HP CM Sukhu pays tribute to V. V. Giri on death anniversary
Synopsis
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, through the official CMO Himachal Pradesh account, paid tribute to former President and Bharat Ratna awardee V. V. Giri on his death anniversary, saluting his contributions to India's independence movement and his lifelong advocacy for workers' rights.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid official tribute to V.
Giri on his death anniversary on 24 June 2026 .
Giri was the fourth President of India , serving from 1969 to 1974 .
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975 , India's highest civilian honour.
Giri was a key figure in the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) , founded in 1920 , and championed workers' rights throughout his career.
The tribute highlighted Giri's dual legacy: participation in the independence movement and advocacy for labour welfare .
Such official commemorations are part of a wider pattern among Indian state governments of invoking historical figures to connect with themes of social justice.
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh, on behalf of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, paid homage to Varahagiri Venkata Giri — former President of India and Bharat Ratna awardee — on his death anniversary, honouring his contributions to the independence movement and the cause of workers' rights.
Context
The tribute, posted in Hindi on the official CMO Himachal Pradesh account, reads: 'Bharat Ratna evam Bharat ke poorv Rashtrapati V. V. Giri ji ki punyatithi par unhe shat-shat naman.' ('On the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former President of India V. V. Giri, we offer a hundred salutations.') Chief Minister Sukhu's statement adds that the country will always remember his contribution to the freedom struggle and his efforts for the rights of workers.
V. V. Giri served as the fourth President of India from 1969 to 1974. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1975, India's highest civilian honour, in recognition of his lifelong public service.
Policy Backdrop
Giri's legacy is closely tied to the labour movement in India. He served multiple terms as president of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), which was founded in 1920 to organise workers during the freedom struggle and remains one of India's oldest trade union federations. His advocacy for workers' rights placed him at the intersection of nationalist politics and social justice.
Before assuming the presidency, Giri held several ministerial portfolios related to labour, cementing his reputation as a champion of the working class. His career spanned the pre-independence agitation, the Constituent Assembly era, and the post-independence republic.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute carries symbolic weight for Indian workers and labour unions, who regard Giri as a foundational figure in the organised labour movement. Official commemorations such as this one reinforce the continued relevance of labour welfare as a political and policy theme.
Indian state governments routinely mark death anniversaries of freedom fighters and labour leaders through official statements, connecting historical legacies to contemporary themes of social justice. The Himachal Pradesh government has been consistent in issuing such tributes via its official channels, reflecting a broader pattern across political administrations.
What's Next
Similar official commemorations are expected on other national leader anniversaries throughout the year. Observers will watch for any policy announcements from the Himachal Pradesh government related to worker welfare schemes that might draw on the legacy of figures like Giri to lend political and historical weight to new initiatives.
Point of View
Representing a Congress government, subtly aligns the party with its historical roots in both nationalism and organised labour. Such commemorations serve as low-cost, high-symbolism signals to trade unions and working-class constituencies, a demographic that remains electorally significant in Himachal Pradesh. The consistency of these tributes across administrations also reflects how Indian political culture uses historical memory as a form of soft governance.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was V. V. Giri and why is he remembered?
V. V. Giri, or Varahagiri Venkata Giri, was the fourth President of India (1969-1974) and a Bharat Ratna awardee. He is remembered for his role in the independence movement and as a leading advocate for workers' rights through his association with the All India Trade Union Congress.
When did V. V. Giri receive the Bharat Ratna?
V. V. Giri was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1975.
Who is the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh?
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of the Indian National Congress has been the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh since December 2022.
What was V. V. Giri's connection to the labour movement in India?
V. V. Giri served multiple terms as president of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), founded in 1920, and held ministerial portfolios related to labour before becoming President of India, making him one of the most prominent labour advocates in Indian political history.
Why do Indian state governments issue tributes on death anniversaries of national leaders?
Indian state governments routinely mark such anniversaries to honour historical legacies, connect with themes of social justice and nationalism, and signal continuity with the values of freedom fighters and public servants to their constituencies.
