Shivraj Singh Chouhan pays tribute to Bhikaji Cama on death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid tribute to Bhikaji Cama on her death anniversary, honouring the independence activist who unfurled an early Indian tricolour in Stuttgart in 1907, two days ahead of Independence Day 2026.
Key Takeaways
Shivraj Singh Chouhan posted a tribute to Bhikaji Cama on her death anniversary, 13 August 2026 .
Bhikaji Cama is credited with unfurling an early version of India's tricolour at the International Socialist Congress, Stuttgart, 1907 .
She conducted her independence activism from exile in Europe , making her a globally visible voice for Indian freedom.
The tribute comes two days before Independence Day , a period when Indian leaders routinely honour freedom fighters.
Chouhan is a senior BJP leader and former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh .
On the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bhikaji Cama, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan offered his heartfelt tribute to the trailblazing independence activist who carried India's struggle to the world stage.
Posting on 13 August 2026, Chouhan wrote: 'I pay a hundred salutes to the great freedom fighter, Madam Bhikaji Cama Ji, on her death anniversary. Your incomparable contribution to the fight for India's independence will always be remembered.'
The woman who unfurled India's flag before India was free
Bhikaji Cama's place in the freedom struggle is singular. Operating from exile in Europe, she is credited with designing and unfurling an early version of India's tricolour flag at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart in 1907 — decades before independence. At a time when most of the world barely knew India's name, she was demanding its freedom from European podiums. That act of defiance, flag in hand on foreign soil, made her one of the most dramatic figures of the pre-Gandhian independence movement.A ritual of remembrance near Independence Day
Chouhan's tribute follows a well-established pattern among Indian political leaders: the days immediately before 15 August become a rolling calendar of acknowledgements to freedom fighters, with social media serving as the primary platform. As a senior BJP leader and former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan has long been a prominent voice in such commemorations. The timing — two days before Independence Day — gives the tribute added resonance. Bhikaji Cama's death anniversary on 13 August places her remembrance squarely in the heart of this national moment, a fitting coincidence for a woman whose entire life was devoted to the idea of a free India she would not live to see fully realised.Point of View
Part of a predictable pre-Independence Day cycle of political commemoration on social media. What elevates Bhikaji Cama above the routine roll call is her genuinely extraordinary story — exile, international activism, and a flag unfurled before the nation existed — which gives such tributes more substance than most. For the BJP, invoking pre-Gandhian, globally active freedom fighters fits a broader effort to widen the party's historical canvas beyond the Congress-era nationalist mainstream. The timing, two days before 15 August, ensures maximum visibility for the gesture.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhikaji Cama and why is she famous?
Bhikaji Cama was an Indian independence activist who worked from exile in Europe. She is most famous for designing and unfurling an early version of India's tricolour flag at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart in 1907, making her one of the most prominent pre-Gandhian voices for Indian independence on the world stage.
When is Bhikaji Cama's death anniversary?
Bhikaji Cama's death anniversary is observed on 13 August.
What did Shivraj Singh Chouhan say about Bhikaji Cama?
Chouhan said he pays a hundred salutes to the great freedom fighter on her death anniversary and that her incomparable contribution to India's independence struggle will always be remembered.
What is Shivraj Singh Chouhan's current role?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development in the Government of India. He is also a senior BJP leader and former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Why do Indian leaders post tributes around 13 August?
The days immediately before Independence Day on 15 August form a period when Indian political leaders across parties routinely acknowledge freedom fighters on their birth or death anniversaries, using social media as the primary platform for these commemorations.
