essay on unsung heroes of indian independence in english

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India’s independence is all about a lot of sacrifices and struggles. The Independence movement of India would not have been possible without the contribution of the great freedom fighters. Some of the freedom fighters are Rani Laxmi Bai, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, etc. Other than these freedom fighters, there are a lot of other fighters who have sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence.

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India’s independence has been a historic change for the country. The British ruled India for a long period of time, and freeing India from the British Raj was a long-drawn affair. So many freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the happiness of the people of India. Some well-known freedom fighters are Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rani Laxmi Bai, etc. But along with these popular faces, there were a lot of other freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the people of India. With time, the names of these fighters have faded into darkness. Some unsung heroes of the freedom struggle are Birsa Munda, Kamla Devi, Tirupur Kumaran, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, etc.

India’s independence struggle was a historic movement to bring a beautiful future to this wonderfully diverse and rich continent. India was under the British Raj for a very long period, and the Indians had no freedom of their own. The freedom fighters of our country decided to take a step ahead and move on with a struggling life and get done with the British Raj. Many freedom fighters came in and joined hands together to fight against injustice and free the country with pride. Some fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, etc., are the popularly known faces of the free India movement. Still, other heroes have sacrificed their today for a beautiful tomorrow along with these faces. Some heroes are Birsa Munda, Kamala Das, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Khudiram Bose, etc. In some way or the other, these people have made enormous contributions toward the country’s freedom.

The Independence movement of India is known to each and every individual. Many rulers have ruled India, and the last was the British, who ruled the country for a long time. The Indians had to live with a lot of restrictions and had no freedom of their own. So to help people live a peaceful life, freedom fighters of India joined hands together and promised to save the people of India. Some popular freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, etc., took the lead to free India from the British Raj. Other than these freedom fighters, several other people had come forward to free India from British rule. But these faces are not well known to us because of various reasons. Some of the faces are Birsa Munda, Kamala Das, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Khudiram Bose, etc. They have sacrificed their lives and their happiness for a better tomorrow. The way we appreciate the contributions of well-known freedom fighters, the contributions of the unsung freedom fighters must also be appreciated and regarded.

Every person in India is familiar with the country’s independence movement. India has had several rulers, the most recent of whom were the British, who ruled for a long time. India was colonised by the British for a long period of time, and the freedom fighters had to dream of removing the British from the country and living a free life. The Indians were subjected to several limitations and lacked personal liberty. A lot of freedom fighters struggled to remove the Sati Pratha from society. They fought for the widows’ rights and started the girl’s education system. So, in order to assist people in leading peaceful lives, India’s freedom fighters joined hands and pledged to save the Indian people. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, and other well-known independence warriors led the charge to liberate India from the British Raj. Apart from these independence warriors, there were others whose sole motivation was to liberate India from British control. However, for a variety of reasons, we are unfamiliar with their faces. They have given up their life and their happiness in the hopes of a brighter tomorrow. Birsa Munda, Kamala Das, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Khudiram Bose, and others are among the faces. Their contributions must be valued in the same manner that we value the contributions of well-known freedom fighters. With these popular faces, we have somehow forgotten the faces of those who have contributed to the freedom struggle. Now it is time to pay tribute to these faces.

Who are the Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggles?

Many freedom fighters have struggled to free India, like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, etc. Still, we have somehow forgotten the other freedom fighters who had struggled for India and are known as Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggles like Peer Ali Khan, Khudiram Bose, Birsa Munda, Kamala Das, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Khudiram Bose, etc.

What do you mean by unsung?

Unsung means the ones who are not praised and who are not appreciated for their contributions.

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Essay On Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle In English 500+ Words

Hello Friend, In this post “ Essay On Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle In English “, We will read about the Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle as an Essay in detail. So…

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Essay On Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle In English

“ Let’s salute the unsung heroes who give us beautiful today.”

“Freedom fighters gave us their today for our golden tomorrow.”

Introduction:

The freedom of a country depends on its citizens. Every country has a few brave hearts who willingly give up their lives for their countrymen.

Freedom fighters play a very important role in making any country independent. India is a land of endless freedom fighters.

Many are known and many are unsung. All of them have their way to fight for freedom like some have chosen the path of Non-violence. While some show their bravery with pistols in their hands and swords.

Our Independence was hard fought the British ruled over our leads for a long time. But then, there are heroes, aren’t there? There are always heroes.

The ones who stand up and fight. some get the spotlight while the same stay in the dark and contribute just as much as others.

The bodies are true for India’s freedom fighters as well. For those who fought equally hard but never got any share of the limelight, because they simply never cared.

There are so many freedom fighters of India who contributed to the Independence movement but their names faded into the darkness.

Our country, India was colonized by the British. Our freedom fighters fought against the British for our independence.

Some Important freedom fighters of India are Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru, and many more.

But there are many freedom fighters who we probably haven’t heard. Most of them sacrificed their lives in getting independence for India. we call them the “Unsung Heroes of India”.

Their only focus was seeing an independent India. But as citizens of this country, we should know about some of them.

Here are some freedom fighters you probably haven’t heard of. These unsung heroes are also the reason we live in a free country.

We must honor their sacrifices and aim to live together in harmony and peace ensuring social justice. In the freedom struggle, India has many unsung heroes, who devoted his life.

Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle Postcard Writing In English

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Essay On Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle In Hindi

They were Matangini Hazra, Hazrat Mahal, Senapati Bapat, Aruna Asaf Ali, Bhikaji Cama, Tara rani, Peer Ali Khan, Kamala Devi, Garimella, Tiruppur Kumaran, Birsa Munda, Durgabai etc.

Let’s read in detail about Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle .

Matangini Hazra : Hazra was part of the Quit India movement and Non-co-operation movement during one procession, she continued to advance With the Indian flag even after even being short trice. she kept shouting “Vande Mataram”.

Peer Ali Khan : He was one of the initial rebels of India. he was part of the 1857 freedom struggle and among the 14 people who were given capital punishment due to their role in the freedom movement . Even still, his work inspired many who followed but generations later, his name just faded away.

Garimella Satyanarayana : He was an inspiration for the people of Andhra, As a writer, he used his skill to write influential poems and songs to motivate the people of Andhra to join the movement against the British.

Begum Hazrat Mahal : She was a vital part of the 1857 Indian Rebellion. After her husband was exiled, she took charge of Awadh and even seized control of Lucknow during the rebellion. Later, Begam Hazrat had to retreat to Nepal, where she died.

Conclusion:

This August 15, India will celebrate 74 years of Independence from the British Raj and also remember the 200- year old struggle for freedom of our countrymen.

The most famous freedom fighters are undoubtedly Mahatma Gandhi , Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, and so on, but there are also others who contributed to the independence movement but their names faded into the darkness.

There were many freedom fighters who looked into the eye of the tyrannical British rulers and dared to raise the slogan of an independent India.

Some are celebrated all across the world among the Indian community while there is, remain anonymous to the masses today.

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Essay on The Unsung Heroes of India In English

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

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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.

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.

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Remembering the forgotten heroes from India’s freedom struggle

For a deepening of democracy in the country, we need to embrace subaltern narratives of participation in india’s freedom struggle as part of the mainstream..

Chahe jitni tarah se kahi jaye,aur jitni bar, Azadi ki kahani se kuchh chhut hi jata hai (No matter how many ways and how many times it is said, some things always remain unsaid when it comes to stories of the freedom struggle), I heard this statement from a balladeer in eastern Uttar Pradesh who used to compose songs on the heroes of freedom movement. It is true that history is the “narrative of what happened’’, but it is not fixed, it continuously evolves.

When communities become aware and assertive, they explore their unsung histories and stake claim on mainstream narratives. Thus, the history of Dalits, tribals and marginal communities emerge in two ways — as academic history and as public history. Both interact, influence, overlap, contradict and debate with each other to tell the story of the subaltern.

In the ’90s, when I was doing fieldwork in the villages of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, I would come across various thans (space of worship) under peepal trees near Dalit bastis, like Shahid Baba, Ladaka Baba, etc. When I enquired further, I found that some of them were remembered by the Dalit people as freedom fighters killed by the British. I also heard and collected many folk songs and folk narratives in praise of these heroes. These living memories — in the form of shrines, songs, folklore — keep in circulation the memories of the men and women whom mainstream history has overlooked.

Most of these heroes that we documented were related to the 1857 uprising, now known as the First War of Independence. The memories of Gangu Baba of Bithoor who belonged to the Balmiki community, Banke Beer (Jatav), Beera Pasee, Matadin Bhangi are commemorated by marginal communities in various parts of Uttar Pradesh. The four bodyguards of revolutionary leader Amar Singh, younger brother of Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur (1777-1858), Bihar, were his war strategists. They, too, came from marginal communities of the region.

It is interesting to note that most of these Dalit icons were also women. These include Jhalkari Bai, Uda Devi, and Mahaviri Devi. Jhalkari Bai, a brave woman born in the Koree community, was a member of the women’s army organised by Rani Lakshmi Bai and the queen’s close ally, chief strategist and advisor. When the queen of Jhansi escaped with her son, Jhalkari Bai foxed the British by pretending to be the queen, whom she closely resembled, and put up a valiant fight against the invaders.

Uda Devi, another virangana of the 1857 gadar, was a member of the women’s battalion of Begum Hazrat Mahal, the queen of what was then Awadh, who led a spirited fight against the British, killing more than half-a-dozen soldiers in the battle of Sikandar Bagh. These heroes are revered not just within their caste communities but among a larger Dalit community as well.

It is interesting to note that till the ’60s, there was not much assertion of the marginals in claiming their role in the freedom movement. But there existed a trend of writing popular chapbooks among the Dalits of north India.

Through these chapbooks, sold in melas and rallies, on thelas and pavements, they started narrating and circulating their own roles in the freedom movement. The history of Jhalkari Bai was one such example from this time.

During the various phases of Gandhian movements such as the Khilafat Movement (1919), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), we find the emergence of many Dalit leaders and icons who were part of the mainstream narrative. These include stalwarts such as Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Palwankar Baloo of Maharashtra , Babu Masuria Deen of Uttar Pradesh, Karu Paswan, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Sukhari Paswan, Ram Basawan, Nandan Paswan and Yashoda Devi.

The subaltern heroes of the national movement need to be remembered and embraced by every citizen and these narratives of Dalit participation in India’s freedom struggle need to move from the periphery to the centre. That is when we will become more inclusive of our grassroots and our democracy will deepen.

(The writer is director, Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad)

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Vistas of Bharat : Indian Culture

The unsung heroes of india’s independence movement.

The celebration of India’s 75th independence is incomplete without remembering the unsung heroes and their unaccounted contribution

India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate its 75 years of Independence and growth. There were freedom fighters from every nook and corner of the country who fought the colonial forces with their every breath. Lives were taken and lives were given for the freedom of this land. History has recorded this valiant two decade long fight for independence. However, not every name and every life could be written down. India’s freedom struggle is incomplete without remembering every person who led and participated for India’s swaraj and freedom. Through the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the government has tried to bring the names of the unsung heroes into view, so they could be celebrated for their patriotism, courage and determination. Here’s a small list of the lesser known freedom fighters, in other words, our unsung heroes, and their contribution to India’s independence. 

The Power of Journalists

Mohammad Ali was a journalist. He launched his famous weekly The Comrade, in English, which gained quick circulation and influence. The Comrade criticised the plight of Muslims globally and in India at the hands of the British. Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar was another unsung hero, a Marathi writer. He was the editor of many periodicals, out of which the most influential was Nibandhmala. Keeping Marathi literature in the loop, he produced and wrote several writings which were politically loud to address various social injustices. Freedom fighter T. Prakasham was born in 1872, in the Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. He released a newspaper titled, ‘Swarajya’ in three languages- English, Tamil and Telugu. The newspaper was his platform to express his ground level politics. Hasrat Mohani ’s name has primarily stayed out of India’s freedom fighters consciousness, even though he fought with his whole demeanour and heart. He coined one of the most popular revolutionary slogans, ‘Inqilab Zindabad!’ Bhagat Singh and his comrades spread the use of this slogan. He started a literary-politic journal named, ‘Urdu-i Mualla. Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi was a young political activist who left his studies to participate in national movements. He formed the All-India Jamhur Muslim League to counter Jinnah’s All-India Muslim League, as he was strongly opposed against the two-nation proposal. Sir Subbier Subramania Iyer was an Indian lawyer, jurist and journalist who, along with Annie Besant , founded the Home Rule Movement. He also started a press called the ‘National Press’ and issued a weekly journal called the ‘Hindu.’ Subramania is the founder and the first editor of the Hindu newspaper. Most of his written works and journals focused on social and educational reforms. Kasturi Ranga Iyenagar too contributed towards ‘The Hindu’, because he was a staunch believer in free speech. He became its editor in 1905. He guided the newspaper, and under his watch, the newspaper became a powerful tool for the national cause. Iyenagar didn’t have any previous experience of being a journalist, and yet, he did a perfect job! Sisir Kumar Ghosh is a well known Bengali journalist and an avid freedom fighter. He, along with Motilal Ghosh , founded the one of the oldest newspapers of India, the Amrita Bazar Patrika, a Bengali language newspaper, which developed into an English format in cities of Calcutta, Allahabad, etc. Vladimir Lenin described it as “The best nationalist paper in India”. The newspaper got instant popularity because it covered real and raw coverage of the injustices of the British Raj. K. Ramakrishna Pilla i was a nationalist writer and journalist. He was the editor of ‘Swadeshabhimani,’ (The Patriot). The newspaper became an unstoppable tool against the British raj and led to a massive social transformation. The paper attacked the Diwan of Travancore (present day Kerala) of ‘corruption and immorality’ and criticised the age-old customs and malpractices. He appealed to the people to unite and demand self-government. All of this led to the confiscation of Swadeshabhimani and his exile from Kerala in 1910.

Finding Strength and Voice in Literature

Bharatendu Harishchandra was an Indian poet, writer and a playwright. His words were best known for their commentary on the British raj. His story Andher Nagari (A city of darkness) had the lines, “ Andher Nagari, Chaupat Raja, taka ser bhaaji, take ser khaja ”, (A dark city, a failing king, a penny for sweets and a penny for onion rings). These lines were an allegory and pointed out a city falling into darkness due to the lack of sound administration, a direct condemnation of The British Raj and its destructive ignorant rules. Fakir Mohan Senapati , along with a writer, was also a social reformer. One of his prominent novels highlighting the Indian freedom Struggle is the ‘Chhaman Atha Guntha’ (Six Bighas of the Land). It is the first Indian novel to deal with the exploitation of landless peasants by a feudal Lord in British India. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was a Bengali novelist and a short story writer. His writings vividly portrayed the social struggles and tragedy prevailing in Bengal, more specifically in Bengali villages. His 1926 novel, Pather Dabi, is about a secret society named Pather Dabi, whose goal is to free India from British rule. Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay was a dedicated freedom fighter. He dropped out of his college to join the non-cooperation movement. His writing skills allowed him to express his rage more coherently and to a large audience. The themes of his writings revolved around communal riots, war, famine, economic inequalities, the independence movement, social conditions, etc. Known by his pen name, Parshad, Shyamlal Gupta etched his name onto the land of India with his song, Azadi Ki Raah Par, (sung by Sarojini Naidu). Azadi Ki Raah Par is the flag song of India and is sung every year when India’s flag is hoisted at the Independence and Republic Day celebrations.

Makhanlal Chaturvedi was one of the lesser known freedom fighters. Chaturvedi didn’t hesitate to write against the hypocrisy of the colonial masters and spread the ideas and values for an exploitation-free, happy and peaceful India. Few of his stories like ‘Him Kirtini’, ‘Him Tarangini’, ‘Kaisa Chhand Banaa Deti hei’, ‘Amar Rashtra’ and ‘Pushp ki Abhilaasa’ empathised with the life of a common man and his struggles at the hands of the Britishers. Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was recognised as the first woman satyagrahi of the country. She penned the most recited poems of Hindi literature—Jhansi Ki Rani. (“Khoob ladi mardaani voh toh Jhansi wali Rani thi.”) Moreover, her poems voiced the poor plight of the Indian women and the evils of the caste system. Ramesh Chandra Jha is the pride of Bihar. At a young age, he became well acquainted with the freedom struggle. He organised a student protest at school, which gave him a tag of ‘criminal minded boy.’ He was suspended for organising it. As a poet, novelist, and a journalist, Ramesh Chandra covered stories of both people’s struggles, along with their dreams and hopes. Some of his published patriotic works are ‘Bharat Desh Humara,’ ‘Jai Bharat Jai Gandhi, Jai Bolo Hindustan Ki,’ ‘Jawaan Jagte Raho,’ ‘Chalo-Dilli’ and ‘Priyamvada.’

Radhanath Ray is hailed as the Father of Odia Modernism. Initially, he wrote in both Bengali and Odia. However, later, he shifted to Odia completely. One of his notable songs during the heated nationalist movement was the song “Sarbesang No Janani,” which was filled with patriotic sentiments. Radhanath Ray sparked an impetus for the Odia language in the face of Bengali language which was being actively advocated by the Britishers. Bhai Vir Singh is the father of modern Punjabi Literature who brought the Sikh history to the front lines. For his pioneering work for the Sikh community, he was granted the title of ‘Bhai,’ and the ‘creator’ of Modern Punjabi literature. During the ongoing freedom struggle, Bhai Vir Singh brought the stories and struggles of the Sikh Village folk to light. He wrote poems on freedom and patriotism.  Shabbir Hassan Khan Josh Mahilabadi was one of the lesser known freedom fighters, an unsung hero. Some of his poems were ‘In the name of the sons of the East India Company,’ ‘Revolt,’ ‘The Broken Walls of the Jail’, ‘Dreams of Defeated Prisoner’ etc. which attacked Britishers and their atrocities. Garimella Satyanarayana was another unsung hero who used his words to mobilize the people of Andhra to take part in the freedom struggle of India. One of his most famous songs was, “Maakodi Tella Doratanam” (We don’t need this White rule).” Influenced by Gandhi, like many others, K.S. Venkatramani too used literature to portray his ideals. He wrote two important novels–Murugan, The Tiller (1927) and Kundan, The Patriot (1934). In Murugan, Venkatramani recognizes the sacrifices of village people in their struggle for freedom. Whereas the novel Kundan dealt with the economic impact of Gandhism. Subramanya Bharati wrote songs on nationalism and freedom, which inspired and fuelled the Tamil youth to go against the Britishers. Govardhanram Tripathi was an Indian Gujarati language novelist. One of his most celebrated works is his novel, ‘Saraswatichandra’ which he wrote between 1887 and 1901, in four volumes. The novel gives a vivid sight of the effects on the state of Gujarat as the British rose and practised their selfish rules on the people. Kazi Nazrul Islam had initially trained in the military to fight off the colonisers. However, later he settled into literary work. His works sharply and unapologetically criticised the wrongs of the British Raj. His criticism labelled him as a ‘rebel poet’, which also got him jailed.

These freedom fighters were the unsung heroes, the lesser known revolutionaries, writers and journalists who haven’t been spotlighted in the history of the freedom struggle despite their unparalleled contribution and dedication to their country. The British Raj eventually crumpled by each and every force extended by the people of the country. While celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the 75th year of independence , make sure to utter the names of the unsung heroes as well!

To read more about them, visit Vistas of Bharat !

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The Ones Who Led The Way: Freedom Fighters Of India

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Exploring The Golden Age of Tamil Literature: The Sangam Period

Sangam Literature is the oldest form extant Indian Literature. It shapes the rich Indian cultures and society present today.

The vast Indian literature marks Indian history. When we think about literature, what inherently comes to our attention is English and its various literary eras. In this bias, what we’ve left behind is the richness of Indian literature and its historical descent. This literature is the leading force of the evolved Indian society today. 

Tamil, one of the oldest languages to exist today, has vast literature dating back to the 3rd century BC. The Sangam period spanned 600 years from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD. Historians and scholars regard it as the golden period of Tamil literature. 

Sangam Literature

Literally, “ Sangam ” means confluence. In Tamil literature, the term “Sangam” refers to a school of arts and letters. It was founded and patronized by Pandya, Chola and Chera, the three crowned monarchs of the Tamil land. The Pandyan monarchs, who had a deep appreciation for literature and the arts, specifically fostered this. Both history and Tamil traditions recognize The Pandyan capitals as the academy’s permanent home.

The Sangam academy was pivotal in defining the Tamil people’s literary environment throughout the Sangam period. The academy had a unique role as an educated community of literary critics. The critics mandated that any new literary work, regardless of the author’s social rank—prince or peasant— be subject to clearance before publication. The academy enforced stringent rules and guidelines, requiring every book to obtain approval before publication and ensuring that only highly regarded works received acknowledgment as authoritative. Due to this meticulous procedure, the academy was able to reject subpar works and instead provide the public with literary masterpieces of the greatest kind. 

These writings which were considered the first examples of Dravidian literature, not only reflected the rich cultural diversity of the era but also laid the groundwork for the long history of Tamil literature. According to Tamil legends, the Sangam initially acquired members through co-option. However, thereafter, Lord Siva accomplished membership through a miraculous scheme.

The Three Sangams

Tamil tradition states that three Sangams, known as Muchchangam, joined together in ancient South India to mark the beginning of the Sangam period. According to the ancient stories presented in Iraiyanar Ahapporul, there were three Sangams that existed for an amazing 9990 years at different times, with participation from 8598 academics. The sage Agastyar is considered the literary tradition’s founder.

The Pandya capital hosted all three Sangams, with Old Madurai functioning as the first Sangam’s centre. A gathering of ancient sages and gods is said to have taken place in Old Madurai during the First Sangam. However, no works of literature from this Sangam survived.

Kapatapuram hosted the second Sangam. The only surviving work from this era that deals with Tamil grammar is Tolkappiyam . Unfortunately, both the first and second Sangams were drowned by seawater during repeated deluges.

There is a more material legacy of the third Sangam, which is located in present-day Madurai. Several Tamil literary works from this era have survived and are important resources for piecing together the Sangam era’s history. The Sangam poetry, the oldest collection of Tamil poetry to exist, is said to have started during the third Sangam.

Given the circumstances, it is more probable to determine the date of the third Sangam. According to scholars, it happened somewhere in the first two centuries of the Christian era—possibly even the century before. This period corresponds to both the trade with the Indo-Roman world and the modern Imperial Rome. Greek writers at the time offered proof of offshore commercial activity between the Mediterranean area and the Tamil peninsula. This is also documented in Sangam literature. Consequently, the third Sangam era saw the prolific production of a great number of works that are still in existence. This exhibited a literary and cultural shine amid a time that witnessed significant political and commercial exchanges.

Tolkappiyam: The Second Sangam

Tolkappiyar’s Tolkappiyam is the first known literary classic and a seminal work in Tamil literature. Tolkappiyam is mostly a work on Tamil grammar, but it also provides insightful information on the social and political climate of the period. The Royal Academy’s careful study of this highly regarded work serves to highlight its relevance. Adangodu Brahman was sent by King Nilandaru Tiruvira Pandya to evaluate the work, according to the introduction of Tolkappiyam. However, Tolkappiyar showed his expertise by emphasizing the significance and relevance of the works contained in the Tamil Sangam.

Literature In Verses: The Third Sangam

As we go into the present day, academics refer to the poetry included in the Ettutogai (eight collections), Pattupattu (ten songs), and Patinenkilkanakku (the eighteen minor works) as Sangam Literature. According to historians, these pieces date back to a time between 150 and 250 A.D. The poem’s duration served as a critical foundation for its categorization into three major categories. The lengths of the poems in the “Eight Collections” vary from three to thirty-one lines, and the poems in the “Ten Songs” range from 103 to 782 lines. The ‘Eighteen Minor Works’ comprise didactic and ethical literature, such as the well-known Tirukkural , which is mostly arranged in stanzas with two to five lines each.

The ‘Five Epics’— Jivakachintamani , Silappadikaram , Manimekalai , Valayapathi , and Kundalakesi —have an established place in Sangam literature. Sathanar and Ilango Adigal’s Silappadikaram and Manimekalai, are notably referred to as the “twin epics”. This is because they narrate the continuous story of Kovalan, Kannagi, and Madhavi. With an emphasis on Madurai, Puhar, Vanji, and Kanchi, Silappadikaram , a poem written by Ilango Adigal, and other poetry works depict the social, religious, political, and economic circumstances of Tamilakam. These literary works capture the spirit of the Sangam age and present Tamil history and culture.

Sangam Literature Vs. Sanskrit Literature Vs. Tamil Literature

Academics find the Sangam period controversial due to its historical significance, primarily because the dating of the Sangam works’ writing remains unclear. Establishing a consensus on the age of these works is a challenge since they are essential to understanding the Sangam era. Various scholars have presented opposing viewpoints. 

While some suggest the influence of Sanskrit grammarians on Tolkappiyar, others contend that Tolkappiyam was influenced by Katantra , a Sanskrit grammar work written by Sharvavarman under the Satavahana dynasty. Due to the lack of conclusive proof, many scholars also suggest that the similarities between Katantra and Tolkappiyam may indicate mutual influences between Sangam and Sanskrit writers.

The term “Sangam” originates from the Tamil translation of the Sanskrit word “Sangha.” The term “Sangha” refers to any kind of organization or group that adheres to a shared interest, but the Tamil Sangam has a particular purpose. The religious connotation connected to Buddhism and Jaina Sanghas is completely different from Sanghata, a kind of poetical production by a single author on a certain selected theme. 

The aim of the Tamil. Sangattamil, a unique compositional style distinguishes Sangam Literature from Tamil Literature. This style has its derivation, interpretation, and distinctive syntax, meter, and grammar. As a result, it is regarded as a classic.

Contemporary Relevance of Sangam Literature

There are 2279 poems in the present Sangam collections, ranging in length from 3 lines to over 800 lines. Some poets have contributed to certain works, like the Naladiyar , while a single author has written other works. 473 poets—about half of them women—wrote more than 30,000 lines of Sangam poetry, along with 102 anonymous authors. As an example of the Sangam period’s historical impact and cultural significance, the Sangams are comparable to contemporary European establishments. This includes the French Academy as they both share a dedication to upholding language purity and literary standards.

Aranmula Kannadi: Your True Reflection

Discover the exquisite Aranmula Kannadi mirror, a rare handmade gem from Kerala, reflecting tradition, legends and the threat to the craft.

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” A question asked by many. From the Evil Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarves to Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham to every one of us who check ourselves in front of the mirror before heading out, the mirror is an integral part of our life. According to Sylvia Plath, a glass mirror gives the most accurate reflection of one’s identity, but perhaps her famous poem Mirror would have gone slightly different had she known about Aranmula Kannadi, a mirror that reflects only the truth.

Aranmula Kannadi: Process

Passed down from generation to generation, this mirror is a rare gem from Kerala. “Aranmula” refers to the place this mirror originates from and “Kannadi” basically means “mirror” in Malayalam. Aranmula Kannadi stands out from its contemporaries because of the way it’s made. It’s a metal mirror that is entirely handmade from scratch. Typical glass mirrors reflect light through the back of the mirror leaving open possibilities for distortion while Aranmula Kannadi reflects light on the surface of the metal giving a rather accurate reflection. The tiny imperfections that you find on the mirror are never concealed but rather highlighted with pride as just like human fingerprints they are what makes each piece unique.  

Made using a tedious process that includes melting the right amount of both tin and copper and pouring the metal alloy into clay moulds and then cutting and polishing it before finally attaching it to handles, it is truly one of a kind. Given the uniqueness of the article, the proportion used to make the metal alloy is never revealed to outsiders and has been kept in the family of certain artisans for generations. Considered a craft suited only for a man, Sudhammal J and many other modern women are trying to reverse this popular notion.

Aranmula Kannadi: Origin

With its origin being linked with the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, it is considered sacred by the people of the region. According to legends few artisans came to Aranmula from Sankaran Koil near Tirunelveli at the King’s order to help in building Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. While working with different metals to help in the construction of the temple, the artisans by mistake discovered the reflective property when they mixed a certain amount of tin and copper together. 

According to another tale, the high priest of Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple found the crown of the deity had cracked which urged the local King to order the Bronze Smith clan to make a new crown in just three days. The chief of the clan worried that they didn’t have enough material or time to get the project done on time. In his dream, the Goddess appeared and told him the exact proportions of tin and copper that needed to be used to make a metal shine like a glass.

Taking inspiration from his dream he told his wife to gather all the ladies in the village and ask them to bring their gold as they would sell it all to buy enough copper and tin to make the crown as ordained by the Goddess herself. And the result of it was the makudam of crown known as Kannadi Bhimbom an artistic marvel that was preserved in the temple till 1946. 

Aranmula Kannadi: Significance

Though very expensive owing to the materials used and the manual labour expended, it is a popular gift item during weddings because of the auspicious connotation attached to it. The mirrors are considered one of the eight auspicious items or “ ashtamangalyam ” that are used in weddings during the bride’s entry. It is a first-surface mirror in which no gap exists between the object and the image, eliminating the possibilities of secondary reflections and aberrations commonly found in glass mirrors. The uniqueness and rarity of this mirror have made it an item worthy of receiving a GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2004-05. 

Aranmula Kannadi: A Dying Craft

Although it is one of a kind, the manual labour required to make even one Aranmula Kannadi is a lot and hence it discourages today’s generation from learning and keeping the craft alive. The constant flood and COVID-19 have only made the situation worse for Aranmula Kannadi artisans. As they hope and pray for their ancestral art to be kept alive, let’s do our part and spread the word about this rare gem from Kerala.

Exploring Medieval Indian Temples and Their Reflection on Society

Medieval Indian Temples were developed as the reflection of the contemporary society. Let’s explore their architecture and cultural impact.

Medieval India holds a special place in Indian cultural history due to the extensive impact it had on society. This included architecture, literature, music, social engagements, etc. As for architecture, temples across the Indian subcontinent saw a massive change due to Bhakti. Initial simple rock-cut cave shrines gave way to vast, elaborate temples that spanned the Indian subcontinent and beyond as Hindu architecture developed over the ages. This design is now followed in contemporary Hindu temples all over the world. 

When we look at the detailed intricate carvings and magnificent sculptures that adorn the medieval temples of India, a colourful tapestry of society unfolds before our eyes. These temples are visual storytellers that have captured the essence of the society that birthed them. Indian Temple Sculptures intertwine art, history and culture, calling us to delve deeper into their symbolic language.  Let’s explore the impact medieval temples had on society and culture in India.

Indian Temple Structures

The emergence of indian temple sculptures.

For us to truly understand and appreciate the societal reflections in Temple Sculptures, we have to first understand their historical evolution. The Gupta period which lasted from the 4th – 6th century CE marked the beginning of temple sculptures in India. During this time, spiritual devotion and artistic mastery came together, resulting in sculptures that radiate grace and divinity. Depictions of deities and celestial beings were the prime focus of the art of this time, which highlighted the religious and spiritual inclination of the Gupta society.

One can find such sculptures in the Dasavatara temple at Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh. It is the first North Indian temple to have a shikhara, though now part of it has disappeared and curtailed. Originally, people stated that the shikhara was around 40 feet. The temple depicts the ten avatars of Vishnu.

Transitional Phase

Spanning from the 6th to the 8th century, Indian Temple Sculptures witnessed a mix of fusion of local and foreign influences. The Pallavas and Chalukyas have marked their legacy not just through their glorious reign but also through their extraordinary art and architecture. The Pallavas, currently a part of Tamil Nadu, are considered the pioneers of Southern Indian Architecture, as they gave us the single rock temples in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. The Chalukyas gave us the “Chalukyan Architecture ” or “Karnataka Dravida Architecture ”, in the form of the rock-cut temples of Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Their sculptures blended local elements with foreign influences which resulted in a unique visual language. They often were expressions of royal patronage and regional pride that showed the interconnectedness of art and power.

Such a stunning visual of that era can be found in Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. The Chariot or Ratha Style temples there are a UNESCO site and are one of the oldest monolithic rock-cut structures. The Pallava kings constructed 5 of these marvels, each cut from a single stone. One of them is “Arjuna’s Penance” or “Decent of the Ganges” which is at a height of 96 feet and 43 feet long.

Mature Phase

During the reigns of the Cholas and the Hoysalas, from the 9th to the 13th century CE, the mature phase of the Indian Temple Sculptures unfolded. The Chola temple sculptures distinguish themselves through their grandeur and intricacy, presenting a rich canvas of mythological stories and religious symbolism. They were also the ones to pioneer the art of bronze sculptures, whose narrative style captured the viewers’ imagination. The Hoysala introduced distinctive decoration and intricate detailing in their sculptures which highlighted their artistic finesse.

One can witness a marvel created during this time at Modhera, Gujrat. The Sun Temple there, dating back to the early 11th century, was constructed by Raja Bhimdev I of the Solanki Dynasty. The massive rectangular stepped tank called the “Surya Kund” in front of this temple is the captivating aspect, where each year, at the time of the equinoxes, the sun shines directly into the “Surya Kund.”

Emergence of Bhakti and its Effects on Medieval Indian Temples

As the Bhakti movement had a great impact on Indian society, it also affected their ways of worship. People had replaced traditional and old Vedic gods with popular deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Brahma and Devi. People made temples dedicated to each deity. These temples included various sculptures influenced by mythological happenings and adventures of their time. There were also specific places for activities such as devadasis dancing, performing various rituals and bathing. 

The temples were considered the home of a particular god, and therefore, its maintenance held utmost importance. For this, priests looked after temples, ensuring their condition. The maintenance of temples was ensured by land offerings and contributions from the ruling elite because, as many temple inscriptions indicate, they were the centerpiece of a community.

History of The Architecture of Medieval Indian Temples 

Indian temples saw a significant aesthetic and structural transformation during the medieval period, combining innovative architectural styles with symbolic religious symbols. This change is a direct result of early Buddhist buildings like stupas, which had a profound influence on the evolution of Hindu temples. In the Indian subcontinent, temples were originally carved out of ancient caves. 

However, the introduction of Gupta architecture in the 4th or 5th century CE was the turning point. It was around this time that the first Hindu temples to stand alone developed. The Dashavatara temple in Deogarh, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a notable example of this era. Cave temples were important architectural and religious marvels during the Middle Ages. One such example is the Udaigiri cave temple in Malwa, which dates to the fifth century CE. 

The temples were built around the garbhagriha , also known as the womb-chamber. This closed chamber, with no windows, held an emblem or picture of a particular god. The garbhagriha was thought by devotees to exude a strong energy that had an all-encompassing effect on the surrounding architectural features. The architecture of the temple often featured blind entrances on three sides to represent this flow of divine energy, letting the deity’s power expand symbolically.

The garbhagriha was the main element of the early temples. But by the 10th century CE, new architectural features like the sikhara , mandapa , and ardhamandapa had been added. The temples were changed and given a more intricate structure by these modifications. Many temples look like silhouettes of mountains from a distance, especially when seen from above because of their many towers. Notable examples of these temple constructions are the 11th-century Kandariya Mahadeva temple in Khajuraho and the 12th-century Rajarani temple in Bhubaneswar.

Temple architecture evolved regionally, as seen by the various features of temples in Orissa, Kashmir, and Bengal. Nevertheless, people widely acknowledge the Nagara and Dravida architectural styles as the two main architectural forms.

What Do Medieval Indian Temples Depict?

Depiction of society in temple sculptures.

Temple sculptures give us a visual representation of the socio-political hierarchies in medieval Indian Society.Royalties wear regal attire and strike sophisticated poses that symbolize their authority. The courtiers and nobility assume poses that demonstrate their homage or assistance to the royalties.

The clothes worn by them further depict the hierarchies. The ruling class adorned themselves with elaborate clothing and heavily detailed jewelry that set them apart from the rest of society. With close examination of these sculptures, we gain insights into the divisions of power, privilege, and status that shaped medieval Indian society. We get a visual understanding of social fabrics and hierarchies that were present at that time.

Representation of Daily Life

Temple sculptures give us a look into the routine and occupations of people during medieval India. Artisans, farmers, traders, and other members of society actively engage in their roles and responsibilities to the community. These sculptures capture not only the aspects of daily life but also the essence of the norms, gender roles, and cultural practices. From depictions of agricultural labour to busy bazaars, the sculptures bring to life the everyday existence of medieval India.

Religious and Mythological Narratives

Temple sculptures are storytellers, presenting religious and mythological stories in a physical form. They depict gods, goddesses, and epic tales from Hindu mythology, giving us a visual representation of the cultural and spiritual traditions of medieval India. Sculpture panels show us the stories of creation, the war between gods and demons, and the victory of good over evil. These stories convey morals, ethics, and philosophical aspects, providing us with lessons and inspiring devotion. These sculptures are not only objects of worship but also powerful conduits for spiritual enlightenment and cultural preservation.

Social and Political Commentary in Sculptural Narratives

Going beyond just religious and mythological stories, Temple sculptures give us a glimpse of social and political commentary. They tell us stories from historical events, legends, and power dynamics. Sculptures show us war, conquests, and political alliances, showing us the bravery of warriors and the ambitions of rulers. They show us the patronage of art by kings, spotlighting their authority and cultural influences. In addition, these sculptures highlight religious and cultural practices such as pilgrimage sites, rituals, and ceremonies. Sculptures further illustrate the diversity of regional customs and distinct traditions and rituals.

Impact of Medieval Indian Temples on Society 

In earlier times, temples were more than simply a place of worship. Education was fundamentally religious, and temples had the primary role in it. People went to temples to learn religious and moral teachings about society and life. They also learnt dance, music, other fine arts and social behaviors at temples. As these temples were central to society’s functioning and sheltered students and scholars, they also acted as a place for the needy. These temples had enormous wealth and it was used to help the society’s betterment in all aspects. As times changed, temples also started garnering medical facilities to help the sick. It also acted as a court of law as people started discussing concerns and conflicts in this central space. 

Eventually, a feudal system became attached to the temples. People began to consider temples the home of their particular deity and started giving their financial offerings and other resources to God instead of the priest. The king of the particular area claimed these offerings, and even the society considered him entitled to this. While Brahmans had their exclusive advantages, they did not appreciate this shift and held deep opposition against this system. However, due to the pressure of kings and local people, the system prevailed. 

As we end our journey through the corridors of time, we must appreciate and preserve these cultural treasures. Medieval Indian temples witnessed a considerable architectural shift, becoming hubs for social services, education and culture. As a reflection of shifting social and religious forces, they were crucial in forming Indian society and culture. Temples developed from simple rock-cut caves to elaborate buildings. Their impact went beyond religious practices to include the arts, education, social services and even the legal system. This historical heritage, which still has an impact on modern India, exemplifies the complex interplay of medieval culture, architecture and religion.

The legacy of medieval Indian Temple sculptures continues to inspire and captivate. When we delve into their beauty and deep symbolism, we create a deeper connection to our heritage and get an understanding of the vibrant tapestry that is Indian society. It gives us a larger picture of the complexities of Indian society and the forces that have shaped it over the course of time and influenced by various reigns and dynasties.

Indian Textile Prints to Jazz Up Your Wardrobe

Indian textile prints are as varied as they can be, both because of designs and the different techniques that they employ.

There are three very visible markers of any place that defines it. First is language, second is their clothes and third is their food. Among these three, it’s clothes that are most easily adopted by people from different cultures as they often add more vibrancy and life to one’s look without giving their taste buds the sometimes unpleasant aftertaste or their brain a numbing pain from remembering the word structure and formation in another language. In India, cloth has been a symbol of freedom and resistance since colonial times and today it stands the testament of time and is the face of our national heritage . The different handloom technique that is used is one way to distinguish the different textiles in India. The different prints and printing technique is also a major distinguishing element. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Indian textile prints:    

Popular in Odisha, Gujrat and Andhra Pradesh, this print is surely an acquired taste. Made by tying and dyeing sections of the yarn before weaving the fabric which leads to the iconic blurring effect. The symmetry and beauty of this print are bound to leave you spellbound. It is common to find motifs of flowers and animals like fish, parrots, etc. in this design.

Started by the Khatri community of Gujarat, it is known for its different dot-sized prints on a colourful backdrop. Created using a tie-dye technique wherein the cloth is tied in several tight small knots with a sealed thread and then dyed. If you’re a lover of bright colours this print is for you.

Another popular print from Western India, Dabu follows a hand-block printing technique. In this a mud-resisting agent primarily made up of calcium hydroxide or chuna , naturally pounded wheat chaff ( beedan ) and gum ( gond ) is used to apply it on the fabric before and during an indigo bath. After the indigo bath, the cloth is washed to remove the mud and it leaves behind the beautiful motifs of flowers and plants. Getting its name from ‘dabana’ meaning ‘to press’, this technique creates beautiful patterns that have re-emerged as a trendy pattern in the fashion scene today.

Using a wax resistance dying technique Batik is a very intricate design technique which involves covering certain areas of clothing with bits of wax and then dyeing the cloth. This leads to the formation of patterns in those areas where the bits of wax were originally laid. This creates an intricate and repetitive pattern consisting of motifs which may be floral or ornamental.

Very popular in Sindh, Pakistan; Kutch, Gujarat; and Barmer, Rajasthan in India, Ajrakh follows a hand-block printing technique that gives it its rich and vibrant look. Using only natural dyes design stamps are created which are then applied to a piece of clothing to create the design. The print usually uses indigo or deep red colours and white or black outlines to define the design. It consists of symmetrical geometric elements that give it its intricate look.

Heavily inspired by Hindu mythology, and using motifs from Ramayana and Mahabharata it uses block or hand printing to achieve the famous intricate design. Kalamkari literally means “pen art”. In earlier days poets and singers used to paint Hindu mythology characters and their tales which ultimately led to the generation of textile printing Kalamkari.  

Leheriya is another traditional tie-dye technique that hails from Rajasthan. It is a rather simple technique that uses resist-dyeing to create the signature flickering wave-like patterns. In Rajasthan, waves are called “Leheriya”, and hence the technique is named after the pattern it creates. Printed on bright-coloured fabric, this print will surely add colourful zest to your wardrobe.   

These are just a few prints among the array of prints that give Indian textiles their unique flair! 

Unraveling Bhakti Literature: An Immersive Exploration into its Saints and Cultural Imprint

Bhakti Literature was one of the most significant movements in Indian Literature. Discover more about its cultural impact in this article.

“Awake, arise, or be forever fallen.”  John Milton, Paradise Lost

Modern days of the 21st century continually draw us towards the liberating ideologies that span the globe. However, in this fervor, we fail to acknowledge that we need not traverse vast distances to recognize that India’s Bhakti Movement and the various European anti-feudal movements may have shared their underlying ideas. That is the richness of our history.

Movements are born from reforms or rebellions. These may stem from changing socio-cultural landscapes or mental atmospheres about the prevailing social systems. The Bhakti Movement was one such movement. It arose from the advent of nationalism, as the scholars claim, against the heavily feudal social orders.

While the first wave of Bhakti as a concept dates back to the 7th century, it was only in the 12th century that it started evolving as a widespread cultural movement. As Balkrishna Bhatt referred to the Bhakti Literature as “the evolution of people’s sensibilities”, the medieval Indian masses witnessed a heightened awareness. This was in the forms of emotions, concerns and socio-economic position. This awareness gave rise to democratic cultural practices, much like the Renaissance in the European subcontinent.

Rejection of Feudalism: Folk Culture, Democratized Literature and Unification of Knowledge in Bhakti Literature

During the Sultanate period, Indian society was crammed with several aberrations, such as the caste system, rituals, polytheism, chaturvarna, etc. Therefore, Brahmanical dominance prevailed more than ever. It was during this time that many famous Bhakti saints like Kabir, Surdas and Mirabai wandered from place to place, singing hymns and drawing upon common people. These vernacular Bhakti saints, who were ideologically anti-Brahmanical, placed much importance on faith in divinity. This faith was free of prejudice against castes, regions, genders and religions. This spirit lay in the awareness spread by the Muslim invaders with the introduction of a more egalitarian religion, Islam. Alongside, they rejected aristocratic poetry and court languages – Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit and Apabhramsha and produced literature in regional languages.

This form of rebellion against anti-human feudal orders was seen in the Bhakti movement for the first time. Moreover, it was not only the forms of court poetry that the Bhakti saints rejected. Primarily, it was their content that sprang from the experiences of common people and developed in folk culture and literature. This also bridged the artificial gap between literariness associated with traditional poetic language and spoken language for the first time in Indian history. As a counter-cultural movement, Bhakti had a lasting impact on literature, fine arts, and music altogether. At the same, it also unified the masses on a pan-Indian level, opposing the social issues of caste and gender.

As the Bhakti movement actively questioned and rebelled against the orthodox Brahmanical society, it beckoned people from lower castes and women to partake in the movement. This provided them with aspirations of gaining salvation regardless of their religion via devotion to the divine instead of reliance on exclusive Brahmanical knowledge. 

Saint Poets of The Medieval Bhakti Movement

Ramanuja, an influential figure in the Bhakti movement, emphasized the idea of devotion as a pathway to spiritual liberation. Similar to other Bhakti saints, he criticized and rejected the idea of the inaccessibility of spiritual liberation for the lower castes. Instead, he actively engaged folks from all social backgrounds. Furthermore, his commentaries on important Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, provided knowledge to the lower sections of society, which violated the essential ideologies of Hinduism. 

The aspects of rebellion and resistance have an immense place in the poetry of Surdas and Tulsidas. They immensely used the traditional Sanskrit elements as tools to create their Bhakti poems. These poems were often centered around courageous heroes rebelling against exploitative and unjust forces. This highlighted the then-current socio-cultural and economic landscapes. Moreover, their heroes often killed the tyrannical figures in order to establish benevolent socio-political orders. It was these underlying ideologies that aggravated the aristocrats and invited resistance of Bhakti from their courts.

Sant Kabir, born in the 15th century, was yet another saint poet of medieval Bhakti movements. He emphasized the importance of inner divinity and humanism over outward piety, which is false in its actual essence. It denounced the hypocrisy of the aristocrats and authority figures and accentuated the anti-humanist emotions behind social violence.

Mirabai, often considered a symbol of  Bhakti poetry , popularized devotional literature in vernacular languages. She made spiritual themes accessible to the masses, which aristocrats again looked down upon. More importantly, her devotion defied the rigid gender and social norms attached to her as a Rajput woman. Her  poetry  also contained many elements of Sufism, which again targeted the religious beliefs of the time. 

It is almost surprising how both the ancient and the medieval Bhakti movements were established in vastly different societies, contemporary politics, religious beliefs, masses across the Indian subcontinent, etc., and yet shared the underlying essence. What is equally astonishing is that it remains a striving utopia even today, in the 21st century. The socio-political affairs, massively advanced and reformed, lack the egalitarianism that Sant Kabir adopted as inner divinity in the 15th century and women’s liberation still remains a quest as they hide their innermost desired achievements in secrecy behind the guise of gopis.

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The Lost Stories of Forgotten Fighters of Indian Independence

Forgotten fighters of indian independence: the faces you remember when independence day are not the only ones who contributed to the freedom struggle. check out this article to know more about unsung heroes..

Forgotten Fighters Of Indian Independence: The country cheering loud for the 77th Independence Day. 15 August 1947 is etched in Indian history with golden letters. The day annually celebrates the leaders of freedom fighters but forgets one they lead. There are countless heroes and heroines and their unwavering dedication which needs to be told on the grand stages. 

In this article, you will learn about the lesser-known hero who played an important role in India’s fight for liberty.

Gangu Mehtar: Gangu Mehtar or Gangu Baba was born in Bithoor village of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in a Dalit family. He lived his childhood in extreme poverty. In the early days to earn a living he also worked as a sweeper. 

Gangu Baba's shift to Chunnaiganj village brought major changes in his life. He learnt wrestling and later owned a wrestling ring where many youths practised wrestling under his tutelage. He was one of the most important parts of Nana Saheb’s army who killed around 150 Britishers singlehandedly. 

Kanak Lata Barua: Kanaklata Barua also called Birbala and Shaheed (martyr), was an Indian independence activist and AISF leader. The 17-year-old Kanaklata with a heart full of love for the motherland joined Mrityu Bahini, a death squad of youth from Assam. The Bahini decided to raise the national flag at the neighbourhood police station on September 20, 1942. To do this, Barua led a group of unarmed peasants. Rebati Mahan Som, the official in charge of the police station, told the procession that their plot will result in terrible consequences from the police. When the police opened fire on the parade after issuing the warning, it was still moving forward. Mukunda Kakoti, who was also shot at, picked up the flag Barua was holding after she was shot. 

Barua the young leader sacrificed her life.

Taanguturi Prakasham: Taanguturi Prakasam, popularly known as "Andhra Kesari" which means "Lion of Andhra". Born on 23 August 1872 he was an Indian jurist, political leader, social reformer, and anti-colonial nationalist and the first chief minister of the Andhra Pradesh. He actively promoted harijan (Dalit) issues while travelling the state. On one of these excursions to a Harijanwada outside of Ongole, he experienced severe sunstroke. He was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad, where he passed away on May 20th, 1957.

The Complete Timeline Of the Indian Freedom Struggle

Aruna Asaf Ali: Aruna Asaf Ali was a publisher, political activist, and educator from India. She was born Aruna Ganguly on July 16, 1909, in Kalka, Haryana, to a Bengali family that practised traditional Hinduism. She was a vocal supporter of Indian independence and is well known for raising the national flag of India during the 1942 Quit India Movement at Bombay's Gowalia Tank Maidan. She earned the titles of "Grand Old Lady" of the Independence Movement and "Heroine of 1942" due to her valiant actions.

Veerpandiya Kattabonam:  Veerapandiya Kattabomman was an 18th-century Palayakarrar and king of Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu, India. Kattabomman had to make a stand at his fort in Panchalankurichi, largely unprepared, although his forces were able to hold back the company troops initially, his fort was incapable of taking on British artillery, so he withdrew from the fort into nearby forests, fighting a guerilla campaign till his capture on October 1, 1799.

He was captured by the British with the help of the ruler of the kingdom of Pudukottai, Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman, and at the age of 39, he was hanged at Kayathar on 16 October 1799.

Alluri Seetharam Raju: Indian rebel Alluri Sitarama Raju battled against British colonial power in his country. He organized the tribal people against the repressive forest regulations and policies of the British government by leading a guerilla war in the Eastern Ghats region of modern-day Andhra Pradesh.

He was born as Alluri Rama Raju into a Telugu-speaking family. Later, he prefixed his name with "Sita" in honour of a young woman he loved who tragically passed away at a young age, leaving him heartbroken. 

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Maatangini Haazra: Maatangini Haazra, popularly known as Gandhi Buri (old lady Gandhi) , was born on 19 October 1870. She enthusiastically got involved in the Gandhian campaign for Indian freedom.  She participated in the Civil Disobedience campaign in 1930 and was the first person to be detained for violating the Salt Act. And was later arrested for 6 months.

Despite her pitiful physical condition, Hazra returned to her social work in the 1930s as soon as she was released from prison to assist untouchables. She worked with impacted men, women, and children when smallpox epidemics first appeared in the area. 

When the British Indian police shot her dead in front of the Tamluk Thana on September 29, 1942, she was in charge of one of the five batches of volunteers (of the Vidyut Bahini) that had been assembled by the Samar Parisad (War Council). The first martyr of the ‘Quit India’ movement.

Potti Shriramulu:  Indian rebel and freedom fighter Potti Sreeramulu was born on 16 March 1901. In the Andhra area, Sreeramulu is regarded as Amarajeevi because of his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause.  He contributed his life to the formation of a separate Telugu-speaking state from the dominant Tamil-speaking Madras presidency. 

He sat on a  hunger strike for 56 days in support of having a separate state for Andhra Pradesh; he died in the process. His death sparked public rioting and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent of the newly liberated nation to form Andhra State three days following the death of Sreeramulu. 

The list of unsung heroes does not end here. These infamous people, from grassroots activists to unknown revolutionaries selflessly contribute to the freedom of struggle. It’s time that we at least have them in our consciousness if not in our books.

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Peer Ali Khan: The Unheard Story of an Indian Freedom Fighter

Peer Ali Khan was one of the unsung heroes of the Indian freedom movement. He opposed the British rules in the initial periods of the movement. He was part of the 1857 conflict . He was given capital punishment for showing his rebellious acts against the British Raj . Peer Ali inspired millions to follow his path through his courageous act. He was a brave freedom fighter. But he just faded away from people’s minds. Maximum people don’t know his name. Even there is no information available about him in the history books. However, he fought for his motherland and was hanged.

Peer Ali Khan was born in Muhammadpur in the Azamgarh District of Uttar Pradesh. In his childhood, at the age of seven, he fled away from home. Later, he reached Patna and met with Zamindar Nawab Mir Abdullah under a banyan tree. The Zamindar sheltered him and raised him with his son Lutf Ali Khan. He gave him a chance to educate. Peer Ali learned Urdu, Arabic and Persian. But from childhood, he was passionate about fighting against the British and throwing them out of India. Zamindar Mir Abdullah was in a good relationship with the British. But he had evil feelings for the British, and slowly, he forwarded his feelings to Peer Ali.

When he finished his education, he opened a bookshop in Patna with the help of Zamindar. He used to sell handwritten books and literature. His bookshop was popular for its handwritten books. He felt unpleasant about the British rules and couldn’t tolerate their torture. He was attracted to the freedom movement. Soon his bookshop became a meeting point for Freedom fighters and the center of planning against the British. The bookshop was the medium to keep contact with other fighters and Indian soldiers who were in the British army. He came closer to the Indian soldiers in Danapur Cantonment. He made friends in the soldiers’ group and gathered support against the British rules. He arranged regular campaigns against the British rulers with his followers, companions and co-workers. They were spreading the hatred among the local people too. He got involved in the Great Indian Revolt of 1857. These incidents took place in Patna before Gaya, Shahabad and Danapur. These developments happened before the Sepoy Revolution of Meerut. He continued to encourage many young people and led many freedom fighters before his arrest. In those days, he was planning for a revolution with the help of Danapur Indian soldiers. But in the meantime, two secret letters from the Danapur Cantonment were gone into the hands of British police. One letter was in Peer Ali’s name, and another was in the name of Waris Ali.

After that letter incident, his friend and the officer of the British police Waris Ali were arrested. Then Peer Ali decided to attack the British rulers immediately. He was confident and determined about the consequences of the attack. But he was trying hard to accumulate all his resources for a successful attack. He elevated a blue and white colored flag and collected his companions. He distributed fifty guns among his group members. He collected these guns with the help of his co-worker Maulvi Mehdi. On 20 June 1857, when the British rulers learned the facts about those guns, they arrested the Maulvi and hanged him without hearing. Peer Ali became furious with what happened with the Maulvi.

On 3 July, he again raised the flag of revolution. He and his group of two hundred supporters planned to attack the state administrative headquarter, Gulzar Bagh. The flag was in the hand of Ghulam Abbas. Nandu Khar got the charge to watch on the insiders. Peer Ali took charge of the leader, and he was shouting slogans against the British. When they were moving towards headquarters, Dr. Lloyal was moving with his Indian group of soldiers. Dr. Lloyal ordered his men to open fire. On that firing, Dr. Lloyal was killed. This news was spread like fire. The Commissioner of Patna, W Taylor, ordered his soldiers to open fire on the crowd. Many supporters died on the spot. Many were critically wounded. British army organized a terror movement in Patna. Every house of the Muslims was searched, and many people were arrested without evidence. Many of them were hanged brutally on trees without hearing. Many innocents lost their lives on that day.

Later, the bookshop of Peer Ali was raided by British soldiers. They searched the entire shop and seized many documents. On 4 July, he was arrested with his 33 followers. Most of them were hanged the next day without any hearing. But Peer Ali was saved for some other purpose. He was brutally tortured and cross-examined for three days for the information of his companions, Lutf Ali and other followers. He was brave and tolerated all tortures but did not disclose any information. Even W Taylor offered that if he disclosed information about his followers, he would forgive him. But Peer Ali never kneels. Peer Ali said,” There are some occasions on which it is good to give up life and that if I sacrificed, thousands of others, every day, will fill their place “. On 7 July of the same year, he was hanged by the cruel British ruler with the murder charges of Dr. Llyoal. Later British rulers ordered him to kill all his followers and co-workers. But his mission was not finished. He successfully passed his mission to the millions of followers who fought for their motherland.

Peer Ali Khan was not the one; many freedom fighters gave their lives for the freedom movement and were brutally tortured. They left their home, regular life, families, and friends’ love for the country. Their sacrifices are truly inspiring. There are many unsung heroes whom we don’t know, and they should be remembered.

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As India celebrates its 70th Independence anniversary from the throngs of the British empire this year, teleSUR remembers some of the iconic women fighters that helped India attain its freedom in 1947. While there are countless women that helped the cause but there are a few names that stand out.

1. Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796)

Even before Rani (Queen) Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi who participated in the Sepoy mutiny or India's "first war of Independence," of 1857, Queen Velu Nachiyar ruled the southern state of Tamil Nadu from 1760 to 1790 and fought against the British colonial rule.

Born to a royal couple, Mannar Sellamuthu Sethupathy and Sakandhimuthal in 1730 AD, Nachiyar was trained in Indian martial arts, horse riding, archery, and other weaponry. She was also a multi-linguist and spoke English, French, and Urdu, among others.

The all-woman brigade was warmly received and Sahgal came to be known as "Captain Lakshmi" from there on.

While marching to Burma in the December of 1944, along with the Japanese army who allied with the Indian army to fight against the British, Sahgal was held captive by the British army in May 1945 and remained in Burma until March 1946. She was later sent to New Delhi as part of the INA trials.

Sahgal joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI-(M), in 1971 and represented the party in India's upper house, Rajya Sabha. Later she went to Bangladesh, where she organized relief camps and provided medical aid to refugees coming to India from Bangladesh during the genocide where West Pakistan began a military crackdown on the East to suppress the Bengalis' call for independence.

5. Aruna Asaf Ali (1909- 1996)

She was arrested in 1931 for participating alongside Mahatma Gandhi in the public processions, called Salt Satyagraha, that loosely translates to "insistence on truth," a major civil resistance movement.

Even during her time in New Delhi's Tihar jail, she protested the British authorities' inhuman treatment of political prisoners. Ali launched a hunger strike that eventually led to significant improvement in jail conditions at the time. Due to her role in the strike, she was moved to another jail and placed in solitary confinement.

After Independence, she quickly joined the Congress Socialist Party, a caucus within the Congress Party with socialist leanings but disillusioned she left and after giving Socialist Party a chance, Ali finally joined the Communist Party of India in the early 1950s. She along with her husband founded The Patriot, a Soviet Union-leaning newspaper in 1962. Moscow awarded her the Lenin Peace Prize in 1965.

''My colleagues and I had decided we would not beg for freedom — we would fight for it,'' Ali's known to have said during her freedom fighting days.

6. Kanaklata Barua (1924-1942)

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Unsung Heroes of India’s freedom struggle

Introduction.

In today's fast-moving world and tough competitive day-to-day life, the youth hardly find time for remembrance of our rich heritage and past. This becomes most crucial whilst the nation celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (commemoration of 75 years of Indian Independence). The fight against colonial rule in India constitutes a unique narrative, one which is not marred by violence. Rather a narrative that is full of variegated stories of valor, bravery, Satyagraha, dedication, and sacrifice across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. These stories compose the rich Indian cultural heritage and traditions. Thus, the unsung heroes need not necessarily define the lesser-known freedom fighters. They may, at times, be the leaders whose ideals delineate the Indian value system.

The Section on Unsung Heroes is an attempt to recall and remember forgotten heroes of our freedom struggle, many of whom might be renowned yet unknown to the new generation. The aim of recreating and bringing forth stories, which lay as faded memories of the past, shall serve as a medium of inspiration and encouragement for the coming generations. India 2.0 is not just about fuelling the spirit of India in any one particular paradigm of growth. It encompasses all spheres of life, most of all by enriching our hearts and souls. The spirit of India is incomplete whilst we take our unsung heroes along this journey of growth and development. Their ethos and principles ought to be recalled and respected.

Ministry of Culture and Amar Chitra Katha special collaboration for Amrit Mahotsav

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Unsung Heroes

Raghubar Dayal Srivastava

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Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Stories of Unsung Heroes

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Women Freedom Fighters: The Unsung Heroines

Last updated on October 4, 2022 by ClearIAS Team

Are you curious to find out more about the significant but unsung women freedom fighters who influenced the Indian National Movement? To learn more, keep reading.

A topic for the UPSC Mains 2021 Essay exam was “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”

The topic’s main draw was women’s achievements and other forms of empowerment.

Therefore, contributions from women freedom fighters are important from a UPSC standpoint.

Table of Contents

1. Pritilata Waddedar (1911-1932)

Pritilata Waddedar, who was born on May 5, 1911, in Chittagong (modern-day Bangladesh), was one of the first women to take up arms and engage in revolutionary activities.

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She joined Deepali Sangh, a revolutionary organization that provided women with combat training when she was young.

She was eager to join Surya Sen’s Indian Revolutionary Army, but she was met with opposition because it was dominated by men.

But, along with Kalpana Dut t, she underwent rigorous training to become a member of this group.

After the Chittagong Armoury Raid , in which most of the IRA’s leaders were apprehended, Pritilata, who was only 21 years old at the time, was given command of a group of 7-10 young men who laid siege to the Pahartali European Club (a social club for Europeans).

This club was primarily targeted because of its racial and discriminatory practices. It had a sign that said, “Dogs and Indians not allowed.”

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On the night of 23 September 1932, dressed like a man, she boldly led the attack. In the ensuing fierce gun battle, she got shot in the leg, which prevented her from escaping.

Instead of surrendering, she chose to swallow a pill of cyanide and thus became a martyr.

2. Basanti Devi (1880-1974)

Devi became involved in the freedom struggle after her husband, Chittaranjan Das, was arrested for participating in the Non-cooperation movement.

She took part in movements such as the Khilafat and civil disobedience.

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She was also a founding member of the Nari Karma Mandira , an educational centre for women.

After the death of her husband, she ran the weekly publication of Bangalar Katha. 

She headed the Bengal Provincial Congress as its President and received the Padma Vibhushan in 1973.

3. Aruna Asaf Ali (1909-1996)

Aruna Asaf Ali was an Indian educator, political activist, and publisher.

She was an active participant in the Indian independence movement and is best known for hoisting the Indian National flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement in 1942, giving the movement one of its most enduring images.

Aruna was dubbed the  Heroine of the 1942 movement  for her bravery in the face of danger and was called the Grand Old Lady of the Independence movement  in her later years.

She also edited Inquilab , a monthly magazine of the Congress Party, along with  Ram Manohar Lohia.

In a 1944 issue, she exhorted the youth to action by asking them to forget futile discussions about violence and non-violence and join the revolution.

Leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan and Aruna Asaf Ali were described as “the Political children of Gandhi but recent students of Karl Marx”. She is one of women freedom fighters who have shaped our struggle for Independence.

4. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1903-1988)

She is the first lady in India to stand in elections from Madras Constituency although she lost in the elections she pioneered the path for women in India.

She was best known for her involvement in the campaign for Indian independence and for being the impetus for the revival of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre in independent India.

In recognition of her work promoting handicrafts, UNESCO presented her with an award in 1977. She was also given Shantiniketan’s highest honor, the Desikottama.

5. Matangini Hazra (1870-1942)

Matangini Hazra was an Indian revolutionary who took part in the movement for Indian independence up until the British Indian police shot her to death in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of the former Midnapore District) on September 29, 1942.

She was affectionately known as  Gandhi Buri ,  Bengali  for  old lady Gandhi .

After Indian Independence, the first statue of a woman was erected in Kolkata, and it was Hazra’s in 1977.

At the location of her murder in Tamluk, a statue now stands. In Kolkata, Hazra Road is also named in her honor.

6. Bina Das(1911-1986)

West Bengal-born Bina Das was an Indian nationalist and revolutionary. She was born to parents who were active in the Brahmo Samaj and the battle for freedom and who worked as social workers and educators.

Das belonged to the Chhatri Sangha, a semi-revolutionary group of women’s organizations in Kolkata. She made an attempt to kill Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson on February 6, 1932, in the University of Calcutta’s Convocation Hall.

Kamala Das Gupta, another freedom fighter, provided the revolver. She attempted to shoot five times but was unsuccessful, and she was given a nine-year prison term.

After her early release in 1939, Das joined the Congress party. In 1942, she participated in the Quit India movement and was imprisoned again from 1942 to 1945.

She will certainly be remembered as one of the notable women freedom fighters in our country.

7. Suniti Chaudhary (1917 – 1988)

Suniti Choudhury was an Indian nationalist who, along with  Santi Ghose , assassinated a British district magistrate when she was 16 years old and is known for her participation in an armed revolutionary struggle.

She is often dubbed as the youngest female revolutionary of the Indian Freedom Struggle

Under the guise of presenting a petition to organize a swimming competition among their classmates, Chowdhury and Santi Ghose, both 16 at the time, entered the office of Charles Geoffrey Buckland Stevens, a British bureaucrat and the district magistrate of Comilla, on December 14, 1931.

While Stevens was looking at the petition, Ghose and Chowdhury took out automatic pistols from under their shawls and shot and killed him.

She will undoubtedly be recognized as one of our country’s notable women freedom fighters.

8. Jhalkari Bai ( 1830- 1858)

Jhalkaribai was a female soldier who was crucial in the 1857 Indian Rebellion.

She was an active participant in the women’s army of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi.

She eventually rose to become a key adviser to the reigning monarch, Rani of Jhansi.

She assumed the queen’s identity during the height of the Siege of Jhansi and fought on the front lines for the queen, enabling her to safely leave the fort.

9. Savithribhai Phule (1831-1897)

Savitribai Jyotirao Phule was a Maharashtrian poet, educator, and social reformer. She and her husband Jyothioba Phule in Maharashtra significantly contributed to the advancement of women’s rights in India.

She is credited with founding the feminist movement in India. In Pune, near Bhide Wada, Savitribai and her husband established one of the first modern Indian girls’ schools in 1848 .

She campaigned to remove caste and gender prejudice and unfair treatment of individuals.

10. Beegum Hazrat Mahal

During the 1857 uprising, Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the few women to oppose the British.

She was born Muhammadi Khanum. In Awadh’s Faizabad, she was born.

She married Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in a mut’ah ceremony later in life.

The last Nawab of Awadh, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled to Calcutta after Awadh was conquered by the British East India Company in 1856. Along with her son Birjis Qadir, Hazrat Mahal made the decision to remain in Lucknow.

Awadh was annexed after a rebellion started in Meerut and the revolt’s flag was flown in Lucknow, which quickly spread to other Awadhi towns.

Only in Lucknow did the English continue to engage the rebels within the Residency building until they were able to reclaim their lost power.

11. Rani Gaidinliu (1915-1973)

A Naga spiritual and political leader who led an uprising against British control in India was Gaidinliu Pamei, also known as Rani Gaidinliu.

She joined the Heraka religious movement, led by her cousin Haipou Jadonang, when she was 13 years old.

Later, the campaign evolved into an attempt to expel the British from Manipur and the nearby Naga regions.

Gaidinliu, who was detained in 1932 at the age of 16, received a life sentence from the British authorities.

When they first met in 1937, J awaharlal Nehru pledged to work for her release. She was given the title “Rani” (“Queen”) by Nehru , and she rose to fame as Rani Gaidinliu among the local community.

She will unquestionably be counted among the most notable women freedom fighters in the history of our country.

12. Durga Bhabi (1907-1999)

A revolutionary who joined the armed resistance against colonial rule was Durgawati Devi, also known as Durga Bhabhi.

As a Naujawan Bharat Sabha member, she assisted Bhagat Singh in fleeing Lahore after the 1928 murder of British police officer John P. Saunders.

Rajguru pretended to be Durgawati and Bhagat Singh’s servant throughout the subsequent train ride.

Later, she undertook an unsuccessful effort to kill Lord Hailey, the former governor of Punjab, in retaliation for the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.

13. Kittur Chennama (1778-1829)

Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kittur, was one of the first rulers to organize an armed uprising against British rule. In the modern-day state of Karnataka, Kittur was a princely state.

After the death of her little son in 1824, she retaliated against the attempt to take control of her domain. Raja Mallasarja, her spouse, passed away in 1816.

She is regarded as one of the few leaders of the day who comprehended the British government’s colonial plans.

In her initial uprising, Rani Chennamma overthrew the British, but the East India Company’s second attack resulted in her capture and imprisonment.

14. Sarla Devi Chaudhurani (1872-1945)

In 1910, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, an educator and political leader from India, created Bharat Stree Mahamandal in Allahabad.

It was the country of India’s first national organization for women. Promoting female education was one of the organization’s main objectives.

15. Mirabehn (1892-1982)

In the 1920s, Madeleine Slade —also known as Mirabehn or Meera Behn—left her home in England to live and work with Mahatma Gandhi.

She was a British supporter of the Indian Independence Movement.

She spent her entire life advancing Gandhi’s ideals and human progress.

The height of the Gandhian era in the liberation struggle was when Mirabehn was living in India. At the Round Table Conference in London in 1931, she traveled with Gandhi and others.

Mirabehn’s autobiography is titled The Spiritual Pilgrimage.

She also published Bapu’s Letters to Mira and New and Old Gleanings.

Click here to know more about the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Article written by: Jis John Sebastian

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Essay On Unsung Heroes Of Freedom Struggle

Essay on Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle: There are many great freedom fighters who contributed to making India an independent nation who have never been recognized for their brave deeds, so they are called the unsung heroes of the freedom struggle.

A very challenging act, making India an independent nation took nearly 90 years, and without the effort of the unsung heroes of the nation, it would not have been possible.

Students and exam aspirants should pay special attention to the “Essay on unsung Heroes of The Freedom Struggle”. I have also provided a long elaborate essay on this topic in the same reference. The students might find this useful for writing essays, paragraphs, assignments, or projects on it.

Table of Contents

Essay on Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle 150 Words

It is well known that India has been ruled by several rulers, including the British, who ruled it for many years. Each and every Indian knows the significance of the Independence movement. Indians were subjected to a great deal of restrictions and lacked freedom.

To help the people of India live a peaceful life, the freedom fighters joined hands together and vowed to protect them. The British Raj ruled India for 148 years, until Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, and several others came forward and freed the country.

In spite of this fact, many of these people are not well known to us due to many reasons. There are many examples of these people, such as Birsa Munda, Kamala Das, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Khudiram Bose, etc., who gave their lives and happiness to make the world a better place.

It is important to appreciate and regard the contributions of the unsung freedom fighters the same way we do the contributions of the well-known freedom fighters.

Essay on Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle 250 Words

Every country in the world has such heroes who sacrifice their lives for their country. Freedom cannot be achieved without leaders to achieve freedom. Every country in the world has these heroes. In order for a country to achieve freedom and independence, freedom fighters play a crucial role.

For almost 200 years, the British ruled India. They suppressed our voices and rights. It was a tough time for India. Indians were forced to work without any pay. India was in complete darkness.

After so many years of fighting against the Britishers, India gained its freedom from the British government in 1947 thanks to the freedom fighters who had fought against them.

Freedom fighters from all over India sacrificed their lives to fight against the Britishers. Some are famous, some are unknown. We must respect them both.

Freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Baghat Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mangal Pandey, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bhimrao Ambedkar, and Sukhdev are renowned.

It is unfortunate that there are so many freedom fighters who are unknown to the world. We call them the Unsung Heroes of the Freedom Struggle of India. Here is a list of freedom fighters you may not have heard of.

Begum Hazrat Mahal

She led the battle for Indian independence in 1857 under Begum Hazrat Mahal, also known as “Begum of Awadh.”.

Bursa Munda

During the British regime, Birsa Munda led the millenarian movement which started in the Bengal Presidency (now known as Jharkhand) in 1875.

Peer Ali Khan

In 1857, Peer Ali Khan participated in the freedom movement of India and participated in many freedom movements. Sadly, he died as a result of his participation.

Lakshmi Sahgal

Lakshmi Sahgal was born on October 24, 1914 and served as a member of the Indian National Army and a minister of women’s affairs.

Garimella Satyanarayana

The poet Garimella Satyanarayana inspired many people. Using his poetry and songs, he instilled a sense of patriotism in the people of Andhra Pradesh to join the anti-British movement.

Matangini Hazra

Despite living in poverty, Matangini Hazra got little formal education. She was married at an early age and died when she was 18 after being widowed.

The Civil Disobedience

Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle Essay 500 Words

More than 200 years ago, India was under British control. As a result, the freedom struggle movement started in 1857 in the nation and lasted until August 15, 1947.

It was a very long struggle for independence, lasting 90 years, and was a very painful experience for all the Indians during that time. It was a massive struggle, and many people throughout the nation participated in it.

In the history of our country, we have mostly read about and heard about famous freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rani Lakshmibai, etc. However, the list of freedom fighters of the nation includes many more names.

Despite the fact that these individuals have been involved in the freedom struggle, the names and evidence of their bravery are not mentioned in our history.

Because nobody in the nation knows their names or their contributions to the country, these freedom fighters are called unsung heroes of the liberation struggle.

Indian cinema has played a crucial role in highlighting the names of the brave Indian revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh and Mangal Pandey. Their names were also included on the list of unsung heroes of the nation.

Few Unsung Heroes Of The Independence Struggle

In 2022, we will celebrate our 76th independence day after celebrating our independence day for the last 75 years. In your opinion, would independence have been possible without the efforts of a few prominent leaders and freedom fighters?

The nation achieved independence as a result of the bravery and sacrifice of many great freedom fighters as well as unsung heroes.

On the 76th anniversary of India’s independence, let’s make our celebrations more memorable by learning about some of the unsung heroes who had sacrificed their lives to make India free but were never recognized by the citizens of the country. By doing so, we are paying tribute to all our unsung heroes, as well as their sacrifices.

Madam Bhikaji Kama

A prominent Indian revolutionary, Madam Bhikaji Kama was born in 1936 into a Parsi family in Mumbai. She went to London in 1936 for a cure of plague, where she met Shyamji Krishna Verma.

Her impression was greatly influenced by the speeches he delivered for London Indian communities. It was through Shyamji Krishna Verma that she became acquainted with Dadabhai Naoroji.

An important figure in the Indian independence struggle is Peer Ali Khan. In 1812, this revolutionary was born in Muhammadpur Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh state of India. In a rebellion against the British, he played a major role.

In this way, he was able to provide coded messages, notes, and important leaflets to the freedom fighters. Throughout his career, he was engaged in bookbinding. Additionally, he participated in campaigns against the British.

Sardar Udham Singh

As a freedom fighter, Sardar Udham Singh played a major role in the struggle for independence. The massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar in 1919 greatly moved him, so he decided to avenge this painful incident by taking revenge. At that time, a British official named Michael O’Dwyer, the lieutenant governor of Punjab, was responsible for this painful incident.

On the 13th of March in 1940, Udham Singh was accused of killing O’Dwyer at Caxton Hall in London. Therefore, he was sentenced to death and hanged on 31st July 1940. While in prison, he kept his name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, and emphasized the three main religions in the country – Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism.

Tiruppur Kumaran

A freedom fighter, Tiruppur Kumaran was born on the 4th of October 1904 in Erode district of Tamil Nadu to Nachimuthu Mudaliyar and Karuppaayi. His involvement in protesting against Britishers started at a very young age.

Through the protests, he raised his voice against Britishers. At the age of 27, he died protesting against Britishers on January 11, 1932. The state government installed a statue in Tiruppur in honor of this great freedom fighter and India Post issued a stamp in his name to mark the centennial of his birth.

Khudiram Bose

A brave freedom fighter, Khudiram Bose is regarded as the second youngest revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement. He was born in the West Bengal State of India on 3rd December, 1889. His protests against British rule began at a very young age.

He was accused of the murder of two British women in a carriage. He was the first Indian revolutionary of Bengal to be executed by the British. His friend Prafulla Chaki shot himself before being arrested by the British. Khudiram Bose was 18 and 8 months old when sentenced to death.

It was Matangini Hazra who actively participated in the Indian independence struggle. In the year 1869, she was born in a small peasant family in Hogla village of West Bengal. She was active in protesting against the Britishers until the end of her life. As part of the Indian independence movement, she participated in several protests against the Britishers, and she was also imprisoned several times.

The Indian revolutionary Begum Hazrat Mahal fought for freedom during the 1857 independence revolt. She was born in 1820 in Uttar Pradesh. The second wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Begum Hazrat Mahal took part in nationalist activities after the British took over Awadh and the Nawab was exiled in Calcutta. She died there in 1879.

Indian history has been filled with the sacrifice of many brave freedom fighters. It is regrettable that we are unaware of the names of many of them, who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence.

As we celebrate Independence Day in the nation, we remember the events of our history and pay tribute to all of our freedom fighters for their bravery and sacrifice. The names of many brave Indian revolutionaries are in obscurity, but we can recognize them by referring to them as ‘unsung heroes of the freedom struggle’.

Independence of India is a great gift from the brave freedom fighters, both known and unknown. We salute all of these unsung heroes for their brave sacrifices and brave deeds in this country.

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Unsung Heroes: 10 lesser-known Indian freedom fighters

There are so many freedom fighters of India who contributed to the independence movement but their names faded into the darkness.

New Delhi:  This August 15, India will celebrate 74 years of independence from the British Raj and also remember the 200-year old struggle for freedom of our countrymen. The most famous freedom fighters are undoubtedly Mahatama Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey and so on, but there are also others who contributed to the independence movement but their names faded into the darkness.

There were many freedom fighters who looked into the eye of the tyrannical British rulers and dared to raise slogans of an independent India. Some are celebrated all across the world among the Indian community while there are others whose names despite being worthy of all the glory that there is, remain anonymous to the masses today.

Here is the list of 10 lesser-known freedom fighters of India:

Aruna Asaf Ali

At the age of 33, Ali gained prominence among Indian masses and infamy in the British Raj camp after she hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay during Quit India Movement in 1942.

An arrest warrant was issued in her name but she went underground to evade arrest and started an underground movement. Her property was seized and sold. The British government announced then a reward of 5,000 rupees for her capture.

Following India's Independence, she remained active in politics and social work but never received recognition.

Matangini Hazra

Hazra is another freedom fighter who never received her fair share of fame despite sacrificing her life for the country's freedom. She was part of the Quit India Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement.

During a procession against the British, she was shot thrice but that did not deter her from marching with the tricolour in her hands. She also kept shouting 'Vande Mataram' till she breathed her last.

Bhikaji Cama

People may have heard her name on roads and buildings, but very few know who she was and what she did for India.

Cama was not only a part of India's independence movement but also an iconoclast who stood for gender equality during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

She donated most of her personal belongings to an orphanage for girls. She also unfurled the Indian flag at the International Socialist Conference at Stuttgart in Germany, 1907.

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi

Mushi was also known as Kulpati among peers for his active participation in India's freedom movement. He was a big proponent of the Quit India Movement.

He was arrested by the British regime a number of times for his involvement in freedom-related activities. He was also the founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Peer Ali Khan

The most famous hero of the 1857 mutiny was Mangal Pandey, however, only a handful have heard of Peer Ali Khan. He was one of the initial rebels of India and among the 14 people who were hanged for their role in the mutiny.

Even still, his work inspired many who followed. But generations later, his name just faded away.

Lakshmi Sahgal

Captain Lakshmi was an officer in the Indian Army who also served in World War II. She also served time as a prisoner in Burma, now Myanmar.

When Sahgal heard that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was building an army of women soldiers, she enlisted herself. She was directed by the high command to form a female regiment called 'Rani of Jhansi regiment, where she was appointed as a Captain.

Velu Nachiyar

Even before the Sepoy mutiny of 1857, Velu Nachiyar was the first Indian queen to wage a war against the British Raj. The former princess of Ramanathapuram opposed British rule and gave the rulers a good run for their money.

Khudiram Bose

Some might have heard his name as he was one of the youngest revolutionaries of India and is often discussed in history books. His contribution to the freedom struggle is also a significant one as he was just 18 years old when the British hanged him for his activities against the Raj.

Kushal Konwar

The President of Sarupathar Congress Committee was an Indian Tai-Ahom freedom fighter from Assam. He is the only martyr who was hanged in the last phase of the Quit India Movement of 1942-43.

Benoy-Badal-Dinesh

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

They succeeded in killing him but were outnumbered by the security personnel. Benoy took a cyanide pill while the other two shot themselves to avoid capture.

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• Republic Day of India Best Speech & Essay Ideas: Republic Day Speech in English, Long and Short Speeches for Students

Republic Day of India Best Speech & Essay Ideas: Republic Day Speech in English, Long and Short Speeches for Students

Speech ideas: Republic Day speech in English, long and short speeches for students

1. the significance of republic day, 2. contributions of freedom fighters and leaders, 3. challenges and opportunities facing india, 4. role of youth in nation-building.

Essay ideas: Republic Day essay ideas for students

1. republic day celebration in india, 2. the constitution of india: the soul of the nation, 3. unsung heroes of freedom, 4. unity in diversity: the essence of india.