The Indian War of Independence from the British Colonial

Powers lasted for numerous decades and finally after a long

struggle freedom was achieved. It was a war that abolished
British supremacy in the world. Hundreds and thousands of
men, women and children fought for it till their last breath and
some like Shaheed Bhagat Singh even in their death. I might
not be able to pay my respects to all of those great souls. But
that doesnt mean that their contribution wasnt worthwhile.
The free air that we breath, and every walk that we take is all
because of those noble ones and this is a tribute to them- This
one is to them, to Freedom!
One of the most iconic men that ever took birth and
still continues to survive in the lessons of passive-
resistance and non-violence that he selflessly gave
to the world, hence making it a much better place.
He gave up everything, his law career; his house
and wealthy family to fight for justice and for the
betterment of his people who were being treated as
third class citizens by the colonial British. Even in
the harshest of conditions, he never gave up his
morals and rules, no matter what the cost of it.
Mahatma Gandhi has right fully been given the
title of the father of the nation as India truly owes
its independence as a republic and a democracy to
this Short, thin brown man who needed a stick
while walking to support him but who was strong
enough to take the responsibility of an entire
country and usher it to the world of sovereignty.
A stoic lawyer from Gujarat, Patels was a prominent leader
of the Indian National Congress. He had actively participated
in the Civil Disobedience movement and the Quit India
Movement started my Mahatma Gandhi. But Patels true role
came after the Independence. At that time India was
separated into numerous princely states. He took the
responsibility of making sure that all the monarchies were
abolished and for the benefit of the nation, the entire country
should be under one government body. India was divided into
two independent states of India and Pakistan (to house the
Muslim population). Now one such Moarch-the Nizam of
Hyderabad (A state that is situated in the centre of present
India) was allied to Pakistan. He refused to co-operate with
the Indian Government even after numerous pleas as
geographically it was impossible for Hyderabad to become a
part of a different nation when it is right in centre of India.
Hence Sardar Patel made sure that the Nizam was brought
under control by hook or by crook and sent packing alone to
Pakistan. Even the people of Hyderabad wanted to be a part
of India.
A revolutionary who was brought up in the patriotic
atmosphere, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, where Shaheed means
Martyr, from a very young age all he ever dreamed was of
seeing his country free. He met Rajguru and Sukhdev who
shared his thoughts and together they fought several guerrilla
wars fighting and revolting every British law that was against
the civilians and also against the right of humanity. The
Jallianwalla Baugh Massacre is one such example of the
colonial inhumanity. He even blasted bombs inside the
Assembly hall shouting slogans of Inqualab Zindabad(
Independence Prevails) to revolt against two laws-Trade
Union Dispute Bill and Public Safety Bill. All three were
arrested and hanged to death. Their death, instead of silencing
the people, actually acted as catalyst that ignited the fire
within people as even while leaving all three kept uttering-
Sar Kata Sakte Hai mar, Sar Zhuka Sakte Nahi ( We can have
our heads chopped but not bowed).
She fought a mans war, she was Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi go
the lyrics of a song written in her honor. Lakshmi bai was a queen
of the Princely state of Jhansi. During the ongoing Revolt of 1857,
The British government ordered that all princely states that do not
have a male heir will be taken over by the government. Queen
Lakshmi bai was widowed and had an adopted son. But she
refused to give her reign. When the troops of the Colonial power
arrived to the fort, they found it well defended by the army of
Queen Jhansi. She led her troops and fought the battle. It has also
been reported that she commanded the largest womens army till
date. When finally she saw that they were losing the battle, she
tied her son to her back and started riding away to save her son
with colonial army chasing her. Unfortunately her luck had passed
and her horse fell and she with it fell over breaking her head. Her
words Mein Apni Jhansi nahi Dundi (I will not give my Jhansi)
have gone down in history for the sheer bravery of this woman
who fought a mans war.
Mangal Pandey was a soldier in the British
troops. In 1847, there were rumours spreading
that the cartridges supplied by the East India
Company had pork and beef in them and this was
against the religion of both Hindus and Muslims.
At that time, Pandey convinced his colleagues
that the Company wouldnt do anything of this
sort. But later after a series of event he realised
that the Company didnt have the best interest of
the Indian population in its mind and was just
them like slaves. The winds of an uprising had
already started flowing and soon it turned into
the first Revolt of !857 and Mangal Pandey,
who was at the forefront of the struggle became
the First Freedom Fighter of the Indian Struggle
for Independence.
Born in a Dalit family, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
was a victim of the Indian caste System. Being of
the lowest caste, he was accosted with negligible
opportunities for his intelligence. But being a
genius he saw the light and converted to
Buddhism helped many others from the lower
castes to convert and not oblige to the inhuman
behaviour conducted towards them. His love for
books and learning played a major role in his
liberation. It was this hunger for knowledge that
made him the chairman of the committee that
founded the constitution of India. Dr. Ambedkar
was the one who scripted the constitution of this
democratic country.
Netaji as he was called was a very prominent figure in the
Indian freedom struggle. His sole aim was the freedom of his
country and he termed it as a necessity and didnt agree with
Gandhiji on the terms that it can be negotiated. He was well
educated and believed that there should be complete
intolerance for caste-differentiation, racism or religious
separation. His was so active in the Indian National
Congress that he was arrested several times by the British
Government. Soon he realised that international backing
was a must for Indias freedom and hence started meeting
leaders from Japan, Italy, and Germany who were against
the British forces in the World War 2. He even met Mussolini
and Hitler at different times. He was completely against the
racism that The dictators propagated but he appreciated the
discipline and unity of their men. It was on Hitlers
Suggestion that he went to Japan and formed the Indian
National Army and started the Campaign Challo Dilli
which though failed, wasnt enough to break his spirit. The
Slogan Jai Hind was also given by him which still prevails.
The Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu was a
poet and a social activist. She studied at the
Kings College, London and Girton College,
Cambridge. She was the first women to become
the Governor of an India state as well as the
Indian National Congress. She was one of the
members who formed the Constitution of India.
During the Partition of Bengal, she came in
contact with prominent Independent leaders like
Annie Besant, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Mahatma
Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath
Tagore, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and others. She
started travelling from state to state and
delivered speeches on social welfare and spread
the message of independence through her
poetry. An important woman leader, her
birthday is now celebrated as Womans Day
all over India.
Annie Besant was a British Activist who
believed in Indian Self-rule. During the
First World War, she campaigned for the
Freedom of India and helped in the
formation of the Home Rule League.
She was elected as the President of the
Congress and got extremely involved in
the Indian Politics. She was also a
Womans Rights Activist. She kept
campaigning and fighting against her
own country for the establishment of
democracy in India until her death in
1933.
The last Mughal Emperor of India, Bahadur Shah was a poet and
had little ambitions of expanding his territory which now was
merely the Red fort. The British has already taken power over the
majority of the country. When the Revolt of 1847 started, he and all
his sons participated to free India. He led his army for the sepoy
mutiny against the East India Company. The revolt didnt succeed
and Shah along with his sons was tried in court for rebelling. He
was exiled to Rangoon (Now Bangladesh). Even after the defeat, he
said Ghzio m b rahegi jab talak imn ki; Takht-e-London
tak chalegi tgh Hindustan ki (As long as there remains the scent
of faith in the hearts of our Ghazis, so long shall the sword of
Hindustan flash before the throne of London). It is believed that on
the day of Nouroj (Persian New Years) which is one of the biggest
festivals, he was presented with chopped heads of his sons by a
British Officer. Even then instead of showing remorse of showing
his weakness in front of the colonial powers he said Praise be to
Allah, that descendents of Timur always come in front of their
fathers in this way.
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