About Indian Freedom Fighters

Indian Freedom Fighters had fought against the British Empire and continued the Indian freedom struggle with their undying spirit and bravery. The valorous Freedom Fighters of India sacrificed their lives to achieve independence for the nation.

The indian freedom fighters faced several tortures, hardships and exploitations to earn national freedom. Independent India was the dream of each and every Indian who lived under the British rule in india. Every individual, during the British rule, fought in some or other way having a common aim of abolishing the British and various other colonial authorities ruling over different parts of India. A century of struggle, revolution, blood shedding, sacrifices and battles followed and finally India became independent on the 15th of August, 1947.

India secured independence from the British rule but the nation lost a large number of men and women who possessed immense bravery and spirit of patriotism. These great people are honoured with the title of Freedom Fighters. The Indian Independence Movement comprised mainly the efforts by Indians to secure political independence from the rule of the British, the Portuguese and the French. This involved a broad range of Indian political organisations, rebellions and philosophies between 1857 and the independence of India on 15th of August, 1947.

Some of the famous Indian freedom fighters were Mangal Pandey, Rani of Jhansi, Tantia Tope and the famous leader Mahatma Gandhi who brought in the weapon of non-violence to fight against the enemy. Some of the other major freedom fighters of India include Lala Lajpat Rai, Annie Besant, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Sucheta Kriplani etc. There are a large number of women and men who fought daringly for the independence of India.

Lakshmi Bai
lakshmi bai the Rani of Jhansi was the queen of the princely state of Jhansi ruled by the Marathas. She was among the most prominent and leading figures in the 1857 rebellion, and was regarded as a symbol of resistance to in India against the British rule. She is remembered in the history of India as a legend, the firebrand queen who commenced the Indian Revolution against the Colonialism of British.

Tantia Tope
One of the great freedom fighters of this period was Tantia Tope, who is considered to be a hero in the 1857 revolt. His name used to strike terror in the heart of English generals. Being cheated by his friend, Tatia Tope accepted death as a hero for his country.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the freedom fighters of India and he also became the deputy Prime Minister of India after independence. The brave deeds of this person earned him the title of the Iron Man of India. He was called Sardar after his active role in the Bardoli Satyagraha. He was a renowned lawyer but quit his practice to fight for India`s independence. As the deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel contributed significantly in India`s integration by the merging of a number of princely states in the Indian Union.

Bal Gangadhar Tila
A great freedom fighter and a firebrand leader, Bal Gangadhar Tilak is remembered as a famous person in the Indian struggle for independence. In order to fight for the independence of India and to serve his fellow countrymen, Bal Gangadhar Tilak published newspapers and founded schools. He was famous in the country as one of the trios; Lal, Bal and Pal and the other tow of this group were Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal.

Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was another famous freedom fighter of India. His name is linked with sacrifice, bravery, courage and vision. Bhagat Singh became a symbol of heroism and inspiration after he sacrificed his life at the tender age of thirty. With other revolutionaries, he founded the Hindustan Socialist republican Association. In order to caution the British of its misdeeds, he threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly. By accepting death at the prime of his life, Bhagat Singh became a symbol of courage and sacrifice and secured a place in every Indian heart for ever.

Rashbehari Bose
Rash Behari Bose was one of the great revolutionaries of the first half of the 20th century. He was born on May 25, 1886 at Palarabighati (West Bengal). He prepared several secret activities in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab. He came into attention of the British Police when he threw a bomb on Lord Hardinge`s (the Viceroy of India) procession in Chandni Chowk, Delhi on December 23, 1912.The British, however, foiled all attempts of Bose to create unrest and arrested several of Bose`s confidants; of which twenty- eight were hanged after trials under what came to be known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case. But he managed to flee from India in 1915 and went to Japan where he lived as a fugitive. In March 1942, he organised a conference to set up an Indian Independence League, the first session of which was held in June 1942 at Bangkok. Later in 1943, he handed over the charge of Indian National Army to Subash Chandra Bose in Singapore. Rashbehari Bose died in Tokyo on January 21, 1945.

Khudiram Bose
Khudiram Bose was one of those young revolutionaries and freedom fighters whose deeds of bravery and sacrifice have become the subject of many a folk lore. He was one of those brave men who challenged the British rule in their own style. At the age of nineteen, he became a martyr, with Vande Mataram on his lips.

Ashfaqulla Khan
Another famous firebrand and young revolutionary of India was Ashfaqulla Khan who sacrificed his life for his motherland. A prominent member of the Hindustan Republican Association, Ashfaqulla Khan, and his associates carried on the Kakori train robbery and was thus hanged to death by the British.

Bhikaji Cama
Another name in the list of Indian freedom fighters is Madam Bhikaji Cama. She was among the famous women Indian freedom fighters who advocated for the cause of the freedom movement outside India. She had the honour of unfurling the flag of India at an international assembly. Madame Cama abandoned a luxurious life and lived the life of an exile in order to serve her motherland.

Ram Prasad Bismil
A well-known young revolutionary by the name of Ram Prasad Bismil sacrificed his life for his motherland. He was a member of the Hindustan Republican Association and was a crucial member of the group which had a hand in the Kakori train dacoity.

Jatin Banerjee
The famous Jatin Banerjee, who was well-known as Bagha Jatin due to his courage and bravery, was also one of the freedom fighters of India.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a great freedom fighter and also an active member of the Indian National congress. He participated in almost all the major movements in India. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad presided over the special Congress session in the month of September 1923 and at the age of 35 years; he became the youngest person to get elected as the President of the Congress.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Another famous freedom fighter of India was Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He was also a part of the Indian National Congress. He was regarded as the political Guru of the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi. At Varanasi, in the year 1905, Gokhale presided over annual session of Indian National Congress. He opposed the entry of extremists in the Congress party.

Subash Chandra Bose
Subash Chandra Bose was famously called Netaji or the leader. He was a freedom fighter and a well-reputed leader on the political circle in pre-independent India. Netaji got elected as Indian National Congress President in 1937 and 1939. Netaji founded the Indian National Army. Due to his anti-British activities and remarks, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed 11 times between the years 1920 to 1941.

Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was known as one of the most prominent figures in the Indian freedom struggle. He also became the first Prime Minister of India after Indian independence. Nehru authored the famous book Discovery of India. Under his able leadership, India moved ahead in a planned manner to secure economic development.

Purushottam Das Tandon
He was also a famous freedom fighter of India who hailed from the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was of the Punjabi Khatri descent. This person is remembered widely for his contribution towards making Hindi as the official language of India. Purushottam Das Tandon was revered as Rajarshi. After getting a Law degree and an MA in history, he started to practice in the year 1906, and joined the bar of Allahabad High Court in the year 1908 as Tej Bahadur Sapru`s junior. In order to concentrate on public activity, he left practicing law in the year 1921.

Dr. Hakim Ajmal Khan
He was one of the renowned freedom fighters of India, famous physician and a well-known educationalist. He founded the Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Dr. Hakim Ajmal Khan studied the Holy Quran and traditional Islamic knowledge, before studying medicine.

Jayaprakash Narayan
Another notable freedom fighter of India was Jayaprakash Narayan. He was famously called JP. He was among the very few modern Indian leaders who worked hard for independence and also participated in Indian politics actively for a long time after India secured independence. He was arrested in the year 1930, and was imprisoned for some weeks since he organized a Salt March being inspired by the earlier actions of Mahatma Gandhi.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a prominent freedom fighter and a Hindu nationalist leader of India. He was also called Veer Savarkar. He was a good writer, poet, orator, a historian, philosopher and also a renowned social worker who dedicated his whole life in fighting for India`s Independence. Savarkar is considered to be a great revolutionary by some whereas some term him as a Machiavellian manipulator and a communalist. First war of Indian Independence Movement: 1857, written by Veer Savarkar was a great inspiration for several freedom fighters.

Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal began the Vande Mataram journal. He was among the three Extremist Indian patriots of the Indian National Congress who gave away his life fighting for the Independence of India. The other two of the trilogy were Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai and together, the three were called Lal-Bal-Pal. Bipin Chandra pal was jailed for six months since he refused to provide evidence against Aurobindo Ghose in the sedition case of Vande Mataram.

Mahatma Gandhi
From among the numerous freedom fighters, Mahatma Gandhi was the most famous freedom fighter of India who took the lead and ensured a free India on the 15th of August 1947. He was honoured by the Indians by making him the father of the Nation. Gandhiji was born in a Hindu family at Porbandar in the state of Gujarat in 1869. His entire life was devoted to the principles of non-violence, truth and love. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was regarded as the architect of the freedom of India.

Surya Sen
Surya Sen was born on 22 March 1894 in Chittagong. He as a revolutionary took part in non cooperation movement. A commemorative stamp was released on him in 1977 by the Government of India. Surya Sen was a teacher by profession. One of his teachers had initiated into revolutionary ideas in the year 1916 when he was studying in the Chittagong College. Thereafter he joined the revolutionary group Anushilan . In 1929, he became the president of the Chittagong district committee of the Indian National Congress.

The list of Indian Freedom Fighters is vast and there are thousands of men, women and children who fought against the British and sacrificed their lives to attain independence.

Freedom Fighters during Non Cooperation Movement

During the period of Non Cooperation Movement, there are many freedom fighters who laid their life for India`s freedom. Non-Cooperation was a movement of passive resistance against British rule, which was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. To resist the dominance of the British Government and advance the Indian nationalist cause, the non-cooperation movement was a non-violent movement that prevailed nationwide by Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. This movement took place from September 1920 to February 1922 and initiated Gandhi era in the Independence Movement of India.

Rowlatt Act, Jaliwanwalabagh massacre and Martial Law in Punjab caused the native people not to trust the British Government anymore. Montagu-Chelmesford Report with its diarchy could satisfy a few only. Until then Gandhi believed the justice and fair-play of the British Government, but after this incidences he felt that Non-cooperation with the Government in a non-violent way must be started. In the meantime the Muslims in India also revolted against the harsh terms of the Treaty of severs between Allies and Turkey and they started Khilafat movement. Gandhi also decided to stand beside them. Gandhiji`s idea of winning over Muslim support also helped in Non-Cooperation Movement of India. There are many freedom fighters in India. Some of them are Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarat Chandra Bose, Subash Chandra Bose and many others.

Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, led the nation through the Indian freedom struggle with his ideologies of Ahimsa or Non-violence, Civil Disobedience Movement and Swaraj. He was the leader of Indian National Congress and initiated the Satyagraha movement. He was honoured the title Mahatma, meaning Great Soul, by Rabindranath Tagore. Mahatma Gandhi is Known as Father of Nation and played a key role in the Indian freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi`s main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".

Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru, undisputed leader of the country who helped shape the growth and advancement of India, was born on November 14, 1889 and died on May 27, 1964. He was a political leader of the Indian National Congress, and became the first Prime Minister of independent India. Nehru was an important person during the Indian independence movement, and popularly referred to as Panditji. Nehru was a writer, scholar, an amateur historian and the patriarch of India`s most influential political family.

Sarat Chandra Bose
Sarat Chandra Bose was born on 6th September 1889 in Calcutta. He is the son of Janakinath Bose and elder brother of Subhas Chandra Bose. Sarat Chandra Bose took his early education in Calcutta. At the age of 22 he went to England to obtain a degree in law. He returned to Calcutta and started legal practice.After some years he left the legal practice and joined the Indian independence movement. Sarat Chandra Bose was immensely influenced by the great congress leader Chittaranjan Das and joined the Indian National Congress. He actively took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement.Within few days he became a well known leader in the Indian National Congress. Sarat Chandra Bose was selected as the president of the Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee in 1936. He was the member of the All India Congress Committee from 1936 to 1947. Sarat Chandra Bose was the leader of Indian National Congress in the Central Legislative Assembly. He helped a lot to form the Indian National Army which was later led by his brother Subhas Chandra Bose. In 1946, he was given the charge of the Works, Mines and Powers ministry in the Interim Government. In 1947 he strongly opposed against partition and resigned All India Congress Committee.

Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose was most dynamic leader of India`s struggle for independence. He is more familiar with his name Netaji. His contribution towards India`s Freedom struggle was of a revolutionary. Through the INA Subhas Chandra Bose persuaded the British to think about India`s Independence. His various instructions given to the soldiers reflect his immense dedication towards attaining independence for India. This marks perhaps the most significant event in the annals of India`s fight for independence.

Male Freedom Fighters of India

Some of the notable male freedom fighters in India are Basawon Singh, Acharya Narendra Deva, Asoka Mehta, Yadunandan Sharma, Karyanand Sharma, Tridib Chaudhuri, Govind Ballabh Pant, Narayandas Malkani, Agha Shorish Kashmiri, Jogendra Nath Mandal, Kunwar Singh, Sheel Bhadra Yajee, Maulana Mazharul Haque, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Moturi Satyanarayana and many others.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920) was a well known Indian nationalist. In the early part of the 20th century when the trend of Indian independence was mostly guided by Extremism, Tilak became the uncrowned king. Tilak was one of the first and strongest proponents of Swaraj and he was also considered as the father of Hindu Nationalism. Tilak was credited to be the first nationalist leader who sought close contact with the masses. In this respect he was the precursor of Mahatma Gandhi.

Barindra Kumar Ghose
Barindra Kumar Ghose was the youngest son of Dr.Krishnadhan Ghose, renowned physician and a reputed district surgeon and Swarnalata Ghose, daughter to famous Brahmo religious and social reformer Rajnarayan Basu. Monmohan Ghosh ,scholar of English literature, a poet and professor of English at Presidency College, Calcutta and at Dacca University , was Barindra`s second elder brother and his third elder brother was the national activist, revolutionary and spiritualist, Shri Aurobindo Ghose.

Dr B R Ambedkar
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had immense contribution in the shaping modern India. He led millions of oppressed, to a life of self-respect, dignity, and responsibility. Babasaheb, as he was also known as, always stressed the importance of better education, so that position of common people in society can be improved. It was he, who was primarily responsible for the formulation of Constitution - adopted after India became independent. Babasaheb began the revival of Buddhism in India that has grown tremendously after his death, and continues to grow today among his countless followers. He was a veritable phenomenon of the 20th century. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, was chiefly responsible for drafting of The Constitution of India. He was the first Law Minister of India. On the 14th October, 1956, Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism. He continued the crusade for social revolution until the end of his life on the 6th December 1956. He was honoured with the highest national honour, `Bharat Ratna` in April 1990. B.R Ambedkar was affectionately called Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, led the nation through the Indian freedom struggle with his ideologies of Ahimsa or Non-violence, Civil Disobedience Movement and Swaraj. He was the leader of Indian National Congress and initiated the Satyagraha movement. He was honoured the title Mahatma, meaning Great Soul, by Rabindranath Tagore. Mahatma Gandhi is Known as Father of Nation and played a key role in the Indian freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi`s main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".

Homi Modi
Homi Modi was born on 23rd September, 1881.He graduated from the prestigious St. Xavier`s College in Bombay. He also obtained M A and a degree in Law. He was the member of legislative Assembly from 1929 to1943. In 1929, he was selected as the member of First Round Table Conference in 1929. Homi Modi represented India in the International Labour Conference in Geneva in 1937.He was appointed as the member for Supply in the Viceroy`s Executive Council. Homi Modi was also selected as the member of Constituent Assembly of India. After independence, he served as the Governor of Bombay and Uttar Pradesh. Homi Modi was also involved with a number of company and association including Tata Group of Hydro-Electric Company, Indian Institute of Art-in Industry, Indian Hotel`s Company Limited, Associated Cement Companys Limited, Indian Banks Association. Homi Modi served, as the chairman of the Central Bank of India Limited. He became the President of Indo-American Society and the Indian Council of World Affairs, Bombay Branch. Homi Modi passed away in the year 1969.He received honorary LL.D. and D. LITT.

Jai Rajguru
Jai Rajguru was an Indian freedom fighter. His original name was Jaykrushna Mahapatra. He was born on October 29, 1739 near Puri in Orissa to father Shri Chandra Rajguru and mother Smt. Haramani Debi. He came to be known as Jayee Rajguru after his appointment as `Rajguru` to the king. He grew up to be an outstanding Sanskrit scholar and intellectual of the 18th century. Later he fought for his motherland against the British. Rajguru not only proved to be a great royal priest but also an accomplished Commander-in-Chief and a freedom fighter. He was the first martyr in the national freedom struggle from Orissa.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born on November 11, 1888 in Mecca. He belonged to an orthodox Muslim scholar family. The original name of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin. His ancestors came to India from Afghanistan. His mother was an Arab and his father Maulana Khairuddin, was a Bengali Muslim of Afghan origin. Maulana Khairuddin shifted to Mecca in 1857. He returned to India in 1890 and started living in Calcutta. His mother died when he was only 11 years old. Initially Maulana Abul Kalam Azad received the traditional Islamic education at home. After that he was taught Arabic, Persian, philosophy, geometry, mathematics and algebra by some great teachers. He also acquired huge knowledge in English, history, politics and general science.

Ammu Swaminathan
Ammu Swaminathan was born on 1894 in the Palghat district of Kerala.She was the youngest daughter of Govinda Menon. Ammu Swaminathan married to a famous Barrister at the age of only 13. She received formal education mostly from her husband. Ammu Swaminathan became the follower of Mahatma Gandhi and joined Indian independence movement.She was one of the few women members in the Constituent Assembly of India.After independence she was elected as the member of Rajya Sabha from Madras State. Ammu Swaminathan was sent to Ethiopia, China, USA, USSR as an ambassador of India.

Rash Behari Bose
Rash Behari Bose was born in Subaldaha village of Bardhaman district. He had completed his education in Chandannagar. He had left Bengal as he was not supporting the Alipore bomb case. Thereafter he went to Dehradun where through Amarendra Chatterjee of Jugantar he was in touch with the revolutionaries of Bengal. Through Jatindra Nath, one of the earliest political disciples of Aurobindo Ghosh he came across several well known revolutionaries of Arya Samaj in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das belonged to the Das family of Telirbagh, in Bikrampur district. His father was Bhuban Mohan Das. He had completed his education in England and became a Barrister. His career began in 1909 when he defended Aurobindo Ghosh on charges of involvement in the Alipore bomb case. During the non cooperation movement he was a leading figure in Bengal. He initiated the ban on British clothes by burning his own European clothes and wearing Khadi clothes.

Benoy Krishna Basu
Benoy Krishna Basu was born on 11 September 1908, in Rohitbhog village of Munshiganj District. His father was an engineer. Post his success in matriculation examination he enrolled into the Mitford Medical School. He was influenced by a revolutionary of Dhaka Hemchandra Ghosh to join Benoy joined the `Mukti Sangha`. It was a secret society that was connected with the Jugantar Party. Due to his association with revolutionary activities he was unable to complete his studies.

Jogendra Nath Mandal
Jogendra Nath Mandal was a well known Indian freedom fighter, statesman and was amongst the foremost founding members of the present state of Pakistan. He was also a legislator who served as the first minister of law and labor of the country. He was born on 29 January 1904 in the province of Bengal during the rule of British Empire in India. Jogendra Nath Mandal, popularly known as J.N. Mandal, also acted as the 2nd minister of commonwealth and Kashmir affairs. He was also a member of the Muslim League Party. He was appointed as the first minister of law and labour in Pakistan. During his tenure as the leader of the Scheduled Castes, Jogendra Nath supported the demand of the Muslim League for the creation of Pakistan. During the massacre in East Bengal in 1950, he left India and gave his resignation to the then Prime Minister of the state of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.

Rammanohar Lohia
Rammanohar Lohia, a socialist political leader as well as a noted freedom fighter of India was born in the village of Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh on 23rd March, 1910. He was born to Hira Lal, a patriot and a teacher and Chanda. He did his intermediate from Banaras Hindu University. He did his Bachelor of Arts from University of Calcutta in 1929. Lohia then flew to Germany whereby he joined Berlin University and learnt German.

Kunwar Singh
Kunwar Singh was one of the most important freedom fighters in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Kunwar Singh was born in Jagdishpur in the Shahabad (now in Bhojpur District) of Bihar.

Khudiram Bose
Khudiram Bose was one of the thousands who fought for their birthright "freedom" and also curbed the power and stirred the British Government. In Indian history, several revolutionists without a backward glance moved forward to free their motherland. Their love for India was intense and they never thought of their personal relations and comfort. Among them, Khudiram Bose who at a tender age, was attracted towards the sacred words of Vande Mataram and showed the guts to devote his soul to the war of Independence.

Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was one of the most well known Indian freedom fighters and Indian revolutionaries and who contributed significantly in the Indian Freedom Struggle against the British. Singh was born in a family that was actively involved in revolutionary activities against the British rule in the country. He is also addressed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, meaning martyr. Singh was born in a Sikh family which was involved in revolutionary endeavors against the British. He was a prominent member of various revolutionary associations and was also one of the major leaders of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), which was later known as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in the year 1928.

Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan was popularly known as JP and was an Indian freedom fighter and political leader. Jayaprakash Narayan is especially known for leading the opposition to Indira Gandhi in the 1970s and for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution. His nationalist friend and an eminent writer of Hindi literature Ramavriksha Benipuri wrote a biography on Jayaprakash Narayan.

Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey is considered as one of the first Indian freedom fighters and was a Sepoy to rise against the British rule during the Great revolt of 1857. He was a sepoy in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) of the British East India Company.

Mangal Pandey is well known in the arena of Indian history as he attacked his British officers, sparking off the First War of Indian Independence or as the British termed it, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Mangal Pandey perhaps played the most vital role in the Indian freedom struggle. Some scholars also call him an accidental hero. Mangal Pandey at the age of 22 entered the British East India Company Bengal Army in 1849. The role of Mangal Pandey in the British regiment was that of a sepoy (soldier) in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry (BNI). He was a tall lad, lean and well built. Mangal was part of the 5th Company of the 34th BNI regiment, famously acknowledged as fearsome attacking officers. The Company is known to have contributed immensely in what came to be known as the Sepoy Mutiny and the Great Revolt of 1857.

Surya Sen
Surya Sen was born on 22 March 1894 in Chittagong. He as a revolutionary took part in non cooperation movement. A commemorative stamp was released on him in 1977 by the Government of India. Surya Sen was a teacher by profession. One of his teachers had initiated into revolutionary ideas in the year 1916 when he was studying in the Chittagong College. Thereafter he joined the revolutionary group Anushilan. In 1929, he became the president of the Chittagong district committee of the Indian National Congress.

He became a teacher of the National school in Nandankanan and later joined the Umatara School at Chandanpura. He initiated a secret warfare against the colonial Government. One of his successful happenings was a robbery at the treasury office of the Bengal Assam Railway at Chittagong on December 23, 1923. The Chittagong Armoury Raid that was done on April 18, 1930 was his major success. Thereafter he marched to Jalalabad hills along with his fellow revolutionaries and post battle with the British troops, he escaped from there.

Prafulla Chaki
Prafulla Chaki was born on December 10, 1888 in Bogra district. When he joined Rangpur National School he came in contact with revolutionaries like Jitendranarayan Roy, Abinash Chakravarti, Ishan Chandra Chakravarti. This led him to practicing of the revolutionary philosophies.

Subash Chandra Bose
In the National endeavor to attain freedom many great heroes offered their remarkable contributions to attain Independence for India. Some believed in non-violent means, whereas others did not. One such hero was Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately known as `Netaji`. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India. With his magnificent work he earned legendary status among Indian masses. Netaji was a fierce and popular leader in the political scene in pre-independence era with strong patriotism and great visionary ideas

Regional Freedom Fighters

Regional Freedom Fighters are the Indian heroes and the stalwarts of Independence whose contribution to the Indian Freedom Struggle has been an exemplary one.

Khudiram Bose was one of the thousands who fought for their birthright "freedom" and also curbed the power and stirred the British Government. Khudiram Bose was the pride of Bengal. In Indian history, several revolutionists without a backward glance moved forward to free their motherland. Their love for India was intense and they never thought of their personal relations and comfort. Among them, Khudiram Bose who at a tender age, was attracted towards the sacred words of Vande Mataram and showed the guts to devote his soul to the war of Independence.

Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as the Sher-E-Punjab was a philanthropist, a social reformer and a true nationalist. He was a great national leader, who worked tirelessly to improve the education and to promote the unity among the Hindus. Being a social reformer he intended to bring a unity in the society and to inculcate the spirit of nationalism throughout the country. The historians considered Lala Lajpat Rai as the standard of revolt against the "mendicant policy" of the Moderate leaders.

Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India, the pride of Uttar Pradesh. Sarojini Naidu was one of the most prominent leaders of the Congress. She had been associated with the Indian National Congress even before Mahatma Gandhi appeared on the scene in India. Her first guru had been Gopal Krishna Gokhale who fuelled in her the fire of patriotism.

Bhagat Singh was one of the most well known Indian freedom fighters and Indian revolutionaries and who contributed significantly in the Indian Freedom Struggle against the British. Singh was born in a family that was actively involved in revolutionary activities against the British rule in the country. He is also addressed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, meaning martyr. Singh was born in a Sikh family which was involved in revolutionary endeavors against the British. He was a prominent member of various revolutionary associations and was also one of the major leaders of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), which was later known as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in the year 1928.

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, led the nation through the Indian freedom struggle with his ideologies of Ahimsa or Non-violence, Civil Disobedience Movement and Swaraj. He was the leader of Indian National Congress and initiated the Satyagraha movement. He was honoured the title Mahatma, meaning Great Soul, by Rabindranath Tagore. Mahatma Gandhi is Known as Father of Nation and played a key role in the Indian freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi`s main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".

Subash Chandra Bose has been a, monumental power in the struggle for freedom in India. In the National endeavor to attain freedom many great heroes offered their remarkable contributions to attain Independence for India. Some believed in non-violent means, whereas others did not. One such hero was Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately known as `Netaji`. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India. With his magnificent work he earned legendary status among Indian masses. Netaji was a fierce and popular leader in the political scene in pre-independence era with strong patriotism and great visionary ideas.

Jai Rajguru was an Indian freedom fighter. His original name was Jaykrushna Mahapatra. He was born on October 29, 1739 near Puri in Orissa to father Shri Chandra Rajguru and mother Smt. Haramani Debi. He came to be known as Jayee Rajguru after his appointment as `Rajguru` to the king. He grew up to be an outstanding Sanskrit scholar and intellectual of the 18th century. Later he fought for his motherland against the British. Rajguru not only proved to be a great royal priest but also an accomplished Commander-in-Chief and a freedom fighter. He was the first martyr in the national freedom struggle from Orissa.

Rash Behari Bose was born in Subaldaha village of Bardhaman district. He had completed his education in Chandannagar. He had left Bengal as he was not supporting the Alipore bomb case.

Lakshmi Bai the Rani of Jhansi was the queen of the princely state of Jhansi ruled by the Marathas. She was among the most prominent and leading figures in the 1857 rebellion, and was regarded as a symbol of resistance to in India against the British rule. She is remembered in the history of India as a legend, the firebrand queen who commenced the Indian Revolution against the Colonialism of British.

One of the great freedom fighters of this period was Tantia Tope, who is considered to be a hero in the 1857 revolt. His name used to strike terror in the heart of English generals. Being cheated by his friend, Tatia Tope accepted death as a hero for his country.

There are other Regional Freedom Fighters who have had their presence felt amidst the political map of India and their active part into the array of Independence. Some of them are Ganesh Dutt, Sahajanand Saraswati, Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury, Nabin Chandra Bardoloi, Tarun Ram Phukan, Gopinath Bardoloi, A. K. Fazlul Huq, Badal Gupta, Barin Ghosh, Pulin Behari Das, Atulkrishna Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutta, Bhola Paswan Shastri, Tilka Manjhi, Birsa Munda, Sidhu Murmu, Kanhu Murmu, Ram Prasad Bismil, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Krishna Sinha, Yamuna Karjee, Ali Jawad Zaidi, Mahavir Tyagi, Jagjivan Ram, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Usha Mehta and many other Indian freedom fighters.

Women in Indian Freedom Struggle

Women in Indian freedom struggle have significantly contributed almost at par with their male counterparts in fighting the British yoke. The initiative, bravery, guts and headship that the women have showed in the freedom movements for the country`s independence from colonial rule have given them widespread name, fame and significance in the Indian society. During the uprising of 1857, women of the ruling class came together along with the men to fulfil their ambition for an independent India. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar and the famous Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, Matangini Hazra Sarojini Naidu had become iconic figures in the Indian political arena. After the mortifying defeat of 1857, the British Government replaced the British East India Company and British rule became a historical fact.

Indian women actively participated in the revolutionary movements for social changes during the national struggle for Independence. Thus, the participation of women was not restricted to one type of activity such as the non-violent Satyagraha Movement. Women`s early contribution to the Indian national movement started in the late 19th Century with their involvement in the Indian National Congress. In 1890, Swarana Kumari Ghoshal, a women novelist and Kadambari Ganguly, the first woman graduate of the British Empire, went to attend the Indian National Congress meeting as a delegate. Even Sarojini Naidu requires to be mentioned with equal importance better known as `Nightingale Of India`. In the year 1905, National Movement for the country`s independence took a crucial turn with the division of Bengal.

Role of Women in Independence Movement
During the freedom struggle of the country, women were not lagging behind. Women joined men to protest against the British rulers by boycotting foreign goods and resolving to buy only those goods produced in the territory of Bengal. Mrs. Nonibala Devi joined the new Jugantar Party which was dedicated to aggressive movement in the early 20th century. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and took up the demand for self-rule and later for Purna Swaraj through non-violent methods. His call to join the Satyagraha Movement witnessed women getting involved in all his programmes. Some of the women who played a very active role in the Swadeshi Movement were Sarojini Naidu, Urmila Devi, Durgabai Deshmukh, S. Ambujammal, Basanti Devi, and Krishnabai Ram.

Women in Non-Cooperation Movement
Women of educated and liberal families, as well as those from the rural areas actively joined Mahatma Gandhi in his non Cooperation Movement. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Sucheta Kripalani, Sarla Devi Chaudhurani, Muthulaksmi Reddy, Susheela Nair, and Aruna Asaf Ali are some the women freedom fighters who participated in the non-violent movement. Kasturba Gandhi and Kamala Nehru also participated in the National Movement. Lado Rani Zutshi and her daughters led the movement in Lahore. Indian women who joined the national movement belonged to all walks of life, all castes, religions and communities.

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit hailed from a well-known family. Her father Motilal Nehru was the president of Congress and brother Jawaharlal Nehru went on to become India`s Prime Minister. She was highly inspired by the personality of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi and by Sarojini Naidu. She participated in the Non Co-operation Movement to fight against the British rulers. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit attended many public lectures and represented the country abroad. She was a great fighter and took part in many of the freedom movements. In the year 1936, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was elected in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Her political profession made her the first Women Cabinet Minister of India in the year 1937. Aruna Asaf Ali was another renowned freedom fighter and a devoted sociologist. She was selected as the first Mayor of Delhi. Sarojini Naidu was a noted poet, and one of the great freedom fighters of the country. Sarojini Naidu actively campaigned for the Khilafat Movement.

Active Participation of Women in Politics
The Indian National Army (INA), which was established by Subhash Chandra Bose, was one of the most genuine and fearless movements undertaken by Indian men and women under the able and remarkable leadership of this great patriot. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose recruited around 1000 women for the Rani of Jhasi Regiment from different South East Asian countries. Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan, who was a medical practitioner by profession, led this regiment. The women in the regiment were given the same training like their male counterparts. Even their uniform was similar to the men soldiers. The real impact of the INA may not have been in military terms, but it had a deep psychological impact on the women of India.

While there were significant numbers of women patriots who stood by Gandhiji and the Congress in the non-violent movement, women of Bengal and from other parts of India also participated in a vital role in various armed revolutions. Women played a major role in the Lahore Students Union of Bhagat Singh and the Kakori Train Robbery case. The Mahila Rashtriya Sangha was established by Latika Ghosh in the year 1928. Veena Das who shot at the Governor of Bengal, and Kamla Das Gupta and Kalyani Das were all active within the respective revolutionary groups. Women courageously participated in violent and non-violent movements of Indian independence.

The women in Indian freedom struggle have excelled as speakers, marchers, campaigners and tireless volunteers. They actively participated in the processions and rallies conducted by the Indian political parties. They always fought for Hindu-Muslim unity. The contribution of women in Indian freedom struggle is truly remarkable.