“The Unsung heroes of the freedom struggle of India”

 

“The Unsung heroes of the freedom struggle of India”

The independence we enjoy today is not a gift that simply fell into our lap, it is the hard-earned fruit of countless sacrifices, struggles, and dreams of those who fought relentlessly for our freedom. Every drop of sweat, every tear, and every life laid down was a step toward the dawn of a free India. Remembering their courage is not just a matter of history, it is a responsibility, a way of honouring the roots of our nation and the spirit that continues to keep it alive.

While history has rightfully celebrated a few towering figures of the freedom struggle, there are countless others whose names rarely make it to our textbooks or speeches yet their courage was no less extraordinary. These unsung martyrs, often ordinary men and women from villages, towns, and cities across the country, fought with the same passion and paid the same price for our liberty. Their stories may not be widely known, but they form the silent threads that hold together the tapestry of our independence. It is time we bring their sacrifices into the light and give them the honour they deserve.

1.     GULAB KAUR: THE LIONESS OF MANILLA

From the bustling streets of Manila, Gulab Kaur became a fierce voice for India’s freedom, working tirelessly with the Ghadar Party. She gave fiery motivational speeches and circulated revolutionary literature to Indian passengers traveling through Manila, inspiring many to join the cause and strengthening the Manila unit of the Ghadar Party. Later, returning to India with fifty other Ghadarites aboard the Korea and Tosha Maru ships, she refused to let hope fade. Whenever someone lost heart and considered abandoning the struggle, Gulab Kaur would remove the bangles from her wrist and declare, “If anyone retreats from this rare opportunity to fight for the motherland, he should wear these bangles and sit aside… we women will fight!”

Disguised as a journalist with a press pass in hand, she secretly distributed arms to Ghadar members. She even walked away from a comfortable life in America when her husband chose to emigrate, sacrificing personal happiness for the cause of freedom. Her unyielding commitment brought her under British suspicion, leading to two years of relentless torture at their hands. Yet, Gulab Kaur never surrendered—her courage remained as unshakable as her love for her country.

“In the heart of Manilla, Gulab Kaur roared like a lioness-arming rebels, shaming cowards and choosing country over comfort.

 

2.     DURGAWATI DEVI: THE AGNI OF INDIA

Durgawati Devi’s devotion to her country is etched in countless stories of courage, but one of the most unforgettable is tied to the escape of Bhagat Singh after the assassination of Saunders. When Bhagat Singh and his associates needed to flee Lahore, she not only provided financial help but also posed as Bhagat Singh’s wife with her infant son Sachin in her lap and Rajguru disguised as their servant carrying the luggage, they successfully evaded the British and escaped the city.

 

Her resolve only deepened after tragedy struck. When her husband, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, died while testing a bomb, Durgawati Devi’s grief transformed into unshakable determination. She boldly attempted to assassinate Lord Hailey, the ex-Governor of Punjab and a sworn enemy of the revolutionaries. Though she missed her target, she killed two of his associates, managed to escape, and continued to threaten the British. Eventually caught, she was imprisoned for three years.

Her fearless spirit earned her the title “The Agni of India”-a fiery force against British tyranny. After independence, she chose a quiet life in Ghaziabad and later opened a school for underprivileged children in Lucknow. She passed away on 15 October 1999 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of bravery.

 

3.     SARDAR AJIT SINGH: THE REVOLUTIONARY WHO LIVED TO SEE FREEDOM

Sardar Ajit Singh, an uncompromising revolutionary and nationalist, devoted his life to resisting British rule in India. His journey into the freedom struggle began with his leadership in protests against oppressive colonial policies, most notably the Punjab Colonisation Amendment Act of 1906. The following year, he launched the movement Pagri Sambhal Jatta (“Take Care of Your Turban”), a rallying cry for farmers to defend their rights and stand against unjust laws. His activism quickly drew the ire of the British, and in 1907, he and Lala Lajpat Rai were exiled to Myanmar in an attempt to crush the growing unrest in Punjab. However, due to massive public pressure and fear of discontent in the Indian Army, the exile orders were revoked.

Even beyond India’s borders, Ajit Singh continued the fight. During World War II, he taught Persian at a university in Naples and delivered impassioned speeches in Hindustani to Indian soldiers stationed in North Africa, urging them to turn their arms towards India’s freedom. His efforts abroad built crucial international support for the independence movement.

After years of exile, Ajit Singh returned to India following the intervention of Jawaharlal Nehru. On 15 August 1947, the very day India achieved independence, Sardar Ajit Singh breathed his last. His final words were a testament to a life of relentless struggle: “Thank God, my mission is fulfilled.”

 

     4.     BATUKESHWAR DUTTA:THE SILENT FLAME OF THE REVOLUTION

At just 19 years old, Batukeshwar Dutta etched his name in the annals of India’s freedom struggle with an act of fearless defiance. Alongside Bhagat Singh, he hurled two handmade bombs into the empty space of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi, shouted the electrifying slogan Inquilab Zindabad (“Long Live the Revolution”), and showered leaflets from the audience gallery. The bombs were never meant to harm, they were meant to make the deaf hear. As the revolutionaries declared: “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud.”

The duo was arrested the same day, making no attempt to escape. In prison, Dutta continued his fight for justice, joining Bhagat Singh in one of the longest hunger strikes in history—114 days, to demand better living conditions for political prisoners. Sentenced to life imprisonment, he was shipped to the dreaded Andaman Cellular Jail, where he persisted in fighting for prisoners’ rights and again joined hunger strikes. Later, he was shifted to Hazaribagh, Delhi, and Patna jails.

Released from Patna Jail in 1938 despite suffering from tuberculosis, Dutta did not rest. Frail in body but unbroken in spirit, he joined Mahatma Gandhi in the Quit India Movement and was arrested again, serving another four years behind bars. After his release in 1947, he settled in Patna and withdrew from political life. Years of imprisonment, hunger strikes, and torture took a heavy toll, and he eventually succumbed to cancer in July 1965. As per his last wish, he was cremated at Hussainiwala, where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev also rest, a final reunion with his comrades in eternal freedom.

The story of India’s independence is often told through the names etched in history books but between the lines live countless other heroes whose courage, sacrifice, and resolve were just as fierce. They fought on foreign shores, in prison cells, in villages, and on city streets, carrying the fire of freedom in their hearts. Their names may not always appear in bold letters, but their legacy is written in the very air of our liberty. They remind us that independence was not won by a few, but by the countless who gave everything so we could live free. Remembering them is not just an act of gratitude, it is a promise to protect the liberty they won.

 Closing Credit

 Author-  Simranpreet Kaur 

"The views expressed are personal. This article is intended for educational purposes and public discourse. Feedback and constructive criticism are welcome!"