When it comes to the 75th Independence Day celebration, it’s not just what men did to free India from British colonial rule but it’s also about what role did women play in the same. What women did to bring the change in the country through their commitment and courage. The way they fought the imperialists to end their tyrannical rule by standing against them from inside; they stood to prohibit liquor; stood to abolish casteism.
Women Freedom Fighter Savitribai Phule
Known as India’s first female teacher, started teaching girls and stood against those who were not in favor of educating girls. She played a vital role in standing for women’s rights in India and was also regarded as the mother of Indian feminism, “one of the first-generation modern Indian feminists”. She opened a girls school, with the help of his husband Jyotirao Phule, with just nine girls. She established an education society in 1853, which opened more schools for both girls and women for all the classes of society. During that time oppressed classes were not even allowed to drink water from the common well of the village and because of this she and her husband dug a well in their own backyard to make drinking water available to all the classes.
Women Freedom Fighter Suhasini Ganguly
A fierce revolutionary fighter dedicated all her life to her motherland’s freedom. She got associated with the Jugantar revolutionary group and Chhattri sangha where she met men and women who all were with the same socio-political thoughts of fighting against the British for freedom. At the age of 21, she provided shelter to the revolutionaries but her home was raided by the British official which resulted in the death of a Jugantar group member. This violence leads to the arrest of Suhasini Ganguly but was released sooner. Even after the release in 1930, she was still associated with the Jugantar group, but again in 1932 she was arrested and was sent to jail for six years. Very little information is known to the public about Ganguly and only a single photo is available of her’s is in a khadi saree looking down away from the camera. At the age of 53, she died for the country.
Capt. Laxmi Sehgal
One of the revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, Laxmi Sehgal was an officer in Indian National Army and was also a minister in woman’s affairs in Azad Hind government. She was referred to as Captain Laxmi when she was arrested and sent to jail in the second world war.
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Popularly known as the Nightingale of India, was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and also the first woman president of the Indian National Congress. She was also the part of Non-cooperation movement with Mahatma Gandhi in 1924. Not only Political life but also led an active literary life, which attracted notable Indian intellectuals. Famous works of hers are the Golden Threshold in 1905 and The Bird of Time in 1912.
Several more other women played a crucial role in India’s fight for struggle and they are always remembered and respected.