Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to V.V. Giri on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary marked the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna recipient and former President V.V. Giri on 10 August 2026, saluting his legacy in national service, labour welfare, and democratic values.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute to former President V.V.
Giri on his birth anniversary, 10 August 2026 .
Giri served as India's fourth President from 1969 to 1974 and was a prominent trade union leader.
He received the Bharat Ratna in 1975 , India's highest civilian honour.
Choudhary cited Giri's contributions to 'national service, labour welfare, and democratic values' as an enduring inspiration.
Tributes to independence-era leaders on their birth anniversaries are a consistent practice across India's political parties.
A towering figure of India's labour movement and its fourth President, V.V. Giri is remembered each year on 10 August — and this year, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary joined the national chorus of remembrance with a heartfelt tribute on X.
Choudhary wrote, 'कोटि-कोटि नमन' (a million salutes), honouring Giri's contributions to 'national service, labour welfare, and democratic values' — describing them as 'an eternal source of inspiration for the people of the country.'
From picket lines to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Varahagiri Venkata Giri had one of the most unusual journeys to India's highest constitutional office. Long before he became President, he was a frontline trade union organiser — a rare combination in post-independence Indian politics. He served as India's fourth President from 1969 to 1974, and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975, India's highest civilian honour.
His presidency is remembered partly for the political drama surrounding his election — he ran as an independent candidate after the official Congress nominee was put forward, and his victory, backed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, deepened the split within the Congress party. The episode remains a landmark in India's constitutional history.
Why labour leaders remember him differently
For India's trade union movement, Giri is not primarily a president — he is a founding organiser. His decades of work advocating for workers' rights before and after independence gave him credibility that transcended party affiliation. Tributes to him on his birth anniversary consistently invoke labour welfare, making him one of the few former heads of state whose legacy is claimed across the political spectrum.
Such commemorations have become a fixture of Indian political life, with leaders from all parties marking the birth anniversaries of independence-era figures as a way of anchoring their own politics to a larger national tradition.
Point of View
A figure associated with the Congress era and the labour movement, reflects the broad-tent nature of such tributes. Giri's legacy in labour welfare also carries quiet resonance at a time when worker welfare schemes remain central to competitive politics in states like Bihar.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is V.V. Giri's birth anniversary?
V.V. Giri's birth anniversary falls on 10 August , and is marked annually by political leaders across parties.
What did Samrat Choudhary say about V.V. Giri?
Choudhary offered 'koti-koti naman' (a million salutes) to Giri, saying his contributions to national service, labour welfare, and democratic values would remain an eternal source of inspiration for the people of India.
Why did V.V. Giri receive the Bharat Ratna?
V.V. Giri was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975 in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation, including his role as President of India and his long career as a trade union leader and advocate for workers' rights.
Which party did V.V. Giri belong to?
V.V. Giri was associated with the Indian National Congress and won the 1969 presidential election as an independent candidate backed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a vote that marked a pivotal split within the Congress party.
