CM Nayab Saini Pays Tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on 5 November 2026 honoured Chittaranjan Das, the celebrated freedom fighter and Swaraj Party co-founder known as Deshbandhu, on his birth anniversary, calling his sacrifice and national dedication eternally inspiring for future generations.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini paid tribute to freedom fighter Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary on 5 November 2026 .
Chittaranjan Das , known as Deshbandhu (Friend of the Nation), was a Calcutta-based lawyer and leading figure in India's independence movement.
Das co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 alongside Motilal Nehru to resist British rule through the colonial legislative councils.
CM Saini described Das's sacrifice and dedication as 'eternally memorable' and an inspiration for future generations toward national service.
The tribute follows a broader pattern of Indian elected leaders publicly commemorating freedom fighters on their birth anniversaries.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most consequential freedom fighters, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini paused to honour a man who gave up a flourishing legal career for the cause of independence — Chittaranjan Das, remembered across the nation as Deshbandhu (Friend of the Nation).
Posting on Thursday, 5 November 2026, CM Saini offered what he called 'koti-koti naman' — a salute beyond counting — to Das, describing him as a 'great freedom fighter and ardent nationalist thinker.' The Chief Minister reflected that Das's 'sacrifice, struggle, and unbreakable dedication to the motherland will always be remembered,' and expressed hope that his inspiring life would continue to motivate future generations toward national service.
Who Was Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das?
Chittaranjan Das was one of the towering figures of India's independence movement — a Calcutta-based lawyer who, at the height of his professional powers, walked away from a lucrative practice to join the non-cooperation movement under Mahatma Gandhi. In 1923, he co-founded the Swaraj Party alongside Motilal Nehru, channelling the energy of the independence movement into the colonial legislative councils as a form of organised resistance. His title Deshbandhu was not a ceremonial honour — it was earned on the streets, in courtrooms, and behind bars. He died in 1925, leaving behind a legacy that cut across region and religion.
A Pattern of Public Memory
Saini's tribute follows a well-established tradition among Indian elected leaders of all parties: marking the birth anniversaries of freedom fighters with public statements that foreground themes of sacrifice and national service. These moments serve as civic anchors, reconnecting contemporary governance to the foundational struggles of the republic. For a BJP leader, invoking Das — whose legacy belongs to Bengal's syncretic political tradition — also signals the breadth of India's shared independence heritage.
The legacy of Deshbandhu belongs to no single party. It belongs to the idea of a nation still in the making.
Point of View
Not just those historically associated with the party's own lineage. Das, rooted in Bengal's syncretic politics and the Swaraj tradition, represents precisely the kind of expansive nationalist canvas BJP leaders have increasingly sought to reference. These anniversary tributes, while ceremonial in form, serve a soft political function: reinforcing the ruling party's self-image as the custodian of India's complete independence legacy. The gesture costs nothing politically and builds symbolic capital — a minor but telling feature of how modern Indian governance manages public memory.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chittaranjan Das and why is he called Deshbandhu?
Chittaranjan Das was a prominent Indian independence leader and lawyer from Calcutta who gave up a lucrative legal career to join the freedom movement. He earned the title Deshbandhu , meaning 'Friend of the Nation,' for his selfless sacrifice and mass appeal across communities.
What was the Swaraj Party founded by Chittaranjan Das?
The Swaraj Party was co-founded by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923 as a faction within the Indian National Congress. It sought to contest elections to the colonial legislative councils and obstruct British administration from within.
When is Chittaranjan Das's birth anniversary?
Chittaranjan Das was born on 5 November 1870 , and his birth anniversary is commemorated annually on 5 November .
Why did Nayab Singh Saini pay tribute to Chittaranjan Das?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted a tribute on 5 November 2026 to mark the birth anniversary of Chittaranjan Das , honouring his sacrifice and dedication to India's independence as an inspiration for future generations.
What is the significance of Chittaranjan Das in Indian history?
Chittaranjan Das is significant as a leader who combined legal brilliance with grassroots activism, defended revolutionaries in colonial courts, championed Hindu-Muslim unity, and built the organisational foundations that influenced India's later freedom struggle.
