CM Vishnu Deo Sai pays tribute to Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal on her birth anniversary
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute on 24 October 2026 to Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal, the physician-soldier who commanded the Azad Hind Fauj's all-women Rani of Jhansi Regiment, calling her courage and national service 'eternally memorable.'
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai posted a Hindi tribute to Dr.
Lakshmi Sahgal on her birth anniversary on 24 October 2026 .
Sahgal served as Captain and commander of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj .
The Rani of Jhansi Regiment , raised in 1943 , was an all-women combat unit drawing volunteers from the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia.
The Azad Hind Fauj was formed in 1942–43 under Subhas Chandra Bose to fight British colonial rule.
BJP state leaders have consistently highlighted Azad Hind Fauj personnel on key anniversaries as part of a broader nationalist commemoration pattern.
She commanded an all-women combat regiment against an empire — and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai marked 24 October 2026 by honouring that legacy with a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal, the celebrated freedom fighter and Captain of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sai wrote: 'Mahan swatantrata senani evam Azad Hind Fauj ki Rani Jhansi Regiment ki Captain Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal ji ki jayanti par shat-shat naman.' — offering a hundred salutes to the great freedom fighter and Captain of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment on her birth anniversary. He added that her 'indomitable courage, struggle and resolve of national service for the freedom of the motherland will always be remembered.'
The woman who led the INA's fighting regiment
Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal occupies a singular place in India's independence story. Trained as a physician, she joined the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) — formed in 1942–43 under Subhas Chandra Bose to fight British colonial rule — and was appointed commander of its Rani of Jhansi Regiment. That regiment, raised in 1943, was one of the world's earliest all-women combat units, drawing volunteers from the Indian diaspora across Southeast Asia. Dr. Sahgal's dual identity as a doctor and a soldier made her an enduring emblem of both patriotism and professional service.
BJP and the Azad Hind legacy
CM Sai's tribute fits into a broader, deliberate pattern. State-level BJP leaders have consistently commemorated personnel of the Azad Hind Fauj on key anniversaries, foregrounding Subhas Chandra Bose-linked contributions to the independence movement as a counterpoint to Congress-era nationalist narratives. Dr. Sahgal's birth anniversary on 24 October has drawn governmental tributes each year since her passing in 2012. For Chhattisgarh, such commemorations also serve as civic touchstones — moments when the state administration anchors itself to a wider national memory.
The salute from Raipur is brief but deliberate — a reminder that the courage of a physician-soldier who crossed oceans to free her country still commands reverence, more than eight decades on.
Point of View
Such posts reinforce a national cultural identity among the party's base while projecting an inclusive patriotism. The regularity of these Azad Hind Fauj commemorations suggests a sustained, coordinated strategy rather than spontaneous reverence.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal?
Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal was an Indian freedom fighter and physician who served as Captain and commander of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the all-women combat unit of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army), during World War II.
What was the Rani of Jhansi Regiment?
The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was an all-women combat unit of the Azad Hind Fauj, raised in 1943 under Subhas Chandra Bose, with volunteers drawn largely from the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia.
When is Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal's birth anniversary?
Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal's birth anniversary falls on 24 October, and it has been marked by governmental and political tributes each year since her passing in 2012.
Why did Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai pay tribute to Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute on her birth anniversary, honouring her indomitable courage and service to the nation's freedom struggle as Captain of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
What is the Azad Hind Fauj?
The Azad Hind Fauj, or Indian National Army (INA), was formed in 1942–43 under Subhas Chandra Bose to fight British colonial rule, with support from the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia.
