PM Modi tributes Bhai Parmanand ahead of 150th birth anniversary
Synopsis
Modi used the 139th Mann Ki Baat to spotlight Bhai Parmanand — a freedom fighter who persuaded Lala Har Dayal to launch the Ghadar Party, survived Kala Pani, and later taught Bhagat Singh. With the 150th birth anniversary on 4 November, the tribute is a reminder of how much of India's revolutionary history remains underknown.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bhai Parmanand on 25 October 2026 during the 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat .
Bhai Parmanand's 150th birth anniversary falls on 4 November .
Bhai Parmanand was a founding member of the Ghadar Party and was sentenced to 'Kala Pani' by British authorities.
He travelled to South Africa for Arya Samaj work, where he met Mahatma Gandhi , and also worked among the Girmitiya community in Guyana .
After his release, Bhai Parmanand turned to education and reportedly taught Veer Bhagat Singh .
Modi urged India's youth to read Bhai Parmanand's memoir 'Aapbeeti: Kaale Paani Ki Kaaraavaas Kahaani' .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 25 October 2026, paid tribute to freedom fighter Bhai Parmanand during the 139th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', honouring the revolutionary's contributions to India's independence struggle, his pivotal role in the Ghadar movement, and his lifelong association with the Arya Samaj. The tribute comes ahead of Bhai Parmanand's 150th birth anniversary on 4 November.
Modi's Tribute in Mann Ki Baat
Addressing listeners, Modi described Bhai Parmanand as an embodiment of India's rich legacy of great personalities. 'The soil of India has given birth to many such great personalities who have left an indelible mark. One such great figure is Bhai Parmanand ji. In a few days, on November 4, we will celebrate his 150th birth anniversary,' the Prime Minister said.
Modi underlined how Bhai Parmanand's deep connection with the Arya Samaj shaped his ideals and gave direction to his lifelong work for social and national causes.
From South Africa to Guyana: A Global Freedom Footprint
The Prime Minister recalled how Bhai Parmanand travelled to South Africa in the early 20th century for Arya Samaj work, where he met Mahatma Gandhi. He also worked among the 'Girmitiya' community in Guyana, which Modi noted was a significant centre for Arya Samaj at the time. 'During my own visit to Guyana, I had the privilege of visiting the Arya Samaj memorial,' Modi added, drawing a personal connection to Bhai Parmanand's legacy.
Ghadar Movement, Kala Pani and the Fight Against British Rule
Modi highlighted Bhai Parmanand's foundational role in the Ghadar Party, crediting him with persuading Lala Har Dayal to travel to America to galvanise the Indian diaspora against British colonialism. The Prime Minister noted that Bhai Parmanand's influence was so significant that British authorities sentenced him to the dreaded 'Kala Pani' — imprisonment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Modi urged listeners to read Bhai Parmanand's memoir 'Aapbeeti: Kaale Paani Ki Kaaraavaas Kahaani', calling it an invaluable window into the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters and the hardships they endured under British rule.
Educator, Mentor and a Link to Bhagat Singh
After completing his sentence, Bhai Parmanand turned his energies to education. Modi noted a striking historical detail: 'You might be surprised to learn that he even taught Veer Bhagat Singh,' drawing a direct line between Bhai Parmanand's mentorship and one of India's most celebrated revolutionaries. In the later years of his life, Bhai Parmanand remained associated with the Hindu Mahasabha.
Calling Bhai Parmanand a source of lasting inspiration — from his connection to Gandhi to his time in Guyana, and from the Ghadar movement to the Andamans — Modi urged India's youth to study his life and share his story widely ahead of the 150th birth anniversary.
Point of View
Given Bhai Parmanand's later Hindu Mahasabha associations. What stands out, however, is the factual richness: a single life that intersected Gandhi in South Africa, the Ghadar movement in America, the Andaman prisons, and Bhagat Singh's classroom is genuinely underrepresented in school curricula. The 150th anniversary offers an opportunity for educators to fill that gap, regardless of ideological framing. Whether institutional follow-through — textbook revisions, archival digitisation, Ghadar Party commemoration — matches the radio rhetoric is the question worth watching.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhai Parmanand?
Bhai Parmanand was an Indian freedom fighter, educator, and a founding member of the Ghadar Party who played a significant role in India's independence movement. He was sentenced to 'Kala Pani' imprisonment in the Andaman Islands by British authorities and later taught Veer Bhagat Singh.
Why is PM Modi paying tribute to Bhai Parmanand now?
Bhai Parmanand's 150th birth anniversary falls on 4 November 2026, prompting PM Modi to dedicate a segment of the 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 25 October to honouring his legacy. Modi urged the youth to learn about and share his life story ahead of the anniversary.
What was Bhai Parmanand's role in the Ghadar movement?
Bhai Parmanand was one of the founding members of the Ghadar Party, an early 20th-century revolutionary organisation based in North America. According to PM Modi, it was Bhai Parmanand who persuaded Lala Har Dayal to travel to America, which proved instrumental in the party's formation.
What is the book 'Aapbeeti: Kaale Paani Ki Kaaraavaas Kahaani'?
It is a memoir written by Bhai Parmanand documenting his experiences during his Kala Pani imprisonment in the Andaman Islands. PM Modi recommended the book to listeners as a valuable record of the sacrifices made by India's freedom fighters against British rule.
What was Bhai Parmanand's connection to Arya Samaj and Guyana?
Bhai Parmanand was deeply associated with the Arya Samaj and travelled to South Africa in the early 20th century for its work, where he met Mahatma Gandhi. He also worked among the Girmitiya community in Guyana, which was a significant centre for Arya Samaj activity at the time.
