Even after 70 years of independence when we Indians could feel the fervor and the resentment of the people who witnessed that era and even participated in the freedom process of India. People from all walks of life forgot all differences and came together from all walks of life and all classes of society be it men or women or youth all came on streets to fight for the freedom of their country. We still read or hear with awe about courageous stories of freedom fighters of those times; they still fill our hearts with respect, courage and patriotism and leaves our eyes wet with tears.
History has witnessed many women with exceptional bravery and intelligence who walked shoulder to shoulder with men of their times. Let us remember women of the freedom era who fought bravely for their country and contributed towards the achievement of independence of the country India. They are still a source of inspiration to not only women but to all.
# Rani lakshmibaiA name etched in history for her bravery forever. She was the queen of Maratha ruled state of Jhansi. She was the first prominent women freedom fighter, who participated in the first freedom rebellion of 1857. British wanted to take over the princely state of Jhansi under the cover of “Doctrine of Lapse”. Sir Hugh Rose came to capture the city of Jhansi in March 1858 but, the brave Lakshmibai announced to fight for freedom instead to surrender. Though she was defeated here and decided to leave and fight from camp at Kalpi. After Kalpi they decided to fight from Gwalior Fort. Here Lakshmibai with Damodar Rao, her son on her back and i cavalry attire died after fighting bravely. Even Hugh Rose praised her bravery and commented that she is the most dangerous of all Indian leaders, which is a commendable tag.
# Madam Bhikaiji CamaShe belonged to Parsi community and was a philanthropist and an active social worker. During the epidemic of bubonic plague that hit Mumbai in 1896, she herself got infected with the disease while providing aid to the others thus; she was sent to Britain for her treatment. Throughout her life, she struggled for Indian Independence from abroad as she was told by her acquaintances not to take part in freedom struggle if she comes back to India. While working as secretary to Dadabhai Naoroji she supported the founding of Shyamji Krishna Verma’s Indian Home Rule Society. On 22nd August 1907, she unfurled the Indian flag (Flag of Indian Independence) in Stuttgurt, Germany while attending the International Socialist Conference, there she made people aware of the aftermath of the famine that had hit the Indian Subcontinent and raised her voice for the human rights and equality in India. She was an active freedom fighter and was later sent to exile in Europe until 1935.
# Kasturba GandhiBeing the better-half of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi played a role as a political activist who was fighting for civil rights as well as Indian independence. She accompanied her husband to all demonstrations and movements and even took his place in his absence. She played the role of teaching Indians basic lesson of health, hygiene, discipline, reading, and writing due to lack of proper education to all. She played an important role at the backstage of the freedom struggle.
# Kamala NehruKamala Nehru was married to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Being the wife of a person whose contribution to Indian freedom struggle can never be forgotten is in itself a great contribution to Indian freedom struggle. At a prominent instance, in 1921, during the Non-Cooperation Movement in Allahabad she organized groups of women and picketed shops of liquor and foreign cloth. Performing the role of a wife she often went to deliver speeches when Nehru ji failed to appear.
# Usha Mehta Savitribai PhuleA very great contribution to her credit is the origination of Congress Radio also known as Secret Congress Radio, which was an underground radio station which was active for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1983. Due to this clandestine activity, she was imprisoned in Yeravda Jail of Pune. She was also a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a freedom fighter.