Heroes of our Freedom Struggle

 

But our long and hard battle for freedom was fought by a lot of other brave souls, many of whom we have never heard of. Despite their immense contributions towards resisting colonial rule, these unsung heroes often remain lost in time, forgotten by Indians who enjoy the freedom they once dedicated their lives to.

The Forgotten Daughter of the Hills

Manipurs Rani Gaidinliu joined the movement against the British at the young age of 13. She fought against the British practice of converting local Naga religious practitioners to Christianity, and led a movement to push the British rule out of the Manipur and Naga belts, only to be arrested at the age of 16. She was released in 1947 and later won the Padma Bhushan award.

The Southern Chieftain

Indias oppression under the British dates back centuries. Sixty years before the 1857 rebellion, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a chieftain in Tamil Nadu, protested against the British. He refused to pay taxes and led a war against the East India Company, demonstrating true defiance in the face of their authority.

Hero of The Jungle

Another inadequately celebrated revolutionary is Alluri Sitarama Raju. Alongside his tribe, he led a rebellion in the Rampa region that involved raiding police stations, stealing guns and killing British army officials. After two years, he was captured and shot in the forests of Chintapalli, earning him the title of Hero of The Jungle.

The Rebel of Chittagong

In 1930, Surya Sen led a group of 64 revolutionaries to capture the Police Armory, destroy Chittagongs telephone and telegraph lines, and dislocate the railway lines allowing entry to and exit from the town. The activist raised the tricolor and declared Chittagong as Gandhis Raj. Though his alliance was eventually outnumbered, Surya Sens uprising was a symbol of courage. 

Gandhi Buri

Due to joining Gandhijis Non Co-operation Movement and Quit India Movement, and the Indian National Congress, Matangini Hazra earned the nickname of Gandhi Buri or old lady Gandhi.At the age of 73, she led 6,000 people (mostly women) to take over a local police station. When she refused to call off the procession on command of the police, she was shot multiple times. Yet, she kept her Indian flag raised high, right until her moment of death, displaying true devotion to her cause.

Just as these figures were instrumental in securing Indias independence, people we know in our daily lives play an extremely important part in keeping our future secure. Whether it be our mothers, fathers or spouses, they have dedicated themselves to our well being. They have meticulously planned to secure our future. Taking into account the risks and uncertainties, they have always done their due to ensure our financial independence . And on Independence Day as we celebrate the unsung heroes of the nation, it might be the right time to honor the unsung heroes in our life. The people who have helped us secure our plans and insure ourselves against unforeseen difficulty.

Sources:

• desinema.com

• thebetterindia.com