Unsung Heroes of the Great Indian Independence Revolution

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Mother India saw the sacrifice of millions of revolutionary leaders and freedom fighters to free Her from the clutches of the British tyranny. The struggle which started with the death of Mangal Pandey and the great rebellion in 1857 finally ended on August 15th, 1947 when India emerged as an independent nation.

The nation will never forget the sacrifices made by these leaders to earn our freedom. However, amidst our praises for the greatest of the leaders like Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose among many others, we often forget the contribution of some unsung heroes.

These freedom fighters were as fierce as others, had the courage to stare death in the eyes, and at last dedicated their lives for the cause of Indian Independence. They kept the wheel of revolution rolling and compelled the Britishers to leave our country. We all know their names but often fail to recall them. So, let’s pay tribute to these revolutionaries this Independence Day by devoting some time for them.

1. Ashfaqulla Khan

Ashfaqulla Khan was one of the main minds behind the Kakori Conspiracy (Kakori Kand). Along with other revolutionaries including Ram Prasad Bismil and Chandrashekhar Azad, he looted the train carrying British government’s money in Kakori near Lucknow on August 9, 1925. He managed to escape the police but was later betrayed by his friend. He was hanged on December 19, 1927.

2. Ram Prasad Bismil

Ram Prasad Bismil was another revolutionary who helped in successfully executing the Kakori Kand on August 9, 1925. Unfortunately, he was arrested on the morning of September 26, 2019. He was also executed along with Ashfaqulah Khan on December 19, 1927. Throughout his life, Ram Prasad Bismil spread revolutionary thoughts by producing various books and distributing them. He wrote many patriotic poems in both Hindi and Urdu to urge people to fight for independence. His final letter to his mother before his hanging is taught to children in many schools.

3. Khudiram Bose

Khudiram Bose was one of the youngest revolutionaries in India. He was arrested for the first time at the age of 15 and started planting bombs by the time he turned 16. Khudiram Bose was a part of the assassination attempt of Douglas Kingsford, the Chief Magistrate of the Presidency court of Alipore. Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki threw bombs on the carriage of Kingsford in Muzaffarpur, but unfortunately, he was travelling in a second carriage. Khudiram Bose was arrested the next morning at the station of Waini.

4. Prafulla Chaki

Prafulla Chaki was the partner of Khudiram Bose in the assassination attempt of Muzaffarpur. He also threw bombs on the carriage of Chief Magistrate Douglas Kingsford, however, that lead to the death of 2 other British ladies. He took the name of “Dinesh Chandra Roy” during the mission. He was caught the next day but committed suicide with his own revolver before anyone could harm him.

5. Mantangini Hazra

Mantangini Hazra was also known as Gandhi Buri. She participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Quit India Movement and inspired many other women to participate. She was shot thrice in a procession during the Quit India Movement while she kept shouting the “Vande Mataram”. She died that day.

6. Kanaklata Barua

kanaklata barua freedom fighter

Also known as Birbala, Kanaklata Barua participated in the Quit India Movement, 1942. She led the women volunteers aiming to hoist the National Flag at the British dominated Gohpur Police Station. She was shot down by the police and hence, sacrificed her life at the age of 18.

7. Shivaram Rajguru

Shivaram Rajguru was also executed along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev for the assassination of British police officer J.P. Saunders. He believed that ferocity was much more effective than the non-violent means and gave up his life for the nation at the age of 22.

8. Sukhdev Thapar

Executed along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, Sukhdev participated in many revolutionary activities apart from the Lahore Conspiracy case of 1928. He also participated in the “Prison Hunger Strike” of 1929 and was termed as the main accused among the 3 during the trial.

9. Udham Singh

Udham Singh was a revolutionary belonging to the Gadhar Party. He assassinated Michael O’Dwyer in London, in order to revenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. He used the name of Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, in custody, to represent the 3 religions of Punjab. He is also referred to Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Udham SIngh after he was hanged in July 1940.

10. Ramadevi Choudhary

Ramadevi Choudhary was hailed as “Maa” by the people of Odisha. She took active participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement and travelled different villages asking women to participate in the ongoing revolution. She adopted Khadi and also worked for the upliftment of the Harijans.

11. Madan Lal Dhingra

Madan Lal Dhingra was an Independence activist who assassinated Curzon Wyllie in England by firing 5 shots on his face. This was cited as the first act of Indian Independence Revolution in the 20th century. Madan Lal Dingra couldn’t manage to suicide and was later hanged on August 17, 1909.

12. Tara Rani Srivastava

Tara Rani participated in the Quit India Movement and wanted to hoist the flag on the roof of the Siwan police station. Her husband died from the firing by Britishers but she continued her struggle. After India got independence, this unsung hero vanished somewhere.

These leaders played an equally important role in our independence and we cannot forget them. If not for the revolutionary movement carried out and supported by them, India wouldn’t have earned its independence in 1947.