Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Chandrashekhar Azad, Jyotiba Phule, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are some of the renowned freedom fighters of India who have inspired thousands of Indians in the last century and will continue to do so. Their legacy is definitely unmatched, and none of us can hope to achieve their magnitude in our lives. We are grateful for their services and acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice they put in by celebrating their anniversaries and national festivals. However, the fight for emancipation was fought by thousands of Indians against the cruel British regime. There were many leaders whose contributions had never been acknowledged or praised. These legends never asked for anything and did all they could to free India from the oppressive crown. This article is dedicated to acknowledging the unsung freedom fighters of India who fought valiantly, not just against the Britishers but also against the mindset that kept us behind the rest of the world in every sphere of life.
Here are the legendary figures who helped India in achieving freedom through their grit, dedication and determination. Let’s begin the countdown of unsung freedom fighters of India.
1. Batukeshwar Dutt (1910-1965)
Batukeshwar Dutt accompanied Bhagat Singh in throwing bombs at the central assembly on 8th April 1929. He was also captured with Bhagat Singh. However, unlike Bhagat Singh, who was hanged, he was sent to a cellular prison in Andaman. He was never lauded for a heroic feat that inspired a lot of freedom fighters. To this day, Batukeshwar Dutt remains one of the unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle.
2. Durga Bhabhi (1907-1999)
Durgawati Devi, also known as Durga Bhabhi, tried to assassinate Lord Hailey, for which she was sentenced to prison for three years. She sold her ornaments worth Rs 3,000 to save Bhagat Singh and his comrades under trial. Durga Devi even accompanied Bhagat Singh when he killed Saunders to help him evade the British authorities. Her contribution is forgotten by most of us, and she remains one of the unsung heroes of freedom.
3. Abdul Gaffar Khan (1890-1988)
Also known as Bacha Khan, Abdul Gaffar Khan was a Pashtun leader of the Indian Independence Movement. Gaffar was a pacifist who idolised Mahatma Gandhi. He also never supported the idea of a divided India in terms of religion.
4. Pingali Venkayya (1876-1963)
One of the greatest heroes of freedom whose idea still remains with all of us. Pingali Venkayya was a fervent freedom fighter who designed the Indian Tri-colour Flag. He also took part in the Anglo-Boer War in Africa. He was a member of the Indian National Congress. Despite, Venkayya’s great deeds, he remains an unsung hero of India’s freedom struggle.
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5. Matangini Hazra (1870-1942)
A woman freedom fighter who fought the Britishers with great valour and courage, Matangini Hazra was an active participant in the Indian Independence Movement. She was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Matangini was arrested for breaking the Salt Act. Despite her weak eyesight, she started spinning yarn to promote India’s self-reliance. Hazra also took part in the Quit India Movement. She has given us so much, but we have failed to recognise her achievements. Hazra remains one of the unknown heroes of India’s freedom struggle.
6. Parbati Giri (1926-1995)
Referred to as Mother Teresa of India, Parbati Giri worked endlessly for the upliftment of Indian society. She got involved in the Quit India Movement at the age of 16. Parbati adopted Gandhism as a way of life and started mobilising people to support the Khadi Andolan, started by Mahatma Gandhi. She was even jailed for about two years. Her nationalistic mindset inspired many young Indians. Despite her heroic deeds, Parbati Giri is one of the unsung freedom fighters of India.
7. Sohan Singh Bhakna (1870-1968)
Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna established the Ghadar Party, which aimed to overthrow the British government. Sohan Singh served sixteen years of a life sentence for his role in the Lahore Conspiracy trial before being released in 1930. Later, he worked closely with the Indian labour movement, devoting a significant amount of time to the Kisan Sabha. He was an inspirational leader whose contribution is unfortunately forgotten by most of us.
8. Gulab Kaur (1890-1941)
Not many know about this woman freedom fighter who fought valiantly against the Britishers. She was associated with the Ghadar Party. Kaur was in charge of the printing and distribution of party literature, which helped create a movement against the Britishers.
9. Jhalkari Bai (1838-1858)
Jhalkari Bai was one of the key advisors of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. She also commanded the female troops under the Durga Dal. Jhalkari Bai disguised herself as the queen to let Rani Laxmibai fly away with her kid. However, neither she nor Rani Laxmibai could survive the battle against the Britishers. Jhalkari Bai belonged to the Dalit caste, and many people from the Dalit caste in Jharkhand believe her to be the incarnation of Durga Ma.
10. Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936)
Bhikaiji Cama was the woman who unfurled the first version of the flag of Independent India on 21st August 1907. She was a humanitarian who helped people during the famine in the Bombay Presidency. Cama also played a vital role in the fight against the bubonic plague. Unfortunately, she contracted the plague herself, but no harm was done to her. Her activism involved helping those who were fighting at the forefront against the Britishers. Still, her role in the struggle for freedom is not acknowledged enough.
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11. Peer Ali Khan (1812-1857)
Another legendary freedom fighter who perished while fighting the battle for Indian Independence, Peer Ali Khan, was a brave activist. He was hanged by the British government for participating in the Mutiny of 1857. His death inspired thousands of Indians across the country as he was hanged in full public view. Peer Ali Khan continues to motivate others even after his death. The historic feat of this legend is unfortunately not remembered enough.
12. Ram Prasad Bismil (1897-1927)
Ram Prasad Bismil was a poet and writer who fought with all this strength in the Indian Independence Movement. He participated in the Mainpuri Conspiracy of 1918 and the Kakori Conspiracy of 1925 and fought against British Raj. Ram Prasad had a good command of Urdu and Hindi and helped India mobilise a large number of people against The Crown.
13. Khudiram Bose (1889-1908)
Khudiram Bose sacrificed his life at a very young age for Indian Independence. Despite his young age, he was an influential leader in the Bengal Presidency. He was sentenced to death and subsequently executed for his role in the Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case, along with Prafulla Chaki. Khudiram is one of the youngest martyrs of India’s freedom struggle. Even then, he is among the unsung freedom fighters of India.
14. Tiruppur Kumaran (1904-1932)
Another young martyr of the Indian Independence Movement, Tiruppur Kumaran, founded the Desa Bandhu Youth Association and led protests against the British. Kumaran died from injuries sustained from a police assault on the banks of the Noyyal River in Tiruppur during a protest march against the British government on 11 January 1932. At the time of his death, he was holding the flag of the Indian Nationalists, which had been banned by the British, giving rise to the moniker kodi Kaatha Kumaran in Tamil, which means “Kumaran who protected the flag”.
15. Lakshmi Sahgal (1914-2005)
Last but not least on the list of unsung freedom fighters of India is Lakshmi Sahgal. She was a revolutionary of the Indian independence movement, an officer of the Indian National Army, and the Minister of Women’s Affairs in the Azad Hind government. She was arrested during the World War 2 in Burma. Lakshmi worked extensively in the field of social reform even after independence. However, her contribution is not recognised enough.
