CM Samrat Choudhary Pays Tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on 5 November 2026, honouring the Swaraj Party co-founder's sacrifice and enduring inspiration to the nation.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary, 5 November 2026 .
Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925) , known as Deshbandhu , was a leading freedom fighter and defence lawyer who joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 .
He co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 alongside Motilal Nehru to contest British legislative councils and press for self-rule from within.
Das abandoned a highly lucrative legal career to dedicate himself to the independence movement.
Indian leaders across parties routinely mark Das's anniversary, reflecting his broad place in the national freedom-struggle canon.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most consequential freedom fighters, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday, 5 November 2026 paid homage to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, the Bengali barrister who turned a courtroom career into a crucible of national resistance.
Posting on X, CM Choudhary wrote: 'महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी एवं स्वराज पार्टी के संस्थापक देशबंधु चित्तरंजन दास जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन।' — 'Countless salutations to the great freedom fighter and founder of the Swaraj Party, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, on his birth anniversary.' He added that Das's struggle, sacrifice, and dedication to the nation 'will always continue to inspire all of us.'Who Was Deshbandhu — and Why He Still Matters
Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925) was a titan of Bengal's nationalist movement. A celebrated defence lawyer, he famously argued for Aurobindo Ghose in the Alipore Bomb Case — and then walked away from a thriving legal career to join Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. The title Deshbandhu — 'Friend of the Nation' — was not bestowed by a committee; it was earned on the streets of Calcutta. When the Non-Cooperation Movement was suspended in 1922, Das did not retreat. Alongside Motilal Nehru, he co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923, adopting a sharp tactical pivot: rather than boycott the British-run legislative councils, the Swarajists would enter them and obstruct colonial governance from within. It was guerrilla politics fought with procedural motions — and it rattled the Raj.A Nationalist Icon Claimed Across the Spectrum
Das died in June 1925, just two years after founding the Swaraj Party, before he could see many of his ambitions realised. Yet his legacy has proved remarkably durable — and remarkably elastic. Indian political leaders across parties invoke his memory on 5 November each year, threading his sacrifice into their own contemporary narratives. CM Choudhary's tribute follows this long-standing national calendar of remembrance, reinforcing the BJP's ongoing effort to claim a broad sweep of the freedom-movement canon across regions and communities. For Bihar — a state whose own freedom-movement history runs deep — a tribute to a Bengal-born Swarajist is also a reminder that the independence struggle crossed every provincial boundary India's colonial administrators tried to draw.Deshbandhu gave up a fortune to win a country. That bargain is worth remembering every 5 November.
Point of View
A Swarajist who practised constructive obstruction of colonial power, also carries a subtle ideological resonance with the party's own parliamentary assertiveness. The tribute lands on a symbolic date that multiple parties will mark, making it as much a competitive gesture in the politics of remembrance as it is a simple act of homage.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chittaranjan Das and why is he called Deshbandhu?
Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925) was a Bengali lawyer and freedom fighter who gave up a lucrative legal career to join India's independence struggle. He earned the title 'Deshbandhu' — meaning 'Friend of the Nation' — for his deep commitment to the people and his sacrifices for national liberation.
When is Chittaranjan Das's birth anniversary?
Chittaranjan Das was born on 5 November 1870 , and his birth anniversary is commemorated annually on that date.
What was the Swaraj Party and who founded it?
The Swaraj Party was founded in 1923 by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru . The party contested British-run legislative councils to obstruct colonial governance from within and demand self-rule, departing from the full boycott strategy of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Chittaranjan Das?
CM Choudhary paid tribute on X, saying Das's struggle, sacrifice, and dedication to the nation 'will always continue to inspire all of us,' saluting the Swaraj Party founder on his birth anniversary.
Why do Indian politicians tribute Chittaranjan Das every year?
Chittaranjan Das occupies a prominent place in India's freedom-struggle calendar. Leaders across parties mark his birth anniversary to honour his legacy and to associate themselves with the broad nationalist tradition he represents.
