KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA PRAGATI VIHAR NEW DELHI
ORAGANISING ACTIVITIES TO COMMEMORATE THE
UNSUNG HEROES OF INDIA'S FREEDOM STRUGGLE
Introduction
In today's fast-moving world and tough competitive day-to-day life, the youth hardly find time for remembrance of our rich heritage and past. This becomes most crucial whilst the nation celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (commemoration of 75 years of Indian Independence). The fight against colonial rule in India constitutes a unique narrative, one which is not marred by violence. Rather a narrative that is full of variegated stories of valor, bravery, Satyagraha, dedication, and sacrifice across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. These stories compose the rich Indian cultural heritage and traditions. Thus, the unsung heroes need not necessarily define the lesser-known freedom fighters. They may, at times, be the leaders whose ideals delineate the Indian value system.
The Section on Unsung Heroes is an attempt to recall and remember forgotten heroes of our freedom struggle, many of whom might be renowned yet unknown to the new generation. The aim of recreating and bringing forth stories, which lay as faded memories of the past, shall serve as a medium of inspiration and encouragement for the coming generations. India 2.0 is not just about fuelling the spirit of India in any one particular paradigm of growth. It encompasses all spheres of life, most of all by enriching our hearts and souls. The spirit of India is incomplete whilst we take our unsung heroes along this journey of growth and development. Their ethos and principles ought to be recalled and respected.
Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle
This 15 August 2022, we will celebrate 75 years of independence from "British Hukumat." Our freedom is not borrowed, but it's the result of our freedom fighters' years of struggle who gave their everything to get Independence from British rule. After 200 years of freedom struggle, India got independence on 15 August 1947.
We know some famous freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mangal Pandey, and Bhagat Singh. But thousands of other unsung freedom fighters who gave their everything to support India's Independence Movement disappeared from the books of history.
Many freedom fighters dared to raise their slogans for the Indian freedom struggle in the eyes of tyrannical British Raj rulers. However, these unsung freedom fighters of India are lost in Indian history. But today, you will know about some of these heroes and understand their significant contributions.
Unsung Women Indian Freedom Fighters Who Are Our Pride
1. Matangini Hazra
Matangini Hazra is one of the prestigious freedom fighters of India, and she is also called Gandhi Buri. She participated in the "Quit India Movement" and the "Non-Cooperation Movement." She was shot thrice during one of her processions, but she continued speaking "Vande Mataram" with the Indian flag in hand. The first women's statue in Independent India was set up in 1977 and it was of Matangini Hazra. This statue stands at the spot where she was killed in Tamluk. Even there is Hazra Road in Kolkata because of her bravery and strong contribution to the Indian freedom movement.
2. Begum Hazrat Mahal
Begum Hazarat Mahal was a significant part of the 1857 Indian Rebellion. She had to take charge of Awadh and even seized control of Lucknow during the rebellion period after her husband was exiled. Later she had to retreat to Nepal, where she passed away and left her major contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.
3. Aruna Asaf Ali
You might have heard about Aruna Asaf Ali, also known as "The Grand Old Lady" of the freedom struggle. She is one of the Indian independence activists and freedom fighters known for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag in Bombay's Gowalia Tank Maidan to support the Quit India Movement. She was one of India's lady freedom fighters who also participated in the Salt Satyagraha movement and other protest marches. The British government imprisoned her for her significant presence in most freedom-fighting movements. She also protested against the ill-treatment of Indian prisoners by making a hunger strike.
4. Bhikaiji Cama
Bhikaiji Cama was born as Bhikaiji Rustom Cama on 24th September, 1861 in a Parsi family in Bombay. Madam Cama was a well-known and significant freedom fighter. She used to belong to a good family, and her father, Sorabji Framji Patel, was a powerful member of the Parsi community. She emphasised equality between men and women. And to support orphanage girls, she donated most of her assets. Being an Indian ambassador, she travelled to Germany in 1907, hoisting the Indian National flag at the International Socialist Conference at Stuttgart.
5. Tara Rani Srivastava
She used to belong to a simple family in Saran, Bihar. Shrimati Tara Rani Srivastava got married to Phulendu Baba. Both husband and wife joined the Quit India Movement in 1942 under the leadership of Gandhi Ji. They continued the protest by holding an Indian flag and shouting "Inquilab" and gathered a crowd to start the march toward Siwan Police Station. To stop our freedom fighters, Police began firing, and her husband was hit by a bullet and fell. Tara Rani bandaged her husband using her sari and continued leading the march toward Siwan Police Station. When Tara came back, her husband died, but she still didn't stop and continued participating in the freedom struggle.
6. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
She was a social reformer and distinguished theatre actor who played a major role in the Indian freedom struggle. She was the first woman of India who British rulers arrested for her active presence as a patriotic leader. Kamaladevi was a fearless woman who was a committed freedom fighter. She worked to improve women's social and economic conditions in India and participated in Salt Satyagraha in 1930. Also, she was the first lady candidate for the Legislative Assembly. Kamaladevi played a significant role in establishing the All India Women's Conference.
7. Lakshmi Sahgal
She was an ex-Indian Army officer called Caption Lakshmi. She was a part of the Indian National Army founded by Netaji Subhash Candra Bose, and there she acted as tigress of the Indian freedom struggle. She was the woman leading the Rani of the Jhansi Regiment, which had all women army officers. She also served a sentence in Burma prison for her role in World War II.
8. Sucheta Kriplani
She is mainly known as a Gandhian politician and an Indian freedom fighter. She joined the Indian National Congress and became the first woman CM of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and the All India Mahila Congress founder in 1940. On 15 August 1947, she sang “Vande Mataram” in the Constituent Assembly. She is one of the inspirational women freedom fighters and politicians of India.
Unsung Men Indian Freedom Fighters Who Disappeared from History Books
9. Senapati Bapat
Senapati Bapat is one of the most respectable Indian freedom fighters who got the honour of hoisting the flag in Pune for the first time after India's independence. He got the Senapati title and worked as the leader of Mulshi Satyagraha. The British government jailed him for public speaking and vandalism. Later, Shri Bapat Ji became a satyagraha and was not supposed to take the path of violence.
10. Potti Sreeramulu
Potti Sreeramulu was a devotee and avid supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was dedicated to the act of humanitarian and nation-building. Seeing all of his activity, Gandhi Ji said, "If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu, I will win freedom in a year." This is one of the significant statements that shows the efforts and significance of Sreeramulu in the Indian freedom struggle.
11. Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi
Mr Munshi was known as Kulpati and had a strong presence in India's freedom struggle, especially in the Quit India Movement. He also founded Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. British rulers many times arrested him due to his presence in the freedom movement in India. He was active in those days and participated in most marches and movements. Considering this, British rulers imprisoned him; however, very few people know about such great heroes of India.
12. Peer Ali Khan
Peer Ali Khan is one of the unsung heroes of the Indian freedom struggle. At that time, Mangal Pandey was one of the famous freedom fighters. However, Peer Ali Khan also contributed a lot to the nation. He was one of India's early rebels and one of the 14 people who got capital punishment due to their powerful role in the freedom struggle. Still, many people are inspired because of his significant work.
13. Garimella Satyanarayana
Do you know about any freedom fighters belonging to Andhra Pradesh? Garimella Satyanarayana is one of the inspirations of the Andhra people. He used his writing skill to write influential poems and songs to motivate the people to be active as freedom fighters. So, the people could stay energetic and participate in most freedom struggle movements against British rulers.
14. Tirupur Kumaran
Tirupur Kumaran was the founder of DesaBandhu Youth Association. Britishers killed him during one of the protest marches going against the British government on 11 January 1932. He was holding the Indian national flag which was banned by Britishers. When the bullet hit him, he was holding a flag and was found dead after some time.
15. Birsa Munda
Birsa Munda is one of the famous names for the people living in Bihar and Jharkhand. He was born on Thursday, so his name Birsa was kept after it. He died at the very young age of 25 years, but his remarkable achievements make our nation feel proud. He was a leader of tribal people who lived in modern states Bihar and Jharkhand and headed the millenarian movement to inspire these people to stand against British rulers in the late 19th century.
Unsung Heroes of India
India has many unsung heroes who stand against British rulers to make their motherland independent. They all played a major role and participated in Indian freedom struggles like Quit India Movement and Salt Satyagraha Andolan. In this article, we discussed the top 15 unsung heroes of India's freedom struggle; I will come again with some interesting stories of these great heroes to share with you all.
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