The contribution of Indian freedom fighters will remain eternal
Answers
The Indian freedom movement was not just for the political freedom of India as a country. Suppression of human rights were taking place in many parts of the globe. During India’s freedom movement spanning over 150 years the world had seen two world wars and many tyrant rulers like Hitler and Napoleon.
The names of the freedom fighters of India cannot be confined to a list as the spirit for freedom spread vast and deep into the people’s minds. This was amazing as there were no communication facilities existing as of today. The freedom fighters were carrying forward the movement for freedom on two fronts : (1) to acquire the political freedom for self rule and (2) to emancipate the human minds.
Therefore, the call for freedom was heard much beyond the geographical boundaries of India.The freedom fighters, like Mahatma Gandhi, Gopal Krishna Gokhale etc., to name a few, were working for the political freedom as well as for the recognition of the human dignity.
At the same time there were a host of leaders in the form of great saints like Swami Vivekananda who were working for the emancipation of the human minds. Swami Vivekananda’s address in the Parliament of the World Religions in 1893 in Chicago (U.S) is still remembered for the human bonding it created in the history of the world.
Thus, the contribution of the Indian freedom fighters addressed more on issues relating to human dignity and equality irrespective of their nationality. Here lies the difference between other freedom movements and the Indian freedom movement.
Therefore, the contribution of the Indian freedom fighters shall remain eternal as it addressed the basic human values over all other issues. No wonder Martin Luther King in his fight for justice for a section of the people in the United States was inspired by the principles advocated by Mahatma Gandhi as shown in the picture.
The fact that Indian leaders are known the world over indicates that their ideology did not apply only to the Indians, but were in line with the ideals that are cherished by people of all ethnicities and countries. Indian freedom fighters fought against injustice, inequality, discrimination, tyranny, imperialism and exploitation. There is no revolution or freedom struggle in the history of the world that has not been fought keeping these ideals in mind. Hence, the contribution of Indian patriots will remain eternal on a universal level as well.
While the common man braved atrocities during the pre-independence era, the freedom fighters emerged as the true leaders of the people and put themselves on the forefront. They acted as a shield, protecting people from the tyranny of the British and suffering on account of the same. Many of the freedom fighters suffered tremendously at the hands of the rulers. Some gave up their personal careers, some renounced their families, while yet others gave up their lives altogether. It invokes a deep sense of gratitude, for they did it for the unknown people of the nation. They did it for the greater good of the nation. The ability to think beyond one’s own self, and to think of the nation as a whole sets these heroes apart and earns them a place in history, thus making them and their contributions eternal.
Many of them spent considerable time languishing in jails or were executed, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose. The fact that the leaders acted selflessly, without hoping to gain much for themselves, but with the hope of gifting an independent India to the coming generations shows how eternal their sacrifice is. They spent their lives in strife, only to ensure that a strong nation could be built on the basis of their contributions.
Today, India is free from any foreign rule and is often touted as a power to recon with. This has been made possible only due to the efforts of our freedom fighters who led the independence movement in their own different ways. While some were radical in thought, like Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, others like Gandhi supported peaceful and non-violent protests. Some like Tagore made literature their mode of spreading awareness, while yet others like Sarojini Naidu worked on improving the lot of women and enjoining them to support the freedom movement.
The freedom fighters worked on all fronts- political, social, cultural, religious and economic. Undoubtedly, they laid the foundation stone of modern India, which is the where we find ourselves comfortably placed. The current and future generations of India will definitely have a lot to be grateful about, eternally.