Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid his tribute to the two great freedom fighters of India - Chandra Shekhar Azad and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak - on their birth anniversaries. "Salute to the two brave sons of Mother India, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Sekhar Azad on their birth anniversaries," PM Modi wrote on Twitter.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu posted on social media: "Today, July 23rd marks the birth anniversaries of two great sons of India - Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad. I feel that present-day youth must read about their lives and sacrifices made for country's freedom."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his tribute to Chandra Shekhar Azad, described the freedom fighter as "the heroic son of Mother India and the immortal revolutionary...His name inspires Indians to die for the country. I bow down to Chandra Shekhar Azad, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country!" Remembering Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Defence Minister said, "...He was a true patriot who envisioned the idea of Independent India."
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on in 1856, in Ratnagiri and Chandra Shekhar Azad in 1906. Several leaders across party lines remembered Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on social media.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray paid his respect to Bal Gangadhar Tilak and spoke about the freedom fighter taking on the British regime fearlessly with his pen. Tilak was a prolific writer and started two weeklies called 'Kesari' in Marathi and 'Mahratta' in English. State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil paid his tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, describing him as a "great social reformer, philosopher and writer."
Chandra Shekhar Azad's call for freedom was immortalised by his slogan -"Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hi rahein hain, azad hi rahenge" which means, "We will face the bullets of enemies. We were free and we will remain free."
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was one of the strongest proponents of 'Swaraj', meaning self-rule. He tirelessly contributed towards driving India free from colonial rule. His famous line, "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it," reverberates even today.
Prime Minister Modi Meets Head Of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church In Delhi "I Bow To Two Great Sons": PM Modi Pays Tribute To Freedom Fighters On Their Birth Anniversary Tesla Lobbies Prime Minister Modi's Office To Slash Taxes Before It Enters The Indian Market: Report AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks AAP's Atishi To Be Delhi's New Chief Minister, Chosen By Arvind Kejriwal "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note "He's Boss Even After Congress Lost Thrice": Kiren Rijiju Jabs Rahul Gandhi Study Shows How Long Covid Is Debilitating Children's Health 2 Cops Removed From Duty In Madhya Pradesh As Man Claims He Was Thrashed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.