Freedom Fighters

Britishers ruled for more than two centuries in India, also known as colonial rule. Freedom fighters are those individuals who actively participate in and contribute to the struggle for the liberation and independence of their country from colonial rule, oppressive regimes, or other forms of tyranny. The Revolt of 1857 is considered as the 1st war of Independence. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Nana Sahib, Bahadur Shah II (the last Mughal emperor), Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh were the important leaders or freedom fighters of this war. awakened a sense of national consciousness and unity among Indians. The prominent freedom fighters between 1857 and 1947 were Veer Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Chandrasjekhar Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak etc. Women also played an active role in the freedom struggle of India. Some prominent women freedom fighters of India were Annie Beasant, Sarojini Naidu, Kamla Nehru, Kasturba Gandhi, Bhikaji Kama etc. Their continuous contributions led to the independence of India in 1947.

The history of freedom fighters in India is deeply intertwined with the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule, which spanned over more than 2 centuries and involved diverse individuals and movements across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. The resistance against British rule in India began as early as the 18th century with localised revolts and uprisings. The revolt of 1857 was a significant event to spark a widespread awakening of national consciousness among Indians. It laid the groundwork for future movements and shaping the course of Indian history. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the emergence of organized nationalist movements against British colonialism. The Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, became the primary political platform for advocating Indian self-rule. Mahatma Gandhi's arrival on the Indian political scene in the 1910s transformed the freedom struggle with his philosophy of non-violent resistance, or Satyagraha. Many important nationalist movements were launched in the 20th century to gain freedom for India like Swadeshi movement, Non-cooperation movement, Civil disobedience movement, Quit India movement etc. which saw the emergence of a number of freedom fighters in India.

Freedom fighters are individuals who actively participate in and contribute to the struggle for the liberation and independence of their country from colonial rule, oppressive regimes, or other forms of tyranny. India has a rich history of freedom fighters who dedicated their lives to the country's independence struggle against British colonial rule. In India, freedom fighter term is generally denoted to the people who fought for Indian independence between 1857-1947 after revolt of 1857 also known as 1st war of Independence.

• The Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Great Rebellion, or the First War of Independence, was a significant uprising against British colonial rule in India.
• Causes : The revolt was triggered by a combination of factors, including the annexation of Indian princely states by the British East India Company through Doctrine of Lapse by Dalhousie, social and religious reforms that were perceived as threats to traditional Indian customs, resentment among Indian soldiers (sepoys) over grievances related to their service conditions and the use of new Enfield rifle.
• 1st freedom fighter :One of the earliest and most widely recognized freedom fighters is Mangal Pandey. After the introduction of Enfield Rifle by British, furious Mangal Pandey attacked British officers in Barrackpore on March 29, 1857. This later led to the outbreak of 1857 revolt.
• Outbreak of war : The revolt began in May 1857 with a mutiny of Indian sepoys stationed in Meerut, which quickly spread to other parts of northern and central India, including Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and parts of Bengal and Bihar.
• Important leaders : Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Nana Sahib, Bahadur Shah II (the last Mughal emperor), Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh etc.
• Suppression : The revolt was suppressed by British through brutal reprisals and military campaigns against the uprising.
• Impact : The revolt led to significant changes in British colonial policies and marked the beginning of direct British rule in India under the British Raj. It awakened a sense of national consciousness and unity among Indians, inspired subsequent generations of freedom fighters, and laid the groundwork for future movements against British colonial rule.

Indian Nationalist movement witnessed the rise of various freedom fighters in India. The prominent freedom fighters of India were :-

The freedom fighters of India, both men and women, exemplified courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination in their quest for independence from colonial rule. Through their collective actions, they challenged the might of the British Empire and inspired millions of Indians to join the fight for independence. Their continuous contributions led to the independence of India in 1947 from more than two centuries long colonial rule.