Aren’t we grateful for the free sun that rises every day over our heads? With 73 years of Independence, we are forever indebted to those brave hearts who did not think twice before laying their bodies for a free India. British ruled over our nation for centuries. Our freedom of struggle is true, hard-fought. But this couldn’t be possible without the fearless warriors’ efforts to grab India from the British’s clutches.
Celebrating India’s Independence goes hand in hand with remembering the brave Indians who sacrificed their lives. With their courage to look death in the eye and their intense love for their motherland, we cannot forget their selfless offerings.
But somewhere in the pages of history, the names and stories of many unsung heroes are lost.
Here are the stories of eight lesser-known freedom fighters who sacrificed their everything for Indian Independence:
- Matangini Hazra
Known as ‘Gandhi Buri,’ Matangini Hazra was a part of the Quit India Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhi’s principles inspired her that she became a devoted follower and began preaching his beliefs.
Matangini Hazra was jailed several times for anti-British movements such as the Salt March, etc. She also joined the Indian National Congress.
During one rally, she continued to lead with the Indian flag and “Vande Mataram” slogans even after being shot thrice. In independent India, Kolkata puts Hazra’s statue at the mark where she was killed.
- Kartar Singh Sarabha
Kartar Singh Sarabha was an Indian revolutionary. The planner of the ‘Gadar Revolution’that aimed to fuel a revolt in the British Indian Army during World War-I.
When he was sent to the USA to study engineering, Sarabha associated himself with the revolutionary Gadar party. The Gadar revolution failed miserably after an insider betrayed the party. As a result, many of them were arrested.
19-year-old Kartar Singh Sarabha was sentenced to death. During the trial, he was proud of the activities he undertook.
He became a symbol of martyrdom. Bhagat Singh regarded Kartar Singh Sarabha as his Guru.
- Alluri Sitarama Raju
Alluri Sitarama Raju was born in a prosperous family but left everything for the freedom of India.
In 1922, he led a critical ‘Rampa Rebellion’ in Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh against the Madras Forest Act. The act restricted the freedom or free movement of tribal people for performing shifting cultivation, an agricultural practice.
Local people called Raju “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungles). He was killed by the British in an armed rebellion.
To commemorate Alluri Sitarama Raju’s courage, a statue was built in Visakhapatnam.
- Surya Sen
Bengali activist and freedom fighter, Surya Sen, was a former school teacher. He was fondly known as ‘Master Da.’
He worked closely with other freedom fighters who led the Non-Cooperation movement in Bengal. Surya Sen is known for the infamous Chittagong armory raid.
Surya was leading the group of revolutionaries who attempted to raid the armory of police in April 1930. The group managed to loot the Chittagong armory, but British forces captured most of them. Surya managed to escape.
After three years of absconding, Surya was captured, tortured, and hanged by the British.
- Aruna Asaf Ali
Aruna Asaf Ali is popularly known as ‘The Grand Old Lady’ of the Independence Movement.
Responding to Gandhi’s call to “do or die” during the Quit India movement, she dared to hoist the Indian flag on August 9, 1942, at the Gowalia Tank Maidan (now Azad Maidan) in Bombay. Only a few know that she was 33 years old at that time.
After giving the movement one of the most enduring images, Aruna Asaf Alipicked up the leadership mantle. She escaped the British forces during the campaign.
After Independence, she turned into an activist and was elected as Delhi’s first woman mayor in 1958.
- Tirupur Kumaran
Tirupur Kumaran was one of the young revolutionaries that made their mark in the freedom struggle. He was inspired by Gandhi’s principles and began participating in processions.
His growing commitment towards the cause motivated him to start the “Desa Bandhu Youth Association.” The group comprised of young people of Tamil Nadu, willing to fight for India’s freedom.
When Gandhi led a rally in Bombay in 1932, the British decided to arrest the leader. There were protests all over the country. People were carrying out the Indian flag, which was banned at that time.
One of the contributors holding the flag was Tirupur Kumaran. He was killed during a lathi charge by the British.
Moolmati was the mother of the great Indian revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who was involved in the famous Kakori Conspiracy of 1925. After he was arrested and killed in 1927, Moolmati addressed a public gathering and proudly offered her other son the freedom struggle.
While remembering the independence movement, one cannot ignore the bravest mother, Moolmati. She was a simple woman but a fierce patriot who supported and helped her son struggle for freedom.
- Khudiram Bose
At the tender age of 7, he was inspired by the activists and the freedom struggle. He gave up his studies to join the movement.
Khudiram participated in the Swadeshi movement. By the age of 16, he was an expert in making bombs and planting them.
During the grand display of British’s false impressions of their reign, he distributed handbills with titles like Vande Mataram and more.
He made a careful plan to bombard Kingsford’s carriage. Kingsford was the magistrate of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, who was known to deliver cruel sentences on young leaders. The mission was successful, but the magistrate wasn’t killed.
Running for his life, two policemen arrested him. He was sentenced to his death. Khudiram Bose was only 18 years, eight months, and eight days old when he was hanged.
There are more such martyrs. We can only thank them for their courage to bless India with Independence.