Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday paid rich tributes to freedom fighter Buddhu Nonia at his centenary celebrations in Patna.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan recalled his ultimate sacrifice during the Salt Satyagraha. “He was thrown into a boiling salt cauldron by the British, yet continued to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’,” Chouhan said, lauding the courage of the revolutionary.
“We earned our freedom through intense struggle and sacrifice. Many revolutionaries spent their entire youth grinding in the prisons of Andaman and Nicobar, and when they walked toward the gallows, their legs didn’t tremble. There was no fear or anxiety. They held the Gita in one hand, chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, and had unwavering determination in their hearts,” the Union minister said.
“These brave revolutionaries prayed to God by saying “If we are reborn after death, let it be on this land of India, and let the cycle of life and death continue here until the country is free”. The martyrs sacrificed everything,” he added.
Thanking the Bihar government for its decision to install a statue of the martyr in Patna, Chouhan hailed the Nonia community’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle, referring to the historical Nonia Rebellion of the 1770s.
Chouhan supported Bihar cabinet minister Renu Devi’s proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the economically disadvantaged Nonia community and assured that the government would give it serious consideration.
Calling for unity and resolve, Chouhan urged the community to support those who work for their upliftment and reaffirmed the NDA government’s commitment to inclusive development and social justice.
“We must resolve to support those who support us,” he added. He also declared that the nation will never forgive those who insult Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
Chouhan also lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in empowering the poor and marginalised. He highlighted ongoing welfare schemes such as the PM Awas Yojana and the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative aimed at uplifting women.
The event was attended by several key leaders, including Renu Devi, Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and State BJP President Dr. Dilip Jaiswal, among others.
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