Women in India have undergone much transformation and a great amount of alterations has been observed in their status over past few centuries. Women have proved to be great patriots. For India"s freedom, women have contributed to a great extent, be it holding of public meetings, or facing the baton of police and going behind the bars or participating in the national movement. There are a number of courageous women revolutionaries who have fought brave battles against the might of the British Empire and contributed to India"s freedom struggle.
Rani Lakshmi Bai
Rani Lakshmi Bai was the Queen of Jhansi and was one of the most important women of the revolt of 1857. She fought till her last breath for India"s independence with perseverance and bravery.
Kittur Rani Chennamma
Kittur Rani Chennamma was the Queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka. She led an armed rebellion against British in response to the doctrine of lapse. She was one of the earliest Indian rulers who fought for freedom.
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu, “The Nightingale of India†devoted herself to get freedom for women, united Hindu and Muslims and improved the status and lives of Indians. She went along with him to England where she criticized the British rule in India and disparaged their views and system.
Kasturba Gandhi
Kasturba Gandhi was the wife of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and was fondly called "Ba". She joined her husband Mahatma Gandhi in political protest and stood by him during all the facets of life. She was a leader of Women"s Satyagarh for which she was even imprisoned.
Kalpana Datta
Kalpana Datta was an active participant and actively took part in the activities of the revolutionaries. Be it bomb making or attacking the symbols of British power. Though taken prisoner and given a life sentence, she was set free early, in 1939.
Kalyani Das
Kalyani Das was from Bengal and was a part of the Bengal Volunteer Corps organised by Subhash Chandra Bose during the 1928/ 29 Congress session. She was arrested during the Civil Disobedience movement and was detained for 8 months for organising an illegal meeting in Hazra Park in 1932.
Lakshmi Sehgal
Born Lakshmi Swaminathan and often referred to as Capt. Lakshmi, Lakshmi Sehgal was an Officer of the Indian National Army. In 1942 she happened to meet Subhash Chandra Bose and became his close aide. For the next couple of years she headed the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the INA. She was also one of the founding members of All India Democratic Women"s Association in 1981.
Pritilata Waddedar
Surya Sen directed Pritilata Waddedar to lead an attack on a European club. She conducted the raid successfully and then committed suicide.
Veena Das
Veena Das was an active member of the semi-revolutionary organisation for women in Bengal- "Chhatri Sangha". She made an attempt to assassinate Stanley Jackson, the then Governor of Bengal. The assassination failed and she was imprisoned. She was a part of the Quit India Movement as well.
Kanaklata Barua
Kanaklata Barua was an Indian Freedom Fighter from Assam. She joined Quit India Movement. She laid down her life for the freedom of the country. She was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.
Sucheta Kriplani
Sucheta Kriplani actively participated in the Indian Freedom Movement. She worked with Mahatma Gandhi during the partition riots and also came to the forefront during Quit India Movement.
