The British, who came to India for trade, were influenced by the partition scheme and started to rule. Realizing British control, Indians fought for freedom. Some Indian leaders became impatient and gathered in town, urging people with loud voices. Let’s see about the top Indian Freedom fighters of India in this article.
Table of Contents
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was the person who followed the non-violent path to get India’s freedom and saw success in it. His peaceful approach, known as satyagraha, inspired and motivated people to join the fight for independence, eventually leading to India’s freedom.
Gandhi’s full name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on October 2, 1869. His parents were Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and Putlibai. Gandhi got married to Kasthuribai when he was 13, and they had four children named Harilal, Mohanlal, Ramdas, and Devdas. Unfortunately, Gandhi passed away on January 30, 1948. He had two brothers and one sister. Gandhi played a big role in India’s fight for freedom, promoting peaceful ways to bring about change.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose, commonly known as Netaji, was a significant leader in India. Born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, he was a freedom fighter. His father, Janakinath Bose, was a lawyer, and his mother was Prabhabati Bose. Netaji was the ninth of fourteen children in his family. He served as the president of the Indian National Congress (INC) from 1938 to 1939.
Subas strongly supported the Independence of India. That’s why he got the title “Netaji” in 1942. His popular slogan is “Give me blood and I will give you freedom!” He worked with C.R Das in Bengal. He returned to India from England in 1921 to join the Nationalist Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the INC. Subhas Chandra Bose was unlike Mahatma Gandhi as he believed in using more force for freedom. He is famous for the slogan “JAI HIND.” He strongly followed the teachings of the Bhagwat Gita, finding inspiration in it for fighting against the British. In 1941, he left India for Europe seeking support against the British. Unfortunately, he passed away on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash in Taiwan.
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Rani Lakshmi Bai
Rani Lakshmibai is a person who fought for our country’s freedom. She lived a short life, only 22 years, but she lived with courage. Born on November 19, 1835, in Varanasi, her original name was Manikarnika Tambe, also known as Manu or Manubai in childhood. Her father, Moropant Tambe, was an educated Brahmin, and her mother, Bhagirathi Sapre, was a pious and cultured lady. Unfortunately, Manubai’s mother passed away when she was four, and her father took care of her. Manubai learned horse riding, swordsmanship, and many martial arts.
Manubai was an honest and knowledgeable person in her youth. She grew up in the family of Maratha king Bajirao II (Peshwa).
Jhansi, a small town, faced a strong British force. Lakshmibai, the leader, fought bravely but eventually had to retreat with her small forces. Then, disguised as a man, Jhansirani Lakshmibai attacked the British general with determination. The British force had to retreat in this quick and intense fight. Rani Lakshmibai bravely fought against the British to protect her empire from being taken over. She died in battle on June 17, 1858. When the Indian National Army created its first group of female soldiers in 1943, they named it after this courageous queen from Jhansi.
Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh, the brave Indian freedom fighter, fought courageously for India’s independence. Born on September 27, 1907, in Banga, Pakistan he sadly passed away on March 23, 1931. Known as ‘Hero Bhagat Singh,’ he was a leader in the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) organization against British rule.
Growing up in a family of freedom fighters, Bhagat Singh became a patriot early on. He attended Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) School in Lahore, where he befriended leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Rash Behari Bose. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 deeply affected him, and he was determined to drive away the British, even carrying soil stained with the victims’ blood.
At thirteen, Bhagat Singh joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. Disappointed when it was called off after the “Chauri Chaura” violence in 1922, he believed freedom could only be achieved through bearing arms. In 1924, he joined the “Hindustan Republican League” and co-established the youth organization “Navjawan Bharat Sabha” in 1926 with Sugadev and many others.
In 1928, during a protest against the “Simon Commission,” police killed Congress leader Lala Lajpat Rai. In retaliation, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru shot Constable Saunders, the one responsible for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death. Although they escaped, the British government introduced the “Draft Industrial Disputes Act” to suppress workers. Disapproving of the bill, Bhagat Singh decided to bomb the “Central Assembly Hall.” On April 8, 1929, bombs were thrown, leading to the arrest of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sugadev.
Bhagat Singh’s life is more than just a story, it’s a lesson. He’s a role model for today’s Indian youth, a courageous fighter who sacrificed his life to inspire the spirit of the freedom struggle. He showed that an era can be created not only by living but also by dying. Despite his short life, his legacy will endure through the centuries.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, recognized as the Architect of Modern India, was born on 14th November 1889 in Allahabad. His father was Mr. Motilal Nehru, and his mother was Mrs. Swaroopa Rani.
He pursued law studies in London in 1912 and graduated as a barrister. His wife’s name was Kamala Kaul, and they had a daughter named Indripriyadarshani (later known as ‘Indira Gandhi’). On June 15, 1945, Nehru was arrested for his involvement in the Quit India Movement.
He became the country’s first Prime Minister in 1947. Nehru served as Prime Minister from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964. We commemorate Nehru’s birthday on 14th November as “Children’s Day” to honor his efforts for the welfare and education of children and youth.
Known by special titles such as Jewel of India, King of Roses, Asian Torch, and Peace Pigeon, Nehru passed away on 27th May 1964.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the Iron Man of India, was a key leader in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Born on October 31, 1875, in Bombay, his parents were Jhaver Bhai Patel and Laad Bai. Patel served as India’s deputy prime minister and home minister post-Independence. He was also a lawyer and is remembered as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for establishing the modern all-India Service system.
As a dynamic freedom fighter, Patel played a crucial role in uniting the 562 states of India. He was the 49th President of the Indian National Congress and earned the title “Unifier of India.”
The “Statue of Unity,” the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters, stands in Gujarat on the Narmada River, facing the Sardar Sarovar dam. It was inaugurated on the 143rd anniversary of Patel’s birthday, with a construction cost of Rs 2700 crore.
Sardar Patel went to England for a 36-month course but completed it in 30 months, returning to India as a Barrister. Mahatma Gandhi bestowed the title “Sardar” in recognition of Patel’s exceptional organizational skills during the Bardoli Satyagraha. Sardar means chief in Hindi. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel passed away on December 5, 1950, due to a heart attack.
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India from June 9, 1964, to January 11, 1966, was a revered leader and received the “Bharat Ratna” for his outstanding contributions. He coined the phrase “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” and played a key role in guiding the nation’s progress.
Born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, Shastri was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s political teachings. His parents were Ram Dulari Devi and Sharda Prasad. At sixteen, he responded to Gandhi’s call and left his studies to join the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Shastri entered politics as a follower of Gandhi and served in the First Cabinet of the Republic of India after independence in 1947, taking on the role of Minister of Railways and Transport. Following Jawaharlal Nehru’s unexpected passing, Shastri became Prime Minister, holding the position for 18 months.
A remarkable leader known for his clear vision, Shastri’s given name, “Shastri,” means “great scholar” in Persian. He actively participated in various movements for India’s freedom, including the Non-Cooperation Movement, Salt Satyagraha, and campaigns against British taxes.
In 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri was posthumously awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna. His tenure saw the signing of the Tashkent Pact with Pakistan. Sadly, he passed away on January 11, 1966, due to a heart attack. Shastri, a man of quiet brilliance, dedicated his life to the people’s goals and died for India and peace.
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai, also known as Punjab Kesari and the Lion of Punjab, was an Indian freedom fighter born on January 28, 1865, in the village of Dhudike. His father, Munshi Radha Krishan, and his mother, Gulab Devi Agarwal, played a significant role in shaping his early views on Hinduism. Rai was the eldest of six children in the Agrawal Jain family.
During his early years in Jagraon, Rai established the R.K. High School. He worked for the Lakshmi Insurance Company and Punjab National Bank in 1894. Rai enrolled in Government College in Lahore in 1880 and later moved to work at the Lahore High Court in 1892. In 1914, he left law practice to join the cause of Indian independence.
Rai traveled to the United States in 1917, where he founded the Indian Home Rule League of America in New York. Returning to India in 1920, he played a crucial role in the noncooperation movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. Rai led the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress in 1920 and was jailed from 1921 to 1923. After his release, he was elected to the legislative assembly.
In 1928, Rai proposed a boycott of the British Simon Commission’s recommendations for constitutional reform, leading to a police lathi charge that resulted in his death on November 17, 1928. In honor of his mother, Rai established a trust in 1927, which later led to the creation of the Gulab Devi Chest Hospital for women suffering from tuberculosis. Lala Lajpat Rai, known as Punjab Kesari and the Lion of Punjab, earned these titles for his strong national beliefs and contributions to the Indian independence movement.
Dr Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India, was born on December 3, 1884, in Jiradei Village in Bihar. He embodied the best beliefs of Indian culture and was the son of Mahadev Sahai and Kamleshwari.
His early education happened in Chapra’s district school, followed by further studies in Patna. In 1902, he joined Kolkata’s renowned Presidency College. Dr. Rajendra Prasad received a “Gold Medal” in 1915 for his excellence in earning a master’s degree in law. Later, he also earned a doctorate in law.
Being a key figure in the Indian Independence movement, he played a significant role as the President of the Indian National Congress and contributed to the making of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Rajendra Prasad entered politics inspired by Gandhi Ji. He passed away on February 28, 1963, and in recognition of his outstanding work, he was posthumously awarded the country’s highest honor, Bharat Ratna, by the Government of India in 1962.
Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey, born in Nagwa, India, played a crucial role in the Indian movement for independence. On July 19, 1827, as a sepoy in the British East India Company’s army, Pandey became a significant figure. He became a key part of the events leading up to the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
His rebellion was sparked by the use of newly introduced cartridges greased with animal fat, which offended Hindu and Muslim soldiers. This led to a broader uprising. Mangal Pandey’s act of defiance on March 29, 1857, in Barrackpore, marked the beginning of the Indian Mutiny.
Although he was captured and executed by the British, his legacy endured as a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression, inspiring later generations in the struggle for independence. Mangal Pandey’s sacrifice remains an important part of India’s history, catalyzing the fight against British rule.
