October 27, by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, who paid solemn homage to the icon known to India as 'Jatin Da'.
In a post on X, Dr. Yadav wrote: 'I bow in respect on the birth anniversary of the great revolutionary Yatindranath Das 'Jatin Da'. He participated in various movements for the country's independence. Even enduring torture, he never stepped back. His life is an inspiration of dedication to the motherland.'
Who was Jatin Das — and why the hunger strike still echoes
Yatindranath Das was born on October 27, 1904, in Calcutta. A committed revolutionary, he joined the freedom struggle as a young man, participating in movements that put him in direct confrontation with British colonial authorities. He was a close associate of Bhagat Singh and other armed revolutionaries of his era.
Arrested and imprisoned at Lahore Central Jail, he went on a hunger strike demanding better treatment for political prisoners. Enduring 63 days without food, he died on September 13, 1929, at the age of 24 — his death sparking nationwide mourning and galvanising a generation of freedom fighters. His sacrifice became a symbol of resistance that could not be broken by physical force.
BJP's consistent spotlight on armed revolutionaries
The tribute by Dr. Mohan Yadav fits a visible pattern among BJP functionaries, who have consistently amplified the legacies of armed revolutionaries alongside Gandhian figures in their public commemorations. State social media handles and senior leaders mark these anniversaries with regularity, framing revolutionary sacrifice as a cornerstone of India's independence story.
For a Chief Minister leading a state with a significant youth constituency, invoking figures like Jatin Das — young, fearless, unbowed by torture — carries a pointed message about the cost of the freedoms Indians inherit today.
At 24, Jatin Das gave everything. The least a generation can do is remember.