While India’s day of pride – the day when freedom was brought by the efforts of millions – is almost knocking the doors, we often limit to remember the famous and most talked about freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandrashekhar Azad and others.
But, there are several others who fought equally hard but never got any share of the limelight, because they simply never cared.
On the occasion of 71st Independence Day, let’s get an insight about some freedom fighters you probably haven’t heard of:
Begum Hazrat Mahal
Popularly known as Begum of Awadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal played one of the most pivotal role during the 1857 Indian rebellion against the rule of British East India Company.
Wife of the then Lucknow ruler Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, she came out as one of the strongest women, who rebelled against the British. She even took the harge of the affairs in the state of Awadh and seized control of Lucknow after Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been oust to Calcutta.
She 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 brace 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 1879 in Kathmandu.
Sri Aurobindo Ghose
Aurobindo Ghose was a philosopher, yogi, guru, poet, but above all he was a freedom fighter in his own right. His lectures and works of literature were so inspiring that it motivated young patriots and his writing was considered treason against the British government.
Ghosh was arrested due to his written articles that spoke against the British Raj; however due to the presence of no evidence, he was soon released.
With his revolutionary and nationalist spirit, Ghose also launched the famous publication called Bande Mataram.
Soon when he was imprisoned due to the popular Alipore Bomb Case, Ghosh started inclining towards spirituality; soon after which he quit politics.
Peer Ali Khan
Peer Ali Khan was part of the 1857 rebellion against the British. He was, indeed, one of the 14 people who were ordained with capital punishment due to the rebel against the British empire.
Ali realised what had happened, planned to attack the British and gathered those interested. He collected 50 guns with the help of his co-worker, Maulvi Mehdi and distributed them among his group members.
On July 4, 1857, he was arrested along with his 33 followers. Most of them were hanged the next day without a hearing. Peer Ali was brutally tortured and cross-examined before he was hanged on July 7.
Tara Rani Srivastava
Born into a very poor family in Saran, Bihar, Tara Rani Srivastava actively participated in the Quit India Movement along with her husband Phulendu Babu.
Once Mahatma Gandhi called the people for hoisting the Indian flag in front of Siwan police station. On Gandhiji's call, Phulendu assembled a massive crowd of men and women in front of the police station to hoist the national flag on its roof.
Both Tara and Phulendu stood in front of the crowd and raised slogans. Soon police started firing and Phulendu fell to police bullets but Tara Rani was not discouraged.
Infact demonstrated exemplary courage, she bandaged her husband's wounds and marched with the national flag straight towards the police station. By the time she returned, her husband had died.
Tara inspite of seeing her husband dead, remained placid. She without losing her courage continued her struggle despite of facing all hurdles on her way.
Tirupur Kumaran
Despite giving his life taking part in the independence movement, this freedom fighter has been long forgotten.
In 1932, Kumaran organised a protest march against the British. During the protest, He insisted on holding the national flag of India, irrespective of the fact that at that time, it was prohibited by the British government.
It was during the same protest march that he succumbed to the injuries caused by the police force.
