~* Tribute to our Freedom Fighters *~

Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi was better known as mahatma Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar into the middle class Vaishya family. He was a son of Karamchand and Putlibai. He studied at the elementary school in porbandar till the age of seven and later at Rajkot. He was married to Kasturba at the age of thirteen while still in high school.During his school days he did not show any extraordinary trait, was a bit shy. He matriculated and went to England in 1888 for the study of law. Though his mother opposed this trip but the opposition was overcome by Gandhi's strict vow of not touching women, wine and meat in the foreign land. He passed his examination in 1891 and on 12th June 1891 sailed back to India. He remained in India for almost two years but could not establish himself as a successful lawyer. In 1893 he went to South Africa to fight a lawsuit on behalf of Dada Abdullah & Company. It was the place, which changed the course of Gandhi's life and the history of India. While traveling in a first class rail compartment, Gandhi was thrown out by railway officials just because a white man objected to his presence in the first class compartment. This and some other such incidents made Gandhi feel that being quiet will not do any good.

                                                       

Shivaram Rajguru (1908-1931) was a great Indian freedom fighter who played a major role in the India's struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of country. His full name was Hari Shivaram Rajguru and was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family. Since his childhood days, had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj inflicted on India and her people. This instilled within him a strong urge to join hands with the revolutionaries in a bid for India's freedom struggle. 

In the days of the Indian Freedom Movement, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was an active force working against the British. Whilst their main motive was to strike fear into the heart of the British regime, they simultaneously spread awareness amongst the people. They made them take notice of the growing domestic uprising when they dealt crucial blows with attacks like in the Lahore Conspiracy Case ( 18th December, 1928) and the bombing of the Central Assembly Hall in New Delhi (8th April, 1929). 

The protest against the Simon Commission in October 1928 saw the British police lathi-charge the protestors, severely injuring veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai. Owing to the excessive beating, Lala succumbed to his injuries, which thus instilled revenge in the hearts of the revolutionaries. Thus, on 18th December, 1928 in Ferozepur, Lahore, a planned retaliation was enforced that led to the assassination of Deputy Superintendent of Police, J.P. Saunders. Shivaram Rajguru along with Sukhdev Thapar were accomplices of the legendary Bhagat Singh who spearheaded the attack. Rajguru then went into hiding in Nagpur. Whilst taking shelter in the house of an RSS worker, he even met Dr. K. B. Hedgewar. On his travel to Pune, however, Shivaram was finally arrrested. Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were then convicted of their crime and sentenced to death. 

On 23rd March, 1931, the three brave revolutionaries were hanged, whilst their bodies were cremated on the banks of the River Sutlej. Shivaram Rajguru was only 23 years old when he became a martyr for his country, however, he will always be remembered in the pages of Indian history for his valor and dedication of his life towards India's independence. 

Subhash Chandra Bose is one of the most dynamic leaders of India's struggle of independence. He is popularly known as Netaji. He was born in Cuttack, in Orissa on January 23, 1897 to Janaki Nath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. His father was a famous lawyer and his mother was a religious lady. Among the fourteen siblings, he was the ninth child.

Right from his childhood he was a bright student and was a topper in the matriculation examination from the whole of Calcutta province. He graduated from the Scottish Church College in Kolkata, West Bengalwith a First Class degree in Philosophy. Influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, he was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. He went to England to accomplish his parents' desire to appear in the Indian Civil Services. In 1920 he appeared for the competitive examination and stood fourth in the order of merit. Deeply moved by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre in Punjab, Subhash Chandra Bose left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway and returned to India. 

After he returned to India, Subhash Chandra Bose was influenced by Mahatma Gandhiviews. He then joined the Indian National Congress and worked under the leadership of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, who later became his political guru. He opposed the Dominion Status for India declared by the Congress under the guidance of the Motilal Nehru Committee. They were in favor of complete independence and nothing else. In 1930, during the Civil Disobedience he was sent to jail and released only after the Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed in 1931. 

Subash Chandra Bose was exiled from India to Europe; he took advantage of this opportunity and tried to establish political and cultural ties between India and Europe by forming centers in the various capital cities of Europe. He was jailed for a year for not obeying the ban on his entry to India. Congress was elected in seven states during the general elections of 1937 and he was released. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and sent to jail for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and he was released. Next year he was elected as the President of the Haripura Congress Session. He took a very stern decision and brought a resolution and asked Britishers to hand India over to the Indians within six months. 

Following opposition to his rigid stand, he resigned from the post of president and formed the Forward Block. He fled to Germany via Afghanistan and tried to persuade Germany and Japan to cooperating against the British Empire. He then moved to Singapore from Germany in July 1943 and formed the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army). The army comprised mainly of Indians who were prisoners of war. The army crossed the Burma border, and reached the Indian soil on March 18, 1944. 

Japan and Germany were defeated in the Second World War and a result the INA could not fulfill its objective. On August 18, 1945, Subhash Chandra Bose was declared killed in an air crash over Taipei, Taiwan (Formosa). But there are people who believe that he is still alive and many Commissions were set up to find the truth but nothing could be found about his whereabouts

Sukhdev (1907-1931) was a famous Indian revolutionary who played a major role in the India's struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their country. His full name is Sukhdev Thapar and he was born on 15th May, 1907. His ancestral house is in Naughara Mohalla of Ludhiana city, Punjab, India. His father's name was Ram Lal. Since his childhood days, Sukhdev had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj had inflicted on India, which then led him to join the revolutionaries, vowing to set India free from the shackles of British dominion. 

Sukhdev Thapar was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), and organized revolutionary cells in Punjab and other areas of North India. A devoted leader, he even went on to educate the youth at the National College in Lahore, greatly inspiring them about India's glorious past. He along with other renowned revolutionaries started the 'Naujawan Bharat Sabha' at Lahore that was an organization involved in various activities, mainly gearing the youth for the freedom struggle and putting an end to communalism. 

Sukhdev himself took active part in several revolutionary activities like the 'Prison hunger strike' in 1929; however, he would always be remembered in the chronicles of the Indian Freedom Movement for his daring yet courageous attacks in the Lahore Conspiracy Case (18th December, 1928), that shook the very foundation of the British Government. Sukhdev was the accomplice of Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru, who were involved in the assassination of Deputy Superintendent of Police, J.P. Saunders in 1928, thus avenging the death of veteran leader, Lala Lajpat Rai, owing to excessive police beating in the Conspiracy case. After the Central Assembly Hall bombings in New Delhi (8th April, 1929), Sukhdev and his accomplices were arrested and convicted of their crime, facing the death sentence as verdict. 

On 23rd March, 1931, the three brave revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged, whilst their bodies were secretly cremated on the banks of the River Sutlej. Sukhdev Thapar was just 24 years old when he became a martyr for his country, however, he will always be remembered for his courage, patriotism and sacrifice of his life for India's independence. 

Rash Behari Bose was one of the unsung heroes of the Indian freedom struggle. He was a revolutionary leader of outstanding class. He was a great organizer, a master of disguise,the organizer of the Indian National Army. He was involved in various revolutionary activities and wanted by the British but he managed to escape and reached Japan, where he continued his patriotic activities. 

Bose was born in the year 1886 in the Burdwan District, West Bengal. He completed his education in Chandennagore. He got involved in the revolution against the British from a very early age and was implicated in the Alipore bomb case ( 1908 ). After his release from jail he went to Dehradun join as a head clerk at the Forest Research Institute. However it did not stop him to get in touch with the revolutionaries secretly. He was hunted by the British police due to his participation in the failed bomb hurling attempt on the Viceroy Lord Charles Hardinge in Delhi. He planned a pan India revolution but it failed and most of the revolutionist were arrested. However Bose managed to escape and reach Japan in 1915. 

In Japan, Bose persuaded the Japanese authorities to give active support to the Indian Nationalists in their struggle for freedom. Two conventions in Tokyo and Bangkok were held and the Indian Independence league was established and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was invited to take the President ship of the League. Indian prisoners in the Malay and Burma front who were captured by the Japanese were encouraged to join the Indian National Army- the military wing of the league. The leadership was later passed onto Netaji and under him the formidable- ' Azad Hind Fauz' was born. 

The Japanese Government honored him with the 'Second Order of the Merit of the Rising Sun' before his death. After his demise ( January 21, 1945 ) the imperial coach was sent to carry his body- a great honor. He will be remembered as one the greatest sons of India.

Rani Lakshmibai was one of the leading warriors of the India's first struggle of independence. She is a symbol of bravery, patriotism and honor. She was born on 19th November, 1835 at Poona. Her father Moropant Tabme was a court advisor, and mother Bhagirathi was a scholarly woman. At a very early age she lost her mother. Her father raised her in an unconventional way and supported her to learn to ride elephants and horses and also to use weapons effectively. She grew up with Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, who were active participants in the first revolt of independence. 

In 1842, Rani Lakshmibai was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao who was the Maharaja of Jhansi. After the marriage to Gangadhar Rao she was called Lakshmi Bai. In 1851, she gave birth to a son but unfortunately he died in his fourth month. After this tragic incident, Damodar Rao was adopted by Maharaja of Jhansi as his son. Moved by the death of his son and his poor health, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao also died on 21st November 1853. When the Maharaja died, Rani Lakshmi Bai was just eighteen years old, but she didn't lose her courage and took up her responsibility. 

Lord Dalhousie, the Governor -General of India at that time, was a very shrewd person who tried to take advantage of the misfortune of Jhansi to expand the British Empire. The British rulers did not accept little Damodar Rao, as the legal heir of late Maharaja Gangadhar Rao and Rani Lakshmi Bai. Their plan was to annexe Jhansi on the ground that it did not have any legal heir. In March 1854 Rani of Jhansi was granted an annual pension of 60,000 and was ordered to leave the Jhansi fort. She was firm on the decision not to give up the dominion of Jhansi to the British. 

For strengthening the defense of Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai assembled an army of rebellions, which also included women. For this great cause she was supported by brave warriors like Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost Khan, Khuda Baksh, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai, Lala Bhau Bakshi, Moti Bai, Deewan Raghunath Singh and Deewan Jawahar Singh. She assembled 14,000 rebels and organized an army for the defense of the city. 

In March 1858, when the Britishers attacked Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai's army decided to fight and the war continued for about two weeks. The army fought very bravely, even though Jhansi lost to the British forces. After a fierce war when the British army entered Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai, tied her son Damodar Rao to her back fought bravely using two swords with both her hands. She escaped to the fortress of Kalpi under the cover of darkness and was accompanied by many other rebellions. She departed to Gwalior and a fierce battle was fought between the British and the Rani's army. On the unfortunate day of 18th June of 1858, this great warrior martyred her life for India's freedom. 

Ram Prasad Bismil was the famous freedom fighter who was involved in the historic Kakori train robbery. He was born in 1897 at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father Muralidhar was an employee of Shahjahanpur Municipality. Ramaprasad learnt Hindi from his father and was sent to learn Urdu from Moulvi. He wanted to join an English medium school and got admission in one of such schools despite his father's disapproval. 

Ramaprasad joined Arya Samaj. He was also very talented in writing poetry. All of his poems have the intense patriotic feeling. He always wanted to see India as a free nation and dedicated himself to the cause of the country. His team members consisted of great freedom fighters like Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagawati Charan, Rajguru and many more. Ramaprasad used to take advices related to religion and politics from great patriot and scholar Swami Somadevji. 

The practice of Brahmacharya inspired him a lot and he became an ardent follower of it. He got himself engaged in the volunteering of Shahjahanpur Seva Samithi. In order to get people's attention, he published a pamphlet named 'A Message to My Countrymen'. Ramaprasad made many Hindi translations of Bengali writings. Some of his works include:

  The Bolshevik Programme

  A Sally of the Mind

  Swadeshi Rang

  Catherine

Yogic Sadhana of Rishi Aurobindo was translated by Ramaprasad. All of his works were published in the series called 'Sushil Mala'. He wrote his autobiography while he was in the cell. 

On 9th August, 1925, Ram Prasad Bismil along with his fellow followers looted the money of the British government from the train while it was passing through Kakori, Lucknow. Except Chandrashekhar Azad, all other members of the group were arrested. Ram Prasad Bismil along with others were given capital punishment. This great freedom fighter of india was executed on 19th December, 1927. 

Ram Manohar Lohia, a socialist political leader as well as a noted freedom fighter of India was born in the village of Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh on 23rd March, 1910. 

He was born to Hira Lal, a patriot and a teacher and Chanda. He did his intermediate from Benaras Hindu University. He did his BA from Calcutta University in 1929. Lohia then flew to Germany whereby he joined Berlin University and learnt German. 

Rammanohar was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi ideas which instigated the feeling of Swaraj (freedom) into him. 'Salt Satyagraha' was his subject in the PhD thesis paper. Though he had a good affinity with Jawaharlal Nehru but dissented with him on many political issues. 

His first contribution as a nationalist leader was organizing a 'hartal' on Bal Gangadhar Tilak's death. In 1928, he joined protests against the Simon Commission. 

Achievements and notable incidents:

  In Europe he organized 'Association of European Indians' .

  Joined Indian National Congress and established Congress Socialist Party,1934.

  He was elected the Secretary of All India Congress Committee (1936).

  He was arrested on 7th June, 1940 and sentenced to two years imprisonment for writing an article 'Satyagraha Now' in Gandhiji's newspaper Harijan.

  He published and circulated posters and pamphlets on 'Do or Die' during the 'Quit India Movement', 1942. He alongwith Aruna Asaf Ali edited a Congress Party monthly newspaper called 'Inquilab'.

Post-independence period:

  Lohia took the leadership of building a dam on river Paniyari called 'Lohia Sagar Dam'.

  Founded 'Hind Kisan Panchayat' to provide solution to the farmers.

  Set up World Development Council and World Government to retain peace.

This great leader died on 12th October, 1967. The Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia College of Law, Bangalore is named after him. 

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born on November 11, 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A leading figure in India's struggle for freedom, apart from being a noted writer, poet and journalist, he adopted the pen name Azad (Free). In his childhood, he had a traditional Islamic education, alongwith training in subjects like mathematics, philosophy, world history and science by tutors at his home. Through his own efforts, he learnt English, alongwith Western philosophy, history and contemporary politics. He visited countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Turkey. He opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905. He established an Urdu weekly newspaper in 1912 named Al-Hilal. It was consequently banned in 1914, following which he started a new journal, the Al-Balagh. 

He published many works criticizing the British rule and advocating self-rule for India. It was as a leader of the Khilafat movement that he became close to Mahatma Gandhi. He became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress in 1923.He always supported the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity and opposed the demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. After India's independence, he served as the first Minister for Education. 

He served in the Constituent Assembly formed to draft India's constitution and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1952 and in 1957. In 1956, he served as president of the UNESCO General Conference in Delhi. His exhaustive book on India's freedom struggle titled India Wins Freedom was published in 1957. This great leader passed away on February 22, 1958 

Mangal Pandey was born on 19 July 1827 in the village of Nagwa in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. A sepoy in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) of the English East India Company, he entered the annals of Indian history for attacking his British officers, sparking off the First War of Indian Independence or as the British termed it, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. At Barrackpore near Kolkata on March 29, 1857, Pandey attacked and injured his British sergeant, besides wounding an adjutant. A native soldier prevented him from killing the adjutant and the sergant-major. He was arrested and sentenced to death. He was hanged on April 8, 1857. 

The primary reason behind Mangal Pandey's behavior was because of a new type of bullet cartridge used in the Enfield P-53 rifle. 

It was rumoured that the cartridge was greased with animal fat (pig and cow fat), which neither Hindus nor Muslims consumed. The cartridges had to be bitten off to remove the cover, which was detested by both the Hindu and Muslim soldiers in the army. The general feeling was that British intentionally did it. What added to the discontent was that the Commandant of the 34th BNI(Bengal Native Infantry) was a known Christian preacher. 

There are many who have questioned whether Mangal Pandey was a brave martyr or one who attacked his officer under intoxication. The Bollywood movie, The Rising in 2005 was based on the life and times of Mangal Pandey. His life was also the subject of a stage play titled The Roti Rebellion. 

Lala Hardayal was a revolutionary and a scholar who dedicated himself to the cause of Indian Freedom. He was the General Secretary of the Gadar party and was a prominent leader in the Gadar movement. He traveled to many parts of the world and helped to spread the freedom movement. 

Lala was born on October 14, 1884 at Delhi. From the Government College of Lahore, he secured the Master Degree in English Literature. He pursued further education and was awarded a State Scholarship by the Government of India. As a result he went to study at Oxford, England. While in England he involved himself into the Indian struggle for freedom. 

In England he came in close contacts with revolutionaries and reformers like C.F.Andrews, S.K.Verma and Bhai Permanand. He raised his voice against the British Oppression of Indians and resigned from his scholarship. He returned to India and dedicated himself to political activities in Lahore. He left his family life to adopt the life of a monk. During this period, he contributed articles to the Modern Review and The Punjabi and his association with the Revolutionaries became prominent. He left India for London in 1908 as the situation in India was very tense. In order to propagate the freedom movement further, Lala crossed the borders of Paris, West Indies and South America to reach USA. 

In USA, he helped to organize the Gadar movement. Sensing trouble, the British Government pressed the U.S Government to arrest him. Hence he migrated to Germany and further to Sweden and England only to go back to USA where he passed away. 

Apart from his political and patriotic contribution, Lala has contributed a lot in the field of Literature and earned his Doctorate on Buddhist Sanskrit Literature. He breathed his last in Philadelphia, USA on 4 th March 1939.

aptain Laxmi Sehgal is one of the lion hearted women, India ever had. She picked up the Gun for the Indian National Army (INA) founded by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and led it like a tigress for the struggle for Indian freedom. 

Laxmi Sehgal was born in 1914 to a traditional Tamil family. She got her first patriotic lessons from her mother who was a member of the Congress herself. She completed her degree in medicine from the Madras Medical College and went to Singapore for a career as a doctor, however something very different was waiting for her. 

Singapore at that time was ruled by British and they had to surrender when the Japanese invaded the country. Thousands of Indians were taken as prisoners. At this juncture, Netaji invited the Indian prisoners to join the INA and fight against the British. Laxmi was one of them and Netaji was impressed by her courage and asked her to lead the Rani Jhansi Regiment. She fought like a tigress against the British in the jungles of Burma. 

Today octogenarian, Captain Laxmi Sehgal still has the same indomitable attitude and is a practicing Doctor in Kanpur. She is a major attraction to the seminars and conference and is still working for the betterment of the Society.

Khudiram Bose was a freedom fighter, who was one of the youngest revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He was born on 3rd December 1889. Trailokyanath Basu, his father was a Tahsildar of the town and mother Lakshmipriya Devi was a religious lady. His birth place was Bahuvaini in Medinipur district, West Bengal. 

Khudiram Bose was influenced by the notion of karma in the Bhagvad Gita , and was involved in revolutionary activities to free mother India from the clutches of British rule. Dissatisfied with the British policy of the partition of Bengal in 1905, he joined Jugantar - the party of revolutionary activists. At the tender age of sixteen, Bose left bombs near police stations and made government officials his victims. On the charges of carrying out a series of bomb attacks he was arrested. 

In Muzzafarpur, Bihar,on 30th April, 1908 Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki planned to assasinate the Chief Presidency Magistrate Kingsford. The magistrate was known for his blatant judgements against the freedom fighters. They waited for Kingsford's carriage to come in front of the gate of European Club and blew up a carriage which was not carrying Kingsford. As a result of this unfortunate incident two innocent British ladies - Mrs.Kennedy and her daughter were killed. Both the revolutionaries fled the crime scene. Later Prafulla committed suicide and Khudiram was arrested. 

On the charges of bomb attacks carried out by Khudiram Bose, he was sentenced to death at the age of 19.He was hanged to death on 11 August 1908

Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the central figures of Indian politics during India's struggle for independence and the first Prime Minister of India was born on 14th November 1889 in Allahabad. As a son of an influential Indian barrister and politician he grew up in the lap of luxury with governesses and tutors. His early schooling was in India and at the age of 15 he went to England to attend the Harrow School. Later he joined Trinity College to study natural science. After this he joined Inner Temple in London to train himself as a barrister. He returned to India in 1912 and joined Allahabad High Court Bar, Uttar Pradesh. On 8th February 1916, at the age of 27 he married Kamla Kaul. Next year their only daughter, Indira, was born. 1920 proved to be the turning point in the life of anglicized Jawaharlal Nehru. Once traveling in train he overheard General Dyre gloating over Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He vowed to fight the imperial rule and joined Indian politics. He was strongly influenced by the Gandhian views and was the supporter of Mahatma Gandhi in freedom struggle. Under the influence of Gandhi he, along with his family, abandoned his western possessions and lifestyle and started using 'Swadeshi'. He was a very good orator and a prominent organizer. Soon he became one of the popular political leaders of north India. In 1924 he was elected as the president of Municipal Corporation of Allahabad. Dissatisfied by British officials and corruption amongst civil servants, he resigned from his post within two years. He was not in the favor of dominion status for India within the British Empire, as recommended by his father. He strongly criticized the Nehru report prepared by his father Motilal Nehru. 

Jawaharlal Nehru, the man who made a tryst with destiny, was a leader who kept his promise and led India to freedom. The first Prime Minister of india, he came to the forefront of the Indian freedom struggle after Jallianwalah Bagh massacre. Devoted to the cause of freedom, he was a representative of a whole new generation of India. World Peace and all round development of India were the main concerns of this great statesman. 'Chacha Nehru', as he was fondly called by children, was amongst the prominent names behind the establishment of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM). 

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was not just a man or a Prime Minister, he was a phenomenon who gave shape to the dreams of independent India and permeated the lives of Indians.

Dadabhai Naoroji was born to a poor Parsi family in Bombay,Maharashtra on September 4, 1825. When Dadabhai Naoroji was just four years, his father Naoroji Palanji Dordi died and all the responsibilities fell on his mother Maneckbai. His mother never complained and carried out her responsibilities with great courage. Naoroji's marriage was fixed at the very young age of 11 to Gulbai. 

Dadabhai Naoroji had a wonderful academic career at the Elphinstone Institution. When he was just 25 he became the assistant professor at Elphinstone Institution. After four years he was chosen as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the same institution. He was called the "The Promise of India" by Professor Orlebar. On 1st August 1851 he established the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha to renovate the Zoroastrian religion. 

In his work Poverty and UnBritish rule in India Dadabhai condemned British policies and explained how India was losing all its wealth and possessions. Naoroji set off for England on June 27,1855 to be a part of the production firm of the mercantile Cama family. Naoroji tried to inform and teach the British public about their tasks and duties. He tried to illuminate the British citizens about the torture and cruelty of the British Raj.To fight for the rights of Indians, he formed the East India Association. Naoroji helped in establishing the Indian National Congress and became its President thrice. In 1883 he was re- elected to the Bombay Municipal Council. An example of his modesty was that he refused the title of "Sir" given to Dadabhai by the British. The Shah of Iran wanted to honor him but he refused. In 1916 he returned to England but fell sick. He started suffering from bronchitis. He was looked after by his granddaughters Mrs. Nargis and Gosi Captain .He returned to India in October. Dr. Mehrbanoo took charge of his health. Dadabhai Naoroji left for his heavenly abode on June 30, 1917. 

The great lawyer Chittaranjan Das was born on Nov 5, 1870.He belonged to a highly educated family with rich cultural surroundings. Bhuvan Mohan, his father was a solicitor by profession and also worked as a reporter and editor in the English church weekly, the Brahmo Public Opinion. 

Chittaranjan Das completed his graduation in 1890 from Presidency College, Kolkata, West Bengal. He went abroad to England to sit for the Indian Civil Service examination. He failed to clear the examination. When he returned to India in 1893, he began practicing law in the Calcutta High Court.His career rose to fame when he successfully defended Aurobindo Ghose in the 1908 Alipur bomb case. Das set up an undergraduate union and also raised his voice for the use of Bengali language in university examinations. He substantially contributed with Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghose in writing Bande Mataram, an English weekly. He also tried to instill the ideas of Swaraj among the young Indian freedom fighters. He was involved in active politics from 1917 to 1925. 

Chittaranjan Das also put the idea of reconstructing villages through the incorporation of local self-government and cooperative credit society systems. He also wanted to give a new face to the cottage industry. He became a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress, known for his innate skills in public speaking and political insight. 

He joined hands with Gandhi in the Non -Cooperation Movement. In 1921, along with his wife and son, he was arrested by the British Government. Das realized that political stability could only be brought in India by reuniting the Hindus and Muslims. He always believed in self-rule and attained the title of Deshabandhu meaning friend of the country. 

Das always had a flair for writing and this was evident from his literary magazines, Narayan, Mala, Sagar Sangit, Kishore-Kishoree and Antaryami. 

Like Gandhiji, Das believed in the idea of non-violence. He felt that education was mandatory for our country. He laid emphasis on women liberation and aided Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's movement for widow re-marriage. He passed away on June 16, 1925. 

A daring freedom fighter and a fearless revolutionary, Chandra Shekhar was born on 23rd July 1906 in Bhavra, Madhya Pradesh. Involved in incidents such as Kakori Train Robbery, Assembly Bomb incident and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore, to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai, he was the face of revolutionary India. 

Son of Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagarani Devi, he received his earlier education at Bhavra and was sent to the Sanskrit Pathshala at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh for higher studies. At a very young age he got involved in revolutionary activities. He joined the non-cooperation movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. Caught by the British police while indulging in revolutionary activities he was sentenced to 15 whiplashes as his first punishment. At that time he was mere 15 years old. It was after this incident that Chandrashekhar assumed the title of Azad and came to be known as Chandrashekhar Azad. 

Disillusioned with Mahatma Gandhi's suspension of non-cooperation movement due to Chauri-Chaura incident, he turned extremist. Chandrashekhar Azad was a believer in socialism,he along with other revolutionaries formed 'The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association'. He was a mentor to many revolutionaries including Bhagat Singh. He wanted complete independence for India by any means. Chandrashekhar Azad killed British Assistant Supretendent of Police John Poyantz Saunders to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. He remained a terror for British government as long as he was alive. On 27th February 1931, betrayed by one of the associates, he was besieged by the British police in Alfred Park, Allahabad . He fought valiantly but seeing no other way he shot himself and fulfilled his resolve to die a 'free man'. 

He his still a hero for millions of Indians and many movies such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and 23rd March 1931 has been made on his life. 

 Bipin Chandra Pal (1858-1932) was a noted politician, journalist, an eminent orator and one of the three famous patriots, known as the trilogy of Lal Bal Pal. The other two were Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He was one of the main architects of the Swadeshi movement. He stood against the partition of West Bengal. 

Pal was born on November 7, 1858 in at Sylhet (now in Bangladesh). He came to Calcutta and got admitted in the Presidency college but left studies before graduating. However he had remarkable Literacy competence and studied various books extensively. He started his career as school master andworked as a librarian in the Calcutta Public Library. Here he came in contact with Keshav Chandra Senand others like Shivnath Shastri, B.K.Goswami and S.N.Banerjee. Their influence attracted him to join active politics. Soon he got inspired by the extremist patriotism of Tilak, Lala and Aurobindo. In 1898 he went to England to study comparative theology but came back to preach ideal of Swadeshi through himself in the non cooperation movement due to his difference of view points with other leaders of the movement. 

A journalist himself, Pal used his profession in spreading patriotic feelings and social awareness. He was the editor of the 'Democrat', the 'Independent' and many other journals and newspapers. He published a biography of Queen Victoria in Bangla. 'Swaraj and the Present Situation' and 'The Soul of India' are the two of his many books written by him. 

Pal had a 'never say die' attitude and he lived by his Principle. He revolted against the evils and ill practices of Hinduism. He was a member of the Brahmo Samaj and believed in the equality of men and women. He encouraged widow marriages and female education. India lost one of it's most ardent patriot when he passed away in 1932.

Begum Hazrat Mahal was a great Indian freedom-fighter who played a major role during India's First War of independence (1857-58). She was also known as the Begum of Awadh (Oudh) and was the wife of the then Lucknow ruler, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Her maiden name was Muhammadi Khanum, and she was bestowed the title 'Hazrat Mahal' after the birth of their son, Birjis Qadr. Behind Begum Hazrat Mahal's graceful nature and physical charm lay the qualities of a strong leader and an adroit strategist, which were strongly witnessed through her contributions to India's first struggle for independence against the British. 

In the 1850's, when the British were ruthlessly expanding their control across India, they came across the province of Oudh, which was then an erstwhile seat of art, culture and literature. They eventually annexed Oudh in 1856, exiling Nawab Wajid Ali Shah to Kolkata, thus leaving the kingdom without a leader and in a chaotic mess. It was then when Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the reigns, despite her divorce from the Nawab, she took charge of the affairs of the state of Awadh. 

Combining strengths with the revolutionary forces of the First War of Independence, she was soon successful in seizing Lucknow from the British. She crowned her son as royal heir of Awadh. Named the 'Lakshmi Bai' of Oudh, she supported fellow mutineers like Nana Saheb immensely, counter-offered the British offers provided to great rulers like Rana Jang Bahadur of Nepal, and greatly motivated the masses to rebel against the British Raj. Such was her devotion and pledge to her people that the Begum even went on to fortify the city of Lucknow against the advancing British troops. After a long siege, Lucknow was again re-captured by the British, forcing Hazrat Mahal to retreat in 1858. She spent the remaining years of her life in Nepal, passing away in 1874 in Kathmandu. 

One of the stalwarts of India's freedom movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak also known as Lokmanya Tilak was born in Ratnagiri,Maharashtra on July 23, 1856. He is known for his famous quote " Self Rule is our birthright, and We shall have it! " He was reverently addressed as Lokmanya (or "Beloved of the people" or "Revered by the world"). 

After completing his graduation, Tilak began teaching in a private school in Pune and went on to become a journalist. He was very vocal in his criticism of the Western education system and set up the Deccan Education Society to educate India's youth. Tilak founded the Marathi daily Kesari (Lion), in the pages of which he actively propagated the cause of freedom. He joined the Indian National Congress. He was known for his hardcore Hindu views. In 1907, the Congress Party split into the two factions. 

The British authorities charged Tilak with sedition and he was imprisoned from 1908 to 1914 in Mandalay, Burma. He re-joined the Indian National Congress in 1916 and helped to found the All India Home Rule League in 1916-18 . Tilak was not in favour of Mahatma Gandhi strategy of non-violent protest. He wrote many books on Indian culture, history and Hinduism like The Orion or Researches into the antiquities of the Vedas (1893), Arctic Home in the Vedas, Geetarahasya and others. He passed away on August 1, 1920 

Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan is one of the tallest freedom fighter, not only in sheer physical height but also in his contributions and sacrifices. He dedicated his life for the betterment of his fellow country men and hugely inspired the Pathans of the north-west frontier to follow the Gandhian values of non-violence and non-possession. No wonder he was described as the 'Frontier Gandhi'. 

Abdul Gaffar Khan was born in 1890 to Khan Behram Khan of Utmanzai village, Peshwar. Despite being illiterate both of his parents were broad minded and wanted their children to get proper education. Abdul was sent to a Missionary school in Peshwar after his primary education. Abdul was selected in the British Indian Army but soon left the army after observing the ill-treatments and insults the Indians faced there. 

The Pathans at that time were mostly uneducated and unorganized. Moreover the British wanted them to keep them backward in order to control them easily. Abdul realized the need of the hour and opened schools for children and women. For this Abdul was jailed and brutally treated. Despite the British injustices and the threats, the schools started flourishing. After his release he published a national newspaper- 'Pakhtun' which became very popular. At this juncture, the progressive king- Amanullah came forward in his support. The British and the local Mullahs conspired to destroy these developments. In 1928, Abdul came to India and met Gandhiji and Nehruji. Impressed and inspired by the nationalistic fervour, Abdul established an organization to bring social reforms. 

It was called Khudai Khidmatgars and every member of the organization vowed to practice non-violence, brotherhood and serve humanity in the name of God. The British tried every possible way to destroy the movement. They attacked, they destroyed, they killed, they tortured but couldn't make the Pathans to break their vows. Khan was put to the prison again and inhumanly tortured. He did not get any support from the Muslim League but the Congress promised help, if the Pathans join the Indian Freedom Struggle. The Congress sent reports allover India, Engalnd and even in America about the sorry state of the Pathans. 

At last, after a long period of imprisonment, Khan was released in 1945. He passed away in 1998 and thousands of people walked in his funeral procession to pay homage to their hero. 

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