The Indian Freedom Movement consisted of efforts of various organizations and individuals that included philosophers, politicians and common men and women of the country who sacrificed their lives to obtain independence from the British, Portuguese and French rule. This struggle for freedom was not fought for a single day.
It took 90 years for India to regain its political independence and for this, hundreds of freedom fighters helped in getting the country free. History has also witnessed the exceptional bravery and intelligence of women who walked shoulder to shoulder with men and contributed a lot towards the achievement of India’s Independence.
Today, as we move freely in our country and celebrate Independence Day, it is time to pay homage to those great Indian freedom fighters whose sacrifices and immense efforts have resulted in the freedom that we enjoy. Here in this article, we will show our deep admiration for those women freedom fighters of India who left the shelter of their homes and with unfailing courage came forward to take charge of the struggle.
Rani Lakshmi Bai: She was the queen of Maratha and ruled Jhansi. She was the first women freedom fighter who participated in the rebellion of 1857. When Sir Hugh Rose came to capture Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai chose to fight for freedom instead of surrendering. Dressed in men’s clothes, she led her soldiers to the war against British. Even Hugh Rose praised her bravery as she fought valiantly and refused to surrender.
Kittur Rani Chennamma: She was the Queen of the state of Kittur in Karnataka. She was one of the earliest freedom fighters who led an armed rebellion against the British for freedom. She stood all alone against the British and was considered as an epitome of bravery and courage.
Sarojini Naidu: She has always been a great inspiration to many women and she contributed to the freedom struggle by joining politics in 1905. She visited various places in India and did everything to make women aware of the freedom struggle and aroused their feeling of nationalism through lectures. She devoted herself to the emancipation of women, Hindu – Muslim unity and education.
Begam Hazrat Mahal: She was the first wife of Nawab Waid Ali Shah. In 1857, during the Indian Rebellion, she stood against the British East India Company and took charge of the state of Awadh. In her husband’s absence she saved the entire region of Avadh and gained freedom from the hands of the British. Later, she announced her son as the king and was forced to retreat to Nepal where she died in 1879.
Aruna Asaf Ali: She was a well know freedom fighter and was known as the “Grand Old Lady of India” later on. She actively led many agitations and protests as a member of the Congress party and Quit India movement. She is remembered for hoisting the Indian National Congress Flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay in 1942. She was then made a political prisoner within Tihar jail, but that did not restrict her from her protests and strikes.
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit: Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, she was the first women to become a minister. Inspired by Rani Lakshmi Bai and Sarojini Naidu, she decided to join the freedom struggle and took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. She was the first president of the United Nations General Assembly and took various steps to free her country from the British. She had a dynamic personality and represented India in many conferences abroad.
Sucheta Kriplani: She worked with Mahatma Gandhi and actively took part in the Indian Freedom Movement. Educated at St. Stephen’s College, she became a professor of Constitutional History at Banaras Hindu University. She was elected to the Constituent Assembly and was a firm administrator. Using her knowledge, she fought for Indian freedom with the power of law and administration. She was the first women to be elected as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and dedicated her life to improving the lives of the Indians.
Kasturba Gandhi: Another great women freedom fighter of India was Mahatma Gandhi’s wife. She joined her husband in various works and was the leader of the famous Satyagraha movement. She tried to abolish the class differences and educated women. It is because of her great feelings for the nation that she had to undergo imprisonment many times. As a patriotic warrior and a great lady, she died in the arms of her husband in a jail.
Kamla Nehru: She was a popular freedom fighter and the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru. Her prime focus was to eradicate social evils from the society, uplift the status of Indian women and restore peace in the country. She played an active role in the Swadeshi Movement by burning British made and imported goods.
Kanaklata Barua: She was an active freedom fighter from Assam. She joined the Quit India Movement and according to a program, the National Flag was supposed to be hoisted at the police station and court and some other main areas. She led the procession holding the national flag and tried to convince the policemen to hoist the national flag. When they restricted her from doing it, she marched ahead and was fired by the police force. At the age of 17 she attained martyrdom.
We can never forget the great contributions made by women power to attain the freedom for our country. Female freedom fighters had a great role in the struggle against the British rule and today, they all deserve respect, salute and significance in the Indian Society.
