Gadkari pays tribute to martyr Matangini Hazra on death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari marked the 83rd death anniversary of revolutionary Matangini Hazra on 29 September 2026, saluting the Quit India Movement martyr who was shot dead by British police in 1942 while leading a procession in Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Matangini Hazra was killed by British police on 29 September 1942 in Tamluk, Midnapore, Bengal during the Quit India Movement.
She was 73 years old at the time of her martyrdom, making her story one of the most striking in the independence struggle.
She reportedly continued holding the Indian National Congress flag even after being shot, dying with 'Vande Mataram' on her lips.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid tribute via X on 29 September 2026 , the 83rd anniversary of her death.
Her legacy is commemorated through statues, place names, and institutions across West Bengal , including a prominent statue in Kolkata .
On the 83rd death anniversary of Matangini Hazra, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari offered his homage to the revolutionary who walked into British bullets so India could walk free.
Posting on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, Gadkari wrote: 'देश की स्वतंत्रता के लिए अपने प्राणों की आहुति देने वाली महान क्रांतिकारी वीरांगना मातंगिनी हाजरा जी की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें विनम्र अभिवादन।' — 'A humble salute to the great revolutionary Virangana Matangini Hazra Ji, who sacrificed her life for the independence of the nation.'
The woman who would not drop the flag
On 29 September 1942, a 73-year-old widow from Tamluk in Bengal's Midnapore district led a massive procession as part of the Quit India Movement. When British police opened fire on the crowd, Matangini Hazra kept moving forward, the Indian National Congress flag held high even as she was hit. She was shot dead still clutching it — her last words reportedly a call of 'Vande Mataram'. Her age, her gender, her ordinary origins as a peasant woman: none of it dimmed the defiance.A martyr remembered across party lines
Hazra's story sits in a category of its own within the independence struggle — a grassroots freedom fighter whose courage was rooted not in ideology or education but in sheer conviction. Annual commemorations by elected representatives across the political spectrum speak to how deeply her legacy is woven into Bengal's — and India's — collective memory. Gadkari's tribute follows this well-established tradition of keeping martyrs of the freedom struggle visible in public discourse. She is honoured with a prominent statue in Kolkata, and the Matangini name is carried by localities, institutions, and civil awards in West Bengal to this day.Point of View
Particularly from Bengal — a state the party has long sought to deepen its roots in. Matangini Hazra, a peasant widow who died defying colonial rule, carries symbolic capital that transcends party lines. Public commemorations of such martyrs serve both a genuine patriotic function and a subtle political one: anchoring a national party's identity to regional heroes. The consistency of these annual tributes suggests institutional memory-building, not just social media reflex.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Matangini Hazra?
Matangini Hazra was an Indian revolutionary from Tamluk in Bengal's Midnapore district who was shot dead by British police on 29 September 1942 while leading a procession during the Quit India Movement. She was 73 years old and reportedly kept the Indian National Congress flag raised even as she was fatally wounded.
How did Matangini Hazra die?
She was shot dead by British police on 29 September 1942 in Tamluk, Bengal, during a Quit India Movement procession. She continued to advance holding the national flag after being hit and died at the scene, with 'Vande Mataram' reportedly as her last words.
Why is Matangini Hazra remembered?
She is remembered as a symbol of grassroots courage in India's freedom struggle — an elderly peasant widow who showed extraordinary defiance against colonial rule. She is honoured with a statue in Kolkata and her name is associated with localities and institutions across West Bengal.
What did Nitin Gadkari say about Matangini Hazra?
On her death anniversary on 29 September 2026, Gadkari posted a tribute on X calling her a 'great revolutionary Virangana' and offering his humble salute to her sacrifice for the nation's independence.
When is Matangini Hazra's death anniversary?
Matangini Hazra's death anniversary falls on 29 September each year, marking the day she was killed by British police in 1942 during the Quit India Movement.
