CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Durga Bhabhi on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary marked the birth anniversary of revolutionary Durgavati Devi — 'Durga Bhabhi' — saluting her role in India's independence struggle, including helping Bhagat Singh evade British authorities in 1928.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Durgavati Devi , known as 'Durga Bhabhi', on her birth anniversary on October 7, 2026 .
Durgavati Devi was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and a close associate of Bhagat Singh .
She famously helped Bhagat Singh escape British police in 1928 by posing as his wife at a Lahore railway station.
She attempted to assassinate Lord Hallett , Governor of the United Provinces, in 1932 and was imprisoned.
Durgavati Devi passed away in 1999 , having spent her later years in teaching and social work.
The tribute reflects the BJP's effort to foreground armed revolutionary figures in India's independence narrative.
A woman who helped India's most wanted fugitive walk past armed British soldiers deserves more than a footnote in history. On her birth anniversary, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paid tribute on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to Durgavati Devi — known to history as Durga Bhabhi — saluting her courage, sacrifice, and lifelong dedication to India's independence struggle.
Posting on X with the hashtag #DurgaBhabhi, the Chief Minister wrote: 'Koti-koti naman' — countless salutes — on the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter and revolutionary Durgavati Devi. He added that her bravery and sacrifice would continue to inspire every Indian, forever.
Who was Durga Bhabhi — and why the title endures
Born Durgavati Devi, she became one of the most daring women of India's revolutionary movement. She is best remembered for her role in the aftermath of the 1928 Lahore killing of British police officer J.P. Saunders — helping Bhagat Singh escape by posing as his wife at the railway station, evading a massive colonial manhunt. The title 'Bhabhi' — sister-in-law — was an affectionate honorific from her fellow revolutionaries of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
She did not stop there. Durgavati Devi later attempted to assassinate Lord Hallett, the then Governor of the United Provinces, in 1932 — an act for which she was imprisoned. Even after independence, she lived quietly, devoted to teaching and social work. She passed away in 1999, her story known to historians but too rarely taught in classrooms.
Why BJP leaders invoke revolutionary women on such anniversaries
Tributes from senior BJP leaders to figures like Durga Bhabhi reflect a deliberate effort to amplify the legacy of armed revolutionaries — alongside the more widely celebrated Gandhian strand of the independence movement. CM Samrat Choudhary, as Bihar's chief minister and a prominent party voice, uses such occasions to connect the party's nationalist identity with India's broader freedom struggle heritage.
Invoking Durga Bhabhi's name is also a nod to women's centrality in a struggle too often remembered through male protagonists alone. Some debts are never fully paid — but anniversaries like this one insist they not be forgotten.
Point of View
Reinforcing the party's nationalist cultural identity. Durga Bhabhi represents a potent symbol: a woman who combined personal sacrifice with direct action, making her a figure that cuts across ideological lines. By amplifying such anniversaries, the Bihar CM simultaneously grounds his party's patriotic messaging in historically verifiable heroism and draws attention to women's underrepresented role in the armed independence movement.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Durga Bhabhi?
Durga Bhabhi was the popular name of Durgavati Devi , a revolutionary freedom fighter and HSRA member who aided Bhagat Singh 's escape from British authorities in 1928 and later attempted to assassinate a colonial governor.
What is Durga Bhabhi famous for?
She is most famous for helping Bhagat Singh escape a British manhunt in Lahore in 1928 by posing as his wife at a railway station, and for attempting to assassinate Lord Hallett , Governor of the United Provinces, in 1932.
When is Durga Bhabhi's birth anniversary?
Durgavati Devi's birth anniversary is observed on October 7 .
Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary post about Durga Bhabhi?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute on October 7, 2026 to mark Durgavati Devi's birth anniversary, saluting her courage and sacrifice in India's independence struggle.
When did Durga Bhabhi die?
Durgavati Devi passed away in 1999 , having spent her later years in teaching and social service after independence.
