MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
Dr M R Ramesh Kumar
The Indian independence movement consisted of efforts by
individuals and organizations from a wide spectrum of society to obtain
political independence from the British, French and Portuguese rule through the
use of a many of methods. The sacrifices, hard work and contribution of some of
these freedom fighters, such as Chandrasekhar Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, and Subhash
Chandra Bose, is known to us, while other freedom fighters remain to be unsung
heroes. The contribution of women in the struggle for an Independent India
cannot be overlooked. A lot of courageous women raised their voice against the
British rule. These women possessed a lot of courage and intense patriotism.
Their selfless hard work, sacrifices and struggles are seldom talked about.
They sacrificed their lives for our nation. In this article of mine, I, have
tried to bring out as many different female freedom fighters from different
parts of the country as well as people from outside our country, who have
fought for our freedom such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Madam
Bhikaiji Cama and Sarojini Naidu etc.
RANI LAKSHMI BAI
The Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai (19 November 1828 – 18 June
1858), was the queen of Maratha. She was the first freedom fighter of India who
fought in the Independence Movement of 1857. She is always remembered for her
bravery and valour as a warrior. She fought against the British rule till the
end and was considered a symbol of resistance.
SAROJINI NAIDU
Sarojini Naidu (13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949) was a poet
and an independence activist. She was the first lady to become a governor of a
province and of a state in independent India. She was appointed as the
president of the Indian National Congress. She established the Women’s Indian
Association and was involved in women’s welfare and empowerment. She was
arrested and jailed for her roles in the Civil Disobedience and the Quit India
movements. She supported Gandhiji in the Sabarmati pact, Montagu-Chelmsford
reforms, Satyagraha pledge and Khilafat issue. She was fondly called the
Nightingale of India.
KASTURBA GANDHI
Kasturba Gandhi (11 April 1869 – 22 February 1944) , the
wife of Gandhiji, took an active role in politics and the independence of
India. She taught Indians the basic qualities of health and hygiene and the
value of reading and writing. She partook in all the demonstrations and
movements for Indian independence.
KAMALA NEHRU
Kamala Nehru (1 August 1899 – 28 February 1936), wife of
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was a freedom fighter herself. She was instrumental in
organizing women groups during the Non-cooperation Movement in 1921 and
picketed foreign cloth and liquor stores. She often stood in for her husband
and delivered speeches when he could not arrive on time.
BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL
Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820 – 1879) was known as Begum of
Awadh. She rebelled against the British. On the demise of her husband, she took
over the rule of Awadh. She captured Lucknow and appointed her son as the
ruler. Lucknow was later re-captured by the British. She fought against the
demolition of temples and mosques for the construction of roads.
ARUNA ASAF ALI
Aruna Asaf Ali (16 July 1909 – 29 July 1996) was a political
activist and an active member of the Indian National Congress. She participated
in the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India movement. She was imprisoned by the
British. She organized protests inside the jail against the treatment meted out
to prisoners. Her strikes resulted in the improvement of the conditions of the
prisoners in Tihar jail.
MADAM BHIKAIJI CAMA
Madam Bhikaiji Cama (24 September 1861 – 13 August 1936) was
a Parsi social worker, an active freedom fighter and a philanthropist. She was
affected by bubonic plague while providing assistance and aid to those
infected. She voiced for human rights and equality between men and women. She
donated all her assets to help and orphanage for girls. She was designated as
an Indian ambassador to Germany in 1907.
ANNIE BESANT
Annie Besant (1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was a
British socialist but an active fighter for self-rule for India. She was
president of the Theosophical Society, helped in establishing Hindu colleges
and was a co-founder of the All India Home Rule League. She became president of
the Indian National Congress. Her contributions to self-rule agitations are
innumerable.
VIJAYALAKSHMI PANDIT
Vijayalakshmi Pandit (18 August 1900 – 1 December 1990),
played an important role in India’s freedom struggle. She was the sister of
Jawaharlal Nehru, is known for her diplomatic role in Indian politics. She was the
first lady to be designated as a cabinet minister for public health. She was
the first woman to hold the post of the president of the United Nations General
Assembly. She was the first woman ambassador in the world. She was ambassador
to Moscow, London and Washington.
SAVITRI BAI PHULE
Savitri Bai Phule (3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) played an
important role along with her husband Jyotirao Phule in India’s Freedom
Struggle. They also took an important step to educate girls. She was the first
female teacher at the first girl’s school in India. She fought against the
orthodox norms of society during the British rule. She overcame all resistance
and brought about social reform in Maharashtra.
SISTER NIVEDITA
Sister Nivedita (28 October 1867 – 13 October 1911) also
made notable efforts to serve the poor of Calcutta and Bengal during times of
plague, famine, and floods there. Following Swami Vivekananda’s death in 1902,
Nivedita turned her attention more toward India’s political emancipation. She
objected strongly to the partition of Bengal in 1905 and, as part of her deep
involvement in the revival of Indian art, supported the swadeshi (“our own
country”) movement that called for the boycott of imported British goods in
favour of domestically produced handmade goods.
DURGA BAI DESHMUKH
Durga Bai Deshmukh (15 July 1909 – 9 May 1981) was a
political and social activist in India’s struggle for independence. A lawyer,
by profession, she was an ardent follower of Gandhiji and was a part of the
Satyagraha movement. She was elected to the Lok Sabha and the Planning
Commission as a member. She formed the Social Welfare Board to rehabilitate and
improve the conditions of women and children.
SUBHADRA KUMARI CHAUHAN
Subhadra Kumar Chauhan (16 August 1904 – 15 February 1948)
was a poet and an independence activist. In 1921, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and
her husband joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. She was the first
woman Satyagrahi to court arrest in Nagpur and was jailed twice for her
involvement in protests against the British rule in 1923 and 1942. Chauhan
authored a number of popular works in Hindi poetry. Her most famous composition
is Jhansi Ki Rani, an emotionally charged poem describing the life of Rani
Lakshmi Bai.
SUBHADRA JOSHI
Subhadra Joshi (23 March 1919 – 30 October 2003) was a noted
Indian freedom activist, politician and parliamentarian from Indian National
Congress. She took part in the 1942 Quit India movement, and later remained the
president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). She belonged to a
well known family in Sialkot (now in Pakistan). Her father V.N Datta was a
police officer with the Jaipur State and a cousin, Krishnan Gopal Datta was an
active Congressman in Punjab.
A Special cover on the Women Empowerment defending our
Nation, which was released as part of the Amritpex which was held at Pragati
Maidan, New Delhi on 12th February. The Women has started serving in all the
three forces, Army, Navy and Airforce too.
