CM Sai Pays Tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai honoured Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das — freedom fighter, barrister and Swaraj Party co-founder — on his 156th birth anniversary on 5 November 2026, calling his sacrifice and service an eternal inspiration.
Key Takeaways
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai posted a tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary, 5 November 2026 .
Chittaranjan Das was born on 5 November 1870 and earned the title Deshbandhu — 'Friend of the Nation' — from the public.
Das co-founded the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru in 1923 to contest colonial legislative councils from within.
He served as the first elected Mayor of Calcutta in 1924 , combining civic leadership with anti-colonial activism.
CM Sai described Das's sacrifice and dedication to national independence and public service as a 'forever inspiring' legacy for all Indians.
A freedom fighter who gave up a dazzling legal career to chain himself to a movement — Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das turns 156 today, and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai marked the occasion with a heartfelt salute on 5 November 2026.
Posting on X in Hindi, CM Sai wrote: 'महान स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी, प्रखर राष्ट्रवादी देशबंधु चित्तरंजन दास जी की जयंती पर उन्हें शत्-शत् नमन।' — 'A hundred salutations to the great freedom fighter and ardent nationalist Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary.' He added that Das's sacrifice, struggle and dedication to national independence, self-respect and public service 'will continue to inspire the people of this nation forever.'
The Man Who Earned the Title 'Deshbandhu'
Chittaranjan Das was born on 5 November 1870 in Bikrampur, Bengal (present-day Bangladesh). A towering barrister, he defended Bal Gangadhar Tilak in a sedition case and later threw his entire legal fortune into the Non-Cooperation Movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi. The title Deshbandhu — 'Friend of the Nation' — was not bestowed by any government; it rose organically from a grateful public.
In 1923, Das co-founded the Swaraj Party alongside Motilal Nehru, choosing to contest legislative councils rather than boycott them — a strategic pivot that brought nationalist voices directly inside colonial institutions. He also served as the first elected Mayor of Calcutta in 1924, using that platform to advance civic welfare alongside his broader anti-colonial agenda. He died in 1925, barely 54 years old, the arc of his contribution cut short at its peak.
Nationalism Remembered Across Party Lines
Tributes to freedom-era icons on their birth anniversaries have become a consistent ritual across India's political spectrum — a shared language of nationalism that transcends ideological divides. For BJP leaders like CM Sai, invoking figures such as Das underscores themes of sacrifice and service that the party frames as foundational to India's identity.
In Chhattisgarh, where CM Sai leads a government that has emphasised cultural and historical outreach, such public commemorations also carry a civic dimension — signalling to students and citizens the figures whose legacy the state considers worth carrying forward.
Point of View
Allowing leaders to anchor their governance rhetoric in an uncontested moral legacy. For CM Vishnu Deo Sai, invoking Chittaranjan Das — a Bengali nationalist whose appeal crosses regional lines — signals an inclusive nationalism beyond the party's core base. The act also reflects a broader BJP pattern of reclaiming pre-Independence figures as shared national heritage. At its most effective, this tradition channels genuine historical memory; at its most routine, it risks becoming ceremonial noise — the difference lying in whether commemorations translate into educational or civic follow-through.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das?
Chittaranjan Das was a prominent Indian freedom fighter, barrister and politician born on 5 November 1870. Known as 'Deshbandhu' or Friend of the Nation, he participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 with Motilal Nehru. He also served as the first elected Mayor of Calcutta in 1924 and died in 1925.
Why is Chittaranjan Das called Deshbandhu?
'Deshbandhu' means 'Friend of the Nation' in Bengali. The title was given to Chittaranjan Das by the Indian public in recognition of his immense sacrifice — he gave up a highly successful legal career and personal wealth to dedicate himself fully to India's freedom struggle.
What was the Swaraj Party founded by Chittaranjan Das?
The Swaraj Party was co-founded by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923. It chose to contest elections to colonial legislative councils from within, rather than boycotting them, aiming to disrupt British administration through constitutional means.
Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai pay tribute to Chittaranjan Das?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to mark the 156th birth anniversary of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on 5 November 2026, honouring his sacrifice and service to India's independence and public welfare.
When is Chittaranjan Das birth anniversary observed?
Chittaranjan Das's birth anniversary is observed on 5 November every year, marking his birth on 5 November 1870 in Bikrampur, Bengal.
