Freedom Fighters of India
India got its independence on the 15th day of August of 1947, this day is the result of the freedom struggle fought by our great heroes and the 78th Independence Day in India is going to be celebrated on 15th August 2024 across the country. A series of struggles, movements, battles, and uprisings took place to make India independent through the contribution of great freedom fighters. There is no parameter to identify the best Freedom Fighters in India because every Freedom Fighter in India has played a major role in giving freedom to the country and sacrificing their life. Here, we are sharing the list of freedom fighters of India and their massive contribution to the country’s struggle for Independence for India after a lot of effort.
Indian Freedom Fighters and Their Contributions
The most well-known Indian freedom fighters were Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Azad, and a few others. Every Indian Freedom Fighter made his contribution to making India a beautiful place to live. The list of Indian Freedom Fighters and their Contributions are discussed below.
| Freedom Fighters Name | Contributions and Roles |
|---|---|
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak | The Maker of Modern India, Swadeshi Movement |
| Dr.Rajendra Prasad | First President of the Republic of India |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | White Revolution Green Revolution Second Prime Minister of India |
| Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhai Patel | Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement Unification of India |
| Bhagat Singh | One of the Most Influential Revolutionary |
| Subhas Chandra Bose | World War II Indian National Congress |
| Mahatma Gandhi | Father of the Nation, Civil Rights Activists in South Africa, Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience Movement Quit India Movement |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | First Prime Minister of India |
| Gopal Krishna Gokhale | Political guru of Mahatma Gandhi |
| Chandra Shekhar Azad | Reorganized the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under the new name of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association(HSRA) |
| Dadabhai Naoroji | Unofficial Ambassador of India |
| Tantia Tope | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Bipin Chandra Pal | Father of Revolutionary Thoughts Swadeshi Movement |
| Lala Lajpat Rai | Punjab Kesari Against Simon Commission |
| Ashfaqullah Khan | Member of Hindustan Republican Association |
| Nana Sahib | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Sukhdev | Chief of Punjab unit of HSRA(Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) |
| Kunwar Singh | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Mangal Pandey | Sepoy mutiny of the revolt of 1857 |
| Vinayak Damodar Savarkar | Leading figures of Hindu Mahasabha and formulators of Hindu Nationalist Philosophy |
| Rani Lakshmi Bai | Leading women in the rebellion of 1857 |
| Begum Hazrat Mahal | First female freedom fighter |
| Kasturba Gandhi | Quit India movement |
| Kamla Nehru | Non-cooperation Movement, Protested against foresign liquors |
| Vijay Laxmi Pandit | First Indian women ambassador at UN. |
| Sarojini Naidu | First Indian woman who acted as governor (UP) |
| Aruna Asaf Ali | Inquilab (Monthly journal) |
| Madam Bhikaji Cama | First Indian to hoist the Indian Non-cooperation flag on foreign soil, Mother India’s first cultural representative of USA’ |
| Kamla Chattopadhyay | The first woman to be elected to a legislative seat in India(madras province) |
| Sucheta Kriplani | First women Chief minister (UP) |
| Annie Besant | First woman president of INC, Home rule league. |
| Kittur Chennamma | First female ruler to rebel against the British |
| Savitribai Phule | First lady teacher in India |
| Usha Mehta | Organized Congress Radio popularly the Secret Congress Radio |
| Lakshmi Sahgal | India Democratic Women Association(IDWA)(1981 ) |
| Dr. B.R Ambedkar | He is known as the father of the Constitution |
| Rani Gaidinliu | She was Naga spiritual and political leader |
| Prafulla Chaki | Involved in the Muzaffarpur killing |
| Chittaranjan Das | Leader in the Non-cooperation Movement from Bengal and Founder of the Swaraj party |
| Bhavabhushan Mitra | Involved in Ghadar Mutiny |
| Alluri Sitarama Raju | Rampa Rebellion 1922-1924 |
| Kanneganti Hanumanthu | Palnadu Rebellion |
| Parbati Giri | She is also known as mother Teresa of Western Orissa. |
| Tirupur Kumaran | He was the founder of the Desa Bandhu Youth Association |
| Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi | He was the founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |
| Senapati Bapat | He was the leader of the Mulshi Satyagraha |
| Basawon Singh (Sinha) | Lahore conspiracy case |
| Kartar Singh Sarabha | Lahore conspiracy |
| Bagha Jatin | The Howrah-Shibpur conspiracy case |
| Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee | Kakori conspiracy |
| Roshan Singh | Kakori conspiracy |
| Pingali Venkayya | He was the designer of the flag on which our National Flag is based |
| Veerapandiya Kattabomman | He was an 18th-century Tamil chieftain. |
| Sachindra Bakshi | Kakori conspiracy |
| Rajendra Lahiri | Kakori conspiracy |
| Manmath Nath Gupta | Kakori conspiracy |
| Bahadur Shah Zafar | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Chetram Jatav | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Bakht Khan | Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
He was the First Law Minister of India
He refused to accept the sovereignty of the British East India Company and raised war against them.
He was captured by the British and was hanged to death on 16 October 1799
Famous Freedom fighters of India
Know a brief about a few of the Freedom Fighters of India and their role and contributions to Indian freedom, which have been discussed in the below section.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. He is famously revered as the Father of Nation. His birthday on 2nd October is commemorated in India as ‘Gandhi Jayanti’, a national holiday, and worldwide as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ (Antarrashtriya Ahimsa Diwas) according to the declaration of UNO. He was born to Karamchand Gandhi and Putali bai. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was his political guru. His famous works include Indian Opinion, Harijan, and Young India. He is called ‘BAPU’ and ‘GANDHIJI’.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who is also called Lokmanya, was a teacher, nationalist and activist. He is one of the LALBAL PAL TRIO. He was the first leader of the independence movement. He is titled “Lokmanya”, which means “accepted by the people as their leader”.He was called “The Maker of Modern India’’ by Mahatma Gandhi. His Marathi quote: “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!” is famous.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian politician, lawyer, activist, journalist & scholar who served as the first president of the Republic of India from 1950 to 1962. He was a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi; Prasad was jailed during the Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942. Prasad served as Food and Agriculture Minister at the central level. Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was unanimously elected as the First President of India. Also called “Ajata Shatru” means a person with no enemies.
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 2nd Prime Minister and 6th Home Minister of India. He promoted White Revolution – a national campaign to increase the production and supply of milk. Underlining the need to boost India’s food production, Shastri also launched the Green Revolution to increase food production, especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), commonly known as Sardar, was an Indian lawyer, influential political leader, barrister, and statesman. Who served as the first Home Minister and First Deputy Minister of India. He is also called the ‘IRONMAN OF INDIA and UNIFIER OF INDIA’.
Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) a charismatic revolutionary participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer which was a form of retaliation for the death of an Indian nationalist. He later took part in a symbolic Central Legislative Assembly bombing case in Delhi and a hunger strike in jail, which resulted in sympathetic coverage in Indian-owned newspapers which turned him into a household name in the Punjab region.
Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945) was a nationalist. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was famously called ‘Netaji’. His supreme patriotism made him the great hero of India. His famous slogan is ‘Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Aazadi Dunga’ and ‘Delhi Chalo. He formed Azad Hind Fauj and made several contributions to India’s freedom struggle, Known for his militant approach and socialist policy which he used to gain independence.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Pt. Nehru was born in Allahabad on 14 November 1889. He completed his early education at his home under private tutors. At the age of 15, he went to England at Harrow School. After 2 years he went to Cambridge for further studies. In London, he completed his degree in law and became a barrister. In 1912 he returned to India and straight jumped into politics. He is known for his love and affection toward children. After his death, 14th November is celebrated as CHILDREN’S DAY marking his birth anniversary.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, (May 9 1866-February 1915), was a social reformer who founded a sectarian organization to work for the relief of the underprivileged in India. He is among the moderate nationalists in the independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi’s political guru was GL Gokhale.
Chandra Shekhar Azad
Chandra Shekhar Azad was one of the most important freedom fighters in the history of the Indian Independence Movement. After the death of its founder Ramprasad Bismil, Azad reorganized the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). Born on July 23, 1906, to Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagran Devi in the Bhavra village, in Madhya Pradesh. Azad’s mother wanted him to be a Sanskrit scholar so she sent him to Kashi Vidyapeeth for his education. He was attracted to ideas of independence and joined the non-cooperation movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. At the age of 15, on being presented before the district magistrate, he was given the name Azad, his father Swatantrata, and his home as Jail.
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji, (4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917) also known as the “Grand Old Man of India” and “Unofficial Ambassador of India”, was an Indian political leader, writer, and scholar. He was a founding member of the Indian National Congress and thrice president – 1886, 1893, and 1906. His theory of “wealth drain” got attention through his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.
Tantia Tope
Tantia Tope (also spelled Tatya Tope; 16 February 1814 – 18 April 1859) was a general in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and a notable leader. Despite a lack of military training, he is considered to be one of the best and most effective rebel generals in the Indian struggle for independence. He was born in Yeola, (near Nasik). Tania took the title Tope which means commanding officer. His first name Tantia means General. He was the supporter of Nana Saheb of Bithur, he proceeded with the Gwalior contingent after the British reoccupied Kanpur (then known as Cawnpore). Tantia Tope along with Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi seized the city of Gwalior. Later he was defeated by General Napier.
Bipin Chandra Pal
On 7 November 1858, Bipin Chandra Pal also known as the ‘Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India’ was born in Habiganj District, present-day Bangladesh. His family was a wealthy Hindu family. Pal’s father was a Persian scholar. Lal, Bal, and Aurobindo Ghosh inspired him a lot. He started spreading the idea of ‘swaraj’ to Indians. His famous book was ‘Indian Nationalism’, ‘Swaraj and ‘Nationality and Empire’, ‘The Basis of Social Reform’, ‘The New Spirit and Studies in Hinduism’, and ‘The Soul of India’.
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari was a great author, freedom fighter, and politician He was one of the three members of the Lal Bal Pal trio. His famous works include Arya Samaj, USA: A Hindu Impression, The story of my Deportation, etc.
Ashfaqullah Khan
Ashfaqullah Khan was born on October 22, 1900, a freedom fighter who was sentenced to death in the Kakori train robbery along with Ram Prasad Bismil, for their role in the Kakori train robbery of 1925. He was also detained in the Faizabad jail. On April 1972 he was awarded the death sentence.
Nana Saheb Peshwa II
Nana Saheb Peshwa II (19 May 1824 – 24 September 1859), also called Dhondu Pant was a great fighter, aristocrat, and rebellion of the 1857 revolt. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of Maratha Peshwa II that’s why he was denied pension by East India Company. The Standard policies of the British led him to join the rebellion of 1857.
Sukhdev Thapar
Sukhdev Thapar was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, on 15 May 1907. His parents were Ramlal Thapar and Ralli Devi. He belongs to the Hindu Community of the Khatri family. After his father’s death, he was brought up by his uncle. He worked as an Indian revolutionary who worked to make India independent along with Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru. He was among the senior member of HSRA, he was hanged on 23 March 1931 at the age of 23 Britishers.
Kunwar Singh
Kunwar Singh (born: 13 November 1777 – died: 26 April 1858) is popularly known as Veer Kunwar Singh or Veer Babu Kunwar Singh. He belongs to Ujjainiya caln in the Bhojpur district of Bihar. He was the chief organizer of the fight against the British in Bihar.
Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey was a great Indian soldier who played a great role in the Rebellion of 1857. He belongs to the 34th Bengal Native Infant regiment. In 1984, a postage stamp was issued by the Indian government in his remembrance. He was the first Indian soldier whose attack on the British was the first major incident of what came to be known as Sepoy mutiny.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar ( 28 May 1883 – 26 February 1966) known among followers by the honorific prefix Veer, was an Indian politician, activist, and writer. He was a leading face of Hindu Mahasabha. Savarkar was an atheist but a pragmatic practitioner of Hindu philosophy. His book THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE was banned by British colonial authorities.