Abid Hasan Safrani, born Zain-al-Abdin Hasan in Hyderabad in 1911, quietly shaped modern India’s patriotic lexicon. Educated in Germany, he met Subhas Chandra Bose in 1941 and became his aide, interpreter, and confidant in the fight for freedom .

Amid the diverse Indian National Army, Bose needed a unifying greeting that transcended religious and cultural lines. Safrani proposed the concise and inspiring “Jai Hind” - a phrase that Bose instantly embraced and adopted across INA ranks .

Safrani later added “Safrani” to his name - meaning “saffron” - symbolizing communal unity during debates over the national flag’s color . After World War II and INA trials, he joined India’s first Foreign Service, eventually becoming Ambassador to Egypt and Denmark before retiring in Hyderabad in 1969 .

Despite coining one of India’s most enduring slogans, Safrani remained little-known - his legacy remembered largely through the patriotic cry he gifted to the nation.