Find out about any five Indian women freedom fighters. Why were they important? Why are the women who fought for our freedom struggle less popular?
Answers
Answer:
1)Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was one of the leaders of the First War of Independence and holds her place in history as a fearless warrior and a passionate patriot. After her husband and young son died, she decided to take up arms to fight a law according to which Jhansi could be annexed into the British Empire. In school we may have only studied the Rani’s valour but, in Jaishree Misra’s Rani, we get to see her feminine side. This book doesn’t only focus on the battles she fought but also her journey as a woman- from the apprehension she felt as a young bride to the horrors she and her fellow Indians were subjected to at the hands of the British.
2)Begum Hazrat Mahal
Muhammadi Khanum was a courtesan by profession and was ultimately sold into the harem of the King of Oudh (present-day Awadh). After the British refused to accept her son, Brijis Qadr, as the ruler of Oudh she styled herself as Begum Hazrat Mahal and began a revolt against the British. She was often called Rani Lakshmibai’s counterpart in the First War of Independence. She not only fought for her kingdom but also against the British’s destruction of both temples and mosques. In The City Of Gold And Silver, fairly accurately covers her life story but does border on historical fiction as it reads more like an engrossing novel than a history book. The author also takes the liberty of inventing a love story which has no basis in history to make for a more interesting read.
3)Annie Besant
What makes Annie Besant unique is that she was not an Indian but an Englishwoman who fought for home-rule. From a young age, she stood out from other English ladies by advocating for taboo subjects such as birth control. In her autobiography she talks about her move to India, her passion for India becoming a democracy with home-rule, and setting up the Central Hindu College in Varanasi. She co-created the All India Home Rule League, was arrested for it, and upon her release became the President of the Indian National Congress.
4)Kasturba Gandhi
Without Kasturba Gandhi and her steadfast support, M.K. Gandhi would probably never have been able to achieve what he did. Her nationalism and patriotism were evident even when she lived in South Africa by her championing of the Phoenix Settlement and the cause of Indian workers living in the country. Once in India, she walked side-by-side with her husband in his quest for Independence until the police arrested her and placed her in jail. Although a fictionalised retelling, The Secret Diary Of Kasturba not only tells of her valour and why she should be an important figure in a list of female freedom fighters, but also touches upon uncomfortable subjects, such as, the sexual relationship between her and her husband, her ill-treatment at his hands, and the animosity between him and her son.
5)Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu has been termed ‘The Nightingale of India’ as it was through her poems that she inspired many an Indian to fight the British and to stand up for their rights. This remarkable Cambridge-educated woman was an ardent follower of Gandhi, actively propagated the non-cooperation movement, became the president of the Indian National Congress and also the Governor of the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh). To read some of her beautiful poetry, pick up Sarojini Naidu, edited and curated by professor and author Makarand Paranpaje. It is a collection of her best works along with commentary and context on their importance, so you will also get an understanding of how she inspired the masses through her poetry.