Unsung Heroes of India

Our country, India, was colonised by the British, and our freedom fighters fought for our independence against the British. There are numerous freedom fighters who made significant contributions to the independence movement, but their names have faded into obscurity. A freedom fighter desired for their people to have their nation and independence through the elimination of oppressors during a freedom struggle. While Mahatama Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and Mangal Pandey are undoubtedly the most famous freedom fighters, there are others who contributed to the independence movement but whose names have faded into obscurity. These freedom fighters who looked the tyrannical British rulers in the eye and dared to raise pro-independence slogans. While some are revered throughout the world by the Indian community, there are others whose names, despite their deserving of all glory, remain unknown to the masses today. In this post, we will proudly discuss some unknown freedom fighters. These are referred to as the unsung heroes of India.  These unsung heroes also contribute to the fact that we live in a free country. We must honour their sacrifices and work toward coexistence and peace while ensuring social justice.

This post on Unsung Heroes of India is an attempt to recall and remember forgotten heroes of our country’s freedom struggle, many of whom may be well-known to the younger generation but remain unknown to the older generation. The purpose of recreating and resurrecting stories that existed as faded memories of the past is to serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement for future generations. India 2.0 is not about instilling the Indian spirit in any particular growth paradigm. It pervades all spheres of life, most notably through the enrichment of our hearts and souls. India’s spirit will remain incomplete until we accompany our unsung heroes on this path of growth and development. Their ethos and principles should be remembered and upheld.

Here is the list of some freedom fighters who are the unsung heroes of India

Ali Aruna Asaf

Ali gained notoriety among the Indian masses and infamy in the British Raj camp at the age of 33 when she hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at Bombay’s Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

An arrest warrant was issued in her name, but she fled and founded an underground movement. Her possessions were seized and sold. The British government announced a 5,000-rupee reward for her capture at the time.

She remained active in politics and social work following India’s independence, but received no recognition.

Hazra Matangini

Hazra is another freedom fighter who, despite having given her life for the country’s freedom, has never received her due recognition. She was an active member of the Quit India and Non-Cooperation movements.

She was shot three times during a procession against the British, but this did not deter her from marching with the tricolour in her hands. Additionally, she continued shouting ‘Vande Mataram’ until she expired.

Cama Bhikaji

While many have seen her name on roads and buildings, few are aware of who she was or what she accomplished for India.

Cama was not only a member of India’s independence movement, but also an iconoclast in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, advocating for gender equality.

She donated the majority of her personal belongings to a girls’ orphanage. Additionally, she raised the Indian flag at the 1907 International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany.

Begum Hazrat Mahal

after her husband was exiled, she became a vital part of the 1857 Indian rebellion, taking charge of hours and even seizing control of Lucknow. Later in the rebellion, Begum Hazrat was forced to retreat to Nepal, where she died.

Munshi Kanaiyalal Maneklal

Mushi was also known as Kulpati by his peers due to his active involvement in India’s freedom struggle. He was an outspoken supporter of the Quit India Movement.

He was arrested several times by the British regime for his involvement in pro-liberty activities. Additionally, he founded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Ali Peer Khan

Mangal Pandey was the most famous hero of the 1857 mutiny, but only a few people have heard of Peer Ali Khan. He was one of India’s first rebels and was one of the 14 people hanged for their role in the mutiny.

Even today, his work continues to inspire a large number of followers. However, generations later, his name simply vanished.

Sahgal, Lakshmi

Captain Lakshmi was an Indian Army officer who served in World War II. She was also imprisoned in Burma, now Myanmar.

Sahgal enlisted when she learned that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was assembling an army of female soldiers. She was directed by the high command to establish a female regiment known as the ‘Rani of Jhansi regiment, to which she was appointed Captain.

Nachiyar Velu

Velu Nachiyar was the first Indian queen to wage war against the British Raj prior to the Sepoy mutiny of 1857.

Former princess of Ramanathapuram, she was an outspoken opponent of British rule and gave the rulers a run for their money.

Bose Khudiram

Some may be familiar with his name because he was one of India’s youngest revolutionaries and is frequently discussed in history books. His contribution to the freedom struggle is also noteworthy, as he was only 18 years old when he was hanged by the British for his anti-Raj activities.

Konwar, Kushal

Sarupathar Congress Committee’s President was an Assamese Tai-Ahom freedom fighter. He is the sole martyr from the final phase of the Quit India Movement in 1942–1943.

Benoy-Badal-Dinesh

Benoy Basu, Badal Gupta, and Dinesh Gupta were 22, 18, and 19 years old, respectively, when they entered the Writer’s Building dressed in European attire. Their target was Colonel NS Simpson, the then-Inspector General of Police.

They were able to assassinate him but were outnumbered by security personnel. Benoy took a cyanide pill to avoid capture, while the other two shot themselves.

Garimella Satyanarayana

He was an inspiration to the people of Andhra as a writer; he used his ability to write persuasive poems and songs to compel the people of Andhra to join the anti-British movement.

Srivastava Tara Rani

She led a procession in front of the Siwan Police Station with her husband. Despite the fact that he had been shot, she bandaged his wounds and continued forward. He had died by the time she returned. However, her will to continue was even stronger, and she continued to fight with her flag raised.

Kumaran Tirupur

Kumaran was instrumental in establishing the Desa Bandhu Youth Association. On 11th January 1932, he was assassinated during a protest march against the colonial government for carrying an Indian nationalist flag that the British had banned. Though he died of his injuries, he was discovered holding the flag.

Munda Birsa

He was born on a Thursday and thus bears the name. Though he died at the young age of 25, he accomplished some remarkable feats during his brief life. The most notable of these was his leadership of the Millenarian movement, which inspired the tribal belts of modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand to rise up against the British Raj in the late nineteenth century.

Deshmukh Durgabai

Durgabai was a leader of numerous Satyagraha movements and a member of India’s Constituent Assembly and Planning Commission. She was a prominent figure in India’s independence struggle. She was in charge of ensuring that all visitors had proper tickets prior to entering the Khadi exhibition in 1923. She even barred Pandit Nehru from entering until the organisers provided him with a ticket and she permitted him to enter.

Begum Abadi Bano

She was one of the first few Muslim women to join the fight, having been born in 1852. Abadi Bano Begum was one of the first women to address a political gathering from behind a purdah.

Giri Parbati

Parbati Giri was only sixteen years old but was actively involved in all freedom activities, particularly the Quit India Movement. She was also sentenced to two years in prison for her involvement in such activities. Giri served the public on a social level following independence and was also known as Western Orissa’s Mother Teresa.