Giriraj Singh pays tribute to Bhulabhai Desai on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh paid homage to eminent jurist and independence activist Bhulabhai Desai on his birth anniversary, saluting his legacy as Congress president and lead defence counsel in the historic 1945-46 INA Red Fort trials.
Key Takeaways
Giriraj Singh , Union Textiles Minister and BJP MP from Begusarai , posted a tribute to Bhulabhai Desai on 13 October 2026 .
Desai served as Congress president in 1934 and was one of colonial India's most distinguished lawyers.
He led the defence of Indian National Army (INA) officers at the Red Fort trials of 1945–46 , a landmark moment in India's independence movement.
Singh described Desai's dedication to the nation and contribution to the legal field as 'extremely inspirational.' The tribute reflects a broader practice among Indian political leaders of honouring pre-independence figures across party lines on commemorative dates.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most formidable courtroom advocates and independence fighters, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh offered his respects to Bhulabhai Desai on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, honouring a legacy that stretches from the Congress presidency to the most celebrated legal defence in colonial India's history.
Posting in Hindi, the minister wrote: 'प्रख्यात विधिवेत्ता एवं महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी भूलाभाई देसाई जी की जयंती पर उन्हें शत-शत नमन!' — 'A hundred salutes to the eminent jurist and great freedom fighter Bhulabhai Desai on his birth anniversary.' Singh added that Desai's dedication to the nation and his contribution to the legal field remain 'extremely inspirational for all of us.'The lawyer who defended the INA at Red Fort
Bhulabhai Desai occupies a singular place in India's independence narrative. A stalwart of the legal profession, he served as Congress president in 1934 and became one of the most respected advocates of his era. His defining moment came during the landmark 1945–46 Red Fort trials, when he led the defence of officers of the Indian National Army (INA) — soldiers who had fought under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose against British rule. The trials gripped the nation, and Desai's arguments turned the dock into a platform for the freedom cause itself, making the proceedings a moral and political embarrassment for the colonial government.A tradition of commemorative tribute from India's ministers
Singh's post follows a well-established tradition among Indian political leaders of publicly honouring pre-independence figures on their birth and death anniversaries. For a BJP senior leader to invoke a figure closely associated with the Indian National Congress underscores that certain icons of the freedom movement have transcended partisan ownership and entered a shared national memory. These tributes, routine in form, nonetheless serve as public reminders of the legal and civic values the freedom struggle bequeathed to the republic. Bhulabhai Desai's contributions — as advocate, legislator, and defender of those who risked everything for independence — continue to be cited by the legal fraternity as a benchmark of courage at the bar.Point of View
Invoking a jurist-patriot carries quiet symbolic weight beyond the ceremonial. Such anniversary posts, while routine in form, collectively constitute a steady soft-power drumbeat around the values the republic was founded on.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhulabhai Desai?
Bhulabhai Desai was a prominent Indian lawyer and independence activist who served as Congress president in 1934 and is best known for leading the defence of Indian National Army officers at the Red Fort trials in 1945-46.
Why is Bhulabhai Desai remembered in India's legal history?
Desai is remembered as one of colonial India's foremost advocates. His defence of INA officers at the Red Fort trials turned a military court into a stage for the freedom struggle and helped build public pressure against British rule.
What did Giriraj Singh say about Bhulabhai Desai?
Giriraj Singh offered 'a hundred salutes' to Desai on his birth anniversary, saying his dedication to the nation and contributions to the legal field are 'extremely inspirational for all of us.'
When were the INA Red Fort trials held?
The Indian National Army trials were held at Red Fort, Delhi, between 1945 and 1946, when the British colonial government prosecuted INA officers who had fought alongside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Why do Indian ministers post tributes to freedom fighters?
Indian political leaders across parties regularly issue public tributes on the birth and death anniversaries of pre-independence figures as part of standard commemorative practice, highlighting contributions to the freedom struggle and national life.
