Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Table of Contents
Introduction
When thinking about Indian freedom fighters, it is usually names such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Bhagat Singh that pop into thought. We can recall the names of a handful of women freedom fighters or none. Many women, like the men, played an equally important part in the struggle for freedom in India. This list outlines the accomplishments of these women and an overview of what they went through to achieve freedom for India.
A List of Women Freedom Fighters in India
1. Rani Lakshmibai from Jhansi
If we talk about Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, she was among the leading figures of the great revolt of 1857. She was one of the leaders in the First Independence War and is remembered as an ardent patriot and a fierce warrior.
After she lost her husband and young son, she joined the fight to resist a law that stated that Jhansi could be incorporated into the Empire of Britishers. In the past, we only learned about Rani’s courage. However, in Jaishree Misra’s book – Rani, we can experience her feminine aspect.
2. Begum Hazrat Mahal
Muhammadi Khanum was sharp in her profession. She was sold at a young age into the harems of the King of Oudh (present-day Uttar Pradesh). When the British didn’t accept to recognise their son named Birjis Qadr as a head of Oudh, she rebranded herself as Begum Hazrat Mahal. After that, she started an uprising in opposition to the British.
It was said that she was the counterpart of Rani Lakshmibai during the First Independence War. She was not only fighting for her nation but also fought against the destruction of the British Empire of both the mosques and temples.
3. Annie Besant
If we talk about being unique, Annie Besant isn’t an Indian. She was also a Britisher who was a fighter for home rule. At a very young age, she distinguished herself from other British women by promoting controversial subjects like birth management.
In her autobiography, she recounts her journey to India, and her desire for India to become a democracy, and the establishment of the Central Hindu College in Varanasi.
She was a co-creator of the All India Home Rule League but was later detained for the cause. After her release, she also became the Indian National Congress’s President.
4. Kasturba Gandhi
If it weren’t for Kasturba Gandhi’s unwavering backing, M.K. Gandhi likely wouldn’t have had the chance to accomplish what he accomplished. Her patriotism and national pride were apparent even while she was living in South Africa.
In India, she stood hand-in-hand with her husband during his pursuit of Independence until police detained her and put them in prison. However, it is a fictionalised retelling.
5. Sarojini Naidu
She is known as “The Nightingale of India” because her poetry encouraged numerous Indians to oppose the British and stand up to defend their right.
The remarkable woman who was educated at Cambridge was a staunch adherent of Gandhi and actively promoted the non-cooperation movement. She was elected as the Indian National Congress’s President and she also became the Governor of the United Provinces.
6. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay’s name isn’t left out of the list of women freedom fighters. In 1923, after hearing about Gandhi’s non-cooperation movements, she resigned from her luxurious life in London 1923 and came back to India to join in.
7. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
While she might not be the same as the brother she had named Jawaharlal Nehru, she still holds an honourable position among the people who stood for the freedom of India.
During the war for freedom, she actively participated in politics to condemn how Indians were treated. She was jailed three different times.
8. Aruna Asaf Ali
Arun Asaf Ali’s initial encounter in the hands of British authorities occurred when she was actively involved during the Salt Satyagraha. Also, she was even taken into custody for her participation.
9. Lakshmi Sahgal
Lakshmi Sahgal is also in this list. It’s mostly because of her conviction for using violence when necessary to win India its freedom. Also, there was a conversation with Subhash Chandra Bose that led her to participate actively in the National Army of Indian and make a women’s section known as “the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
10. Durga Bhabhi
Durgawati Devi, often referred to as Durga Bhabhi, was an activist who was part of the struggle for Independence from the colonial regime. As a member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, she was instrumental in helping Bhagat Singh escape under a disguise from Lahore following the 1928 murder of British police officer John P Saunders.
