CM Sai pays tribute to Bhikaji Cama on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to Madam Bhikaji Cama on her death anniversary, honouring the freedom fighter who famously unfurled an early Indian tricolour at the 1907 International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, two days before Independence Day.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai posted a tribute to Madam Bhikaji Cama on her death anniversary on 13 August 2026 .
He praised her 'indomitable courage, fierce patriotism, and dedication to the motherland.' Bhikaji Cama lived in exile in Europe and carried India's independence cause to international audiences.
She unfurled an early Indian tricolour at the 1907 International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart .
The tribute falls two days before Independence Day on 15 August , a period of heightened national remembrance.
She unfurled a flag before India had one — and the world took notice. On the death anniversary of freedom fighter Madam Bhikaji Cama, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai offered a solemn tribute on 13 August 2026, honouring her fearless voice in the struggle for Indian independence.
In his post, CM Sai wrote: 'महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी मैडम भीकाजी कामा जी की पुण्यतिथि पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि' — 'A humble tribute on the death anniversary of the great freedom fighter Madam Bhikaji Cama.' He added that she 'fearlessly raised her voice for the country's freedom and gave new strength to the resolve of independence,' and that her 'indomitable courage, fierce patriotism, and dedication to the motherland will always inspire the people of this country.'
Bhikaji Cama occupies a singular place in India's freedom movement. Living in exile in Europe, she carried the cause of Indian independence to international audiences at a time when most of the world had never heard the demand articulated. At the 1907 International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, she unfurled an early version of the Indian tricolour flag — one of the first public displays of what would become the symbol of a free nation. The act was both defiant and visionary, placing India's independence struggle on a global stage decades before it reached its culmination.
The tribute comes just two days before Independence Day on 15 August, a period when remembrance of freedom fighters intensifies across the country. Indian political leaders across parties mark such anniversaries as part of a wider culture of national remembrance — and Bhikaji Cama, whose life bridged continents and ideologies, remains one of the most distinctive figures in that tradition.
Her legacy is not merely symbolic. She was an organiser, a writer, and an internationalist who understood that colonial rule required a global counter-narrative. That conviction — that India's freedom was a matter of world conscience — made her work in Europe far more than exile. It was strategy.
Point of View
But Bhikaji Cama's story carries an internationalist dimension that sets her apart from most figures in this commemorative calendar. For a BJP leader like CM Sai, invoking her legacy two days before Independence Day reinforces the party's broader project of centering diverse freedom-movement figures within a unified nationalist narrative. Cama's work in Europe also offers a reminder that India's independence was argued and won on multiple fronts — not only at home. As Independence Day approaches, such tributes serve both as genuine remembrance and as a signal of which histories a government chooses to keep visible.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Madam Bhikaji Cama?
Madam Bhikaji Cama was an Indian independence activist who lived in exile in Europe and is best known for unfurling an early version of the Indian tricolour flag at the 1907 International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, placing India's freedom struggle on the international stage.
When is Bhikaji Cama's death anniversary?
Bhikaji Cama's death anniversary falls on 13 August, which is observed annually as a day of tribute to the freedom fighter.
What did CM Vishnu Deo Sai say about Bhikaji Cama?
CM Sai described her as a great freedom fighter whose 'indomitable courage, fierce patriotism, and dedication to the motherland' will always inspire the people of India, and praised her for fearlessly raising her voice for independence.
What is Bhikaji Cama's connection to the Indian flag?
Bhikaji Cama designed and unfurled an early version of the Indian tricolour at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart in 1907, one of the first public displays of what would evolve into India's national flag.
Why are freedom fighter tributes significant around 15 August?
The days around India's Independence Day on 15 August see a concentrated period of national remembrance, with political leaders across parties marking the anniversaries of freedom fighters to honour the independence struggle.
