7 Female Freedom Fighters Who Defined The True Meaning of Women Empowerment
India’s struggle for freedom was definitely not an easy job altogether. The struggle actually comprised of true dedication on the part of the Indians for uprooting an empire that ruled atrociously for more than 100 years. However the dedication along with the zealous nationalist feelings of the Indians finally made India an independent nation altogether. This struggle not only included various religions to be one, but also had helped quite a lot to uplift the status of the Indian women. In an era when women were strictly kept behind the doors and were strictly allotted with the homemaking tasks, the Indian freedom struggle made it possible to empower many Indian women. Most importantly is the fact that these women freedom fighters did not simply belong to only one section of the society which is the upper class; but also belonged to different classes that included the middle classes and the lower ones as well. Adding to all these, many of these women also didn’t consider their age while struggling forward against the oppressive British Raj. It’s quite a lot common for anyone to know the names of many male leaders or freedom fighters, but there are many female freedom fighters as well whose names should be known by all. Thus, to make you acquainted for the same, here is a small bucket list that comprises of some of the most valorous and most patriotic female freedom fighters, without whom India might not have got its freedom.
● Rani Lakshmi Bai
The Hindi saying that goes like this, “Khoob Ladi Mardani thi Woh To Jhansi Wali Rani Thi” is the most apt for describing this brave queen of Jhansi. Being one of the most prolific and the most brave figures for the 1857 Indian rebellion, Rani Lakshmi Bai perfectly showed up not just to the British but also to the entire nation that gender is a mere word when it comes impregnating patriotic and nationalistic feelings. The Doctrine of Lapse was the main catalyst that infuriated and most importantly provoked her nationalist feelings. Due to this doctrine, Rani Lakshmi Bai was not at all considered to be the rightful heir of her region; which itself made the Britishers annex Jhansi. In the year 1858, Sir Hugh Rose came over to capture the city. Instead of surrendering, Lakshmi Bai announced that she would fight for freedom. Initially she was defeated but that didn’t stop her from fighting again. Thus soon Lakshmi Bai decided to fight from the popular Gwalior Fort. In this battle she actually carried her son, Damodar Rao on her back. With a remarkable brave attempt, she gave up her life for the sake of freedom.
● Begum Hazrat Mahal
Like already said, the Indian struggle for freedom had brought in both Hindus and Muslims. One of the most important figures in the history of the Indian independence. who can be the most apt example for this statement is Begum of Awadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal. Born in 1820, Hazrat Mahal had been brave enough to rebel against the East India Company during the rebellion that took place in 1857. Not only was she gorgeous as well as charming, but was also brave and zealous enough for arranging, Prince Birjis Qadra, her son for being the ruler or Wali of the state of Awadh. Her band of supporters that fought against the Britishers had Raja Jailal Singh as the leader. Her primary complaint against the British comprised of the fact that the latter demolished many mosques and temples only to build roads for their own purposes. She even had the guts to issue a proclamation wherein she mocked the “claimed” freedom of worship of the Britishers. On this proclamation she said, “To eat pigs and drink wine, to bite greased cartridges and to mix pig’s fat with sweetmeats, to destroy Hindu and Musalman temples on pretense of making roads, to build churches, to send clergymen into the streets to preach the Christian religion, to institute English schools, and pay people a monthly stipend for learning the English sciences, while the places of worship of Hindus and Mussalmans are to this day entirely neglected; with all this, how can people believe that religion will not be interfered with?”
● Madam Bhikaiji Cama
Belonging from the Parsi community, Madam Bhikaiji Cama was at once a philanthropist as well as an active social worker. She had actually struggled quite a lot throughout her whole life only for the sake of India’s independence. Since her acquaintances strictly told her not to take an active part in the struggle, Madam Bhikaiji Cama kept on struggling for the same purpose while living abroad. Being the main designer of India’s national flag, Madam Bhikaiji Cama was the first ever woman in the history of India who had the guts of hoisting the national Indian flag in abroad, which is the in the country of Germany. She unfurled the flag when she went to attend the reputed International Socialist Conference wherein she also made the others aware with respect to the aftermath of India’s famine that hit the nation during her time. This further helped her to raise her voice for the sake of human rights as well as for the equality for the Indians.
● Annie Besant
Belonging from an Irish origin, Annie Besant is yet another figure who shares a significant kind of respect when it comes to talking about India’s struggle for freedom. Although being a British socialist, Annie Besant was a strong supporter of India’s self-rule. When she came over to India, she helped in establishing Central Hindu College along with the Sind National Collegiate Board in the year of 1902. Along with the prominent Indian leader, Lokmanya Tilak, Annie Besant helped the All India Home Rule League to get itself started. She did this with complete dedication on her part when the whole world had been in a sensitive state during the First World War of 1914. Soon she also became a part of the Indian National Congress of which she was also made the President for one complete year.
● Sarojini Naidu
Popularly known by the Indians as the “nightingale of the India” Sarojini Naidu had actually contributed quite a lot in 1902 during the infamous Partition of Bengal, by being an active participant of the Indian politics. For ensuring that the mass Indian women are made aware of the traumatic stage of the then India, she travelled to many places, thus helping to arouse the nationalistic feelings with the help of her lectures. She was also the very first Indian woman to have become INC’s (Indian National Congress’s) president.
● Sucheta Kriplani
Sharing a strong passionate endeavour to free the country from the atrocious British Raj, Sucheta Kriplani stepped up by being a part of the Quit India Movement. She also had been one of the closest associates of Mahatma Gandhi with respect to several various riots on Partition. Because of her dedicated towards the country, Sucheta Kriplani was the first woman Chief Minister for the state of Uttar Pradesh.
● Kittur Rani Chennamma
Being one of the most unknown names, Kittur Rani Chennamma was actually one of the earliest and the most prominent women freedom fighters who had the guts to rebel against the British with the help of her armed rebellion. So much was this queen patriotic that she gave up her life for the sake of her country.
Each of these women definitely defines the true term of women empowerment. Their zeal and passionate endeavour for the sake of their country definitely goes on inspiring millions of hearts.
