Giriraj Singh pays tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on November 5, 2026 honoured Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das — freedom fighter, poet, advocate, and Swaraj Party co-founder — on his birth anniversary, calling his sacrifice an eternal inspiration for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh posted a tribute to Chittaranjan Das on his birth anniversary, November 5, 2026 .
Chittaranjan Das was born in 1870 and served as a lawyer, poet, and leading figure of the Bengal freedom movement.
He co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 alongside Motilal Nehru after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
The title 'Deshbandhu' (Friend of the Nation) reflects his mass following and sacrifice during the independence struggle.
The tribute is part of a broader BJP practice of commemorating pre-independence figures across political lineages on key anniversaries.
On the birth anniversary of one of Bengal's most towering freedom fighters, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh offered a heartfelt tribute to Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das on Thursday, November 5, 2026, honouring the lawyer, poet, and co-founder of the Swaraj Party as an enduring source of national inspiration.
Singh's post in Hindi read: 'Mahaan swatantrata senani, kavi, adhivakta va Swaraj Party ke sansthapak Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das ji ki jayanti par unhe shat-shat naman!' — 'A hundred salutes to the great freedom fighter, poet, advocate, and founder of the Swaraj Party, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, on his birth anniversary!' He added that Das's 'dedication and sacrifice for the nation will always remain a source of inspiration for all of us.'
Who was Chittaranjan Das — and why does his legacy endure?
Chittaranjan Das, born in 1870, was no ordinary nationalist. A formidable advocate, he famously defended Bal Gangadhar Tilak in a sedition case — a move that announced him as a fearless voice for Indian self-determination. He went on to lead the Non-Cooperation Movement in Bengal, surrendering a lucrative legal practice at its peak. The title 'Deshbandhu' — 'Friend of the Nation' — was not bestowed lightly.
When the Non-Cooperation Movement was called off in 1922, Das refused to step back from political action. Alongside Motilal Nehru, he co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 — a bold tactical pivot that sought to contest legislative councils from within and obstruct colonial governance from the inside out. It was practical nationalism: use the coloniser's own institutions as a lever.
BJP's pattern of commemorating pre-independence giants
BJP ministers regularly mark the birth and death anniversaries of pre-independence figures from across the political spectrum — a deliberate exercise in weaving a broad nationalist tapestry. Chittaranjan Das, historically associated with the Congress tradition, is nonetheless embraced as part of a shared freedom struggle heritage. The practice signals that the party lays claim to the entire arc of India's independence movement, not just figures from its own ideological lineage.
Similar tributes are expected in coming weeks on the anniversaries of figures like Motilal Nehru and Lala Lajpat Rai. Each such post is a small but deliberate act of historical ownership.
Point of View
Not just icons of the Hindutva canon. For a senior minister like Giriraj Singh, such commemorations serve a dual function: reinforcing nationalist credentials while signalling ideological inclusivity ahead of election cycles. The Swaraj Party's legacy of constructive engagement with colonial institutions also offers a subtle parallel to the current government's own rhetoric of working within systems to deliver change. These anniversary posts are small gestures, but cumulatively they shape how a party writes the nation's memory.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chittaranjan Das and why is he called Deshbandhu?
Chittaranjan Das was a Bengali freedom fighter, lawyer, and poet born in 1870 who played a leading role in the Non-Cooperation Movement in Bengal. He earned the title 'Deshbandhu' — meaning 'Friend of the Nation' — in recognition of his sacrifice and deep bond with the common people of India.
When was the Swaraj Party founded and who were its founders?
The Swaraj Party was co-founded in 1923 by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement, with the aim of contesting legislative councils to disrupt British colonial governance from within.
Why is November 5 significant for Chittaranjan Das?
November 5 marks the birth anniversary of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, observed each year with tributes from political leaders across parties in recognition of his contribution to India's independence struggle.
What did Giriraj Singh say about Chittaranjan Das?
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh paid tribute to Chittaranjan Das as a great freedom fighter, poet, advocate, and Swaraj Party founder, stating that his dedication and sacrifice for the nation would always remain an inspiration for all Indians.
Why do BJP leaders pay tribute to Congress-era freedom fighters like Chittaranjan Das?
BJP leaders regularly commemorate pre-independence figures from across the political spectrum as part of a broader strategy to claim shared ownership of India's nationalist heritage and present the party as the inheritor of the entire freedom movement, not just one strand of it.
