CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Matangini Hazra on her birth anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 19 October 2026 paid tribute to Bengali revolutionary Matangini Hazra on her birth anniversary, honouring the Quit India Movement martyr as a symbol of women's courage and national sacrifice.
Key Takeaways
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to Matangini Hazra on her birth anniversary on 19 October 2026 .
Matangini Hazra was martyred on 29 September 1942 during the Quit India Movement in Tamluk, Bengal , at the age of 73 .
She was shot by British police while leading a procession to seize the Tamluk police station, continuing to hold the tricolour until she fell.
CM Choudhary described her as an 'embodiment of women's power' and a lasting inspiration for national service.
BJP leaders routinely invoke freedom fighter anniversaries to connect contemporary governance with India's independence legacy.
A woman who walked into British bullets with the tricolour in her hands — Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday, 19 October 2026, honoured revolutionary freedom fighter Matangini Hazra on her birth anniversary, calling her an embodiment of women's courage and sacrifice in India's independence struggle.
Posting on X in Hindi, CM Choudhary wrote: 'महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी एवं नारी शक्ति की प्रतीक वीरांगना मातंगिनी हाजरा जी की जयंती पर कोटि-कोटि नमन।' — 'Heartfelt salutations to the great freedom fighter and symbol of women's power, Veeerangana Matangini Hazra, on her birth anniversary.' He added that her 'indomitable courage, sacrifice, and martyrdom for the freedom of Mother India will always inspire us in service to the nation.'
Who was Matangini Hazra — and why she still matters
Matangini Hazra was a Bengali revolutionary who became one of the most iconic faces of mass participation in India's independence movement. Born in Tamluk, Bengal, she was a widow and a poor farmer's wife who threw herself into the freedom struggle late in life — defying both colonial rule and social convention. On 29 September 1942, during the Quit India Movement, she led a procession of several thousand protesters to seize the Tamluk police station. British police opened fire. She took three bullets — and kept walking, the tricolour raised, chanting 'Vande Mataram', until she fell. She was 73 years old. Her image — an elderly woman, unarmed, undeterred — became a symbol of the movement's reach into ordinary life, beyond cities and educated elites. Statues of Matangini Hazra stand in Kolkata and across West Bengal today.BJP's consistent invocation of the freedom movement
CM Choudhary's tribute fits a well-established pattern in Indian political culture: leaders across the spectrum mark freedom fighter birth and death anniversaries as acts of public memory and national identification. For BJP leaders in particular, such tributes carry an additional layer of intent — connecting the party's governance philosophy to the legacy of revolutionary sacrifice and nationalist fervour. The emphasis on Matangini Hazra as 'nari shakti ki pratik' ('symbol of women's power') also aligns with the BJP's broader messaging around women's empowerment as a governance theme.Point of View
Such tributes also serve to broaden a Bihar-based leader's cultural register beyond regional identity toward a pan-Indian patriotic frame. The pattern is consistent, cross-party, and unlikely to slow — if anything, digital platforms have amplified the frequency and reach of these commemorations.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Matangini Hazra?
Matangini Hazra was a Bengali revolutionary and freedom fighter who was martyred on 29 September 1942 during the Quit India Movement. She led a protest procession in Tamluk, Bengal, and was shot by British police while holding the Indian tricolour, at the age of 73.
Why is Matangini Hazra called a symbol of women's power?
Matangini Hazra is called a symbol of women's power because she defied both colonial rule and social convention as a poor, widowed farmer who became one of the most fearless faces of mass resistance in India's independence movement.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Matangini Hazra?
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary offered 'heartfelt salutations' to Matangini Hazra on her birth anniversary on 19 October 2026, calling her indomitable courage and martyrdom a lasting inspiration for national service.
When is Matangini Hazra's birth anniversary?
Matangini Hazra's birth anniversary is observed on 19 October each year.
Where did Matangini Hazra sacrifice her life?
Matangini Hazra was martyred in Tamluk, Bengal, during the Quit India Movement on 29 September 1942.
