Introduction
It has been almost 80 years since our country gained freedom from the British and became an independent nation. Many people contributed to our freedom, and many sacrificed their lives too. We all know about some famous freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation), Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, and many others. But many freedom fighters contributed too much and even sacrificed their lives for the nation, but they are very underrated, and people hardly know them. We should also know about them because they also played an important role in our freedom. We will know about some of them.
1. Sukhdev
Sukhdev's full name was Sukhdev Thapar, born on 15 May 1907 in Ludhiana, Punjab. His father's name was Ramlal Thapar, and his mother's name was Ralli Devi. After his father's death, he was raised by his uncle, Lala Achintram. He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He was chief of the Punjab unit of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He played an important role in the Lahore conspiracy case with Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru, who were famous revolutionaries. Even in his childhood, he was against the British; for example, once a British officer visited his school, but he refused to salute him. He used to study revolutionary literature, including socialist books, and he was very influenced by the global revolutionary movement (like the Russian Revolution). He was executed by hanging on 23 March 1931 in Lahore Central Jail along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru.
2. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi
She was born on 19 November 1828 in Varanasi (located in Uttar Pradesh). The name of her father was Moropant Tambe, and her mother died when she was only four years old. She had mastery in swordplay, horse riding, and archery. She was married to Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, who was the King of Jhansi (located in present-day Uttar Pradesh). The couple had a son, but unfortunately, he died at a very young age. Later, they adopted a son as their successor, whose name was Damodar Rao. When her husband died, the British East India Company introduced the Doctrine of Lapse. She was the main leader of her region during the revolt of 1857. She defended the fort of Jhansi and fought against the British bravely while carrying her son on her back. She died on 18 June 1858 during a battle near Gwalior against the British.
3. Rajguru
Rajguru's full name was Shivaram Hari Rajguru, who was born on 24 August 1908 in Khed (Mumbai Presidency, British India). His father's name was Hari Narayan Rajguru, and his mother's name was Parvati Devi. He studied at the New English School in Pune. Later, he moved to Varanasi, where he learned Sanskrit and read religious and historical books. He was influenced by Lokmanya Tilak and became a revolutionary. He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He was very talented in shooting and referred to as the "gunman" of his group. He played an important role in the assassination of British officer J. P. Saunders in order to take revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai. He was executed by hanging on 23 March 1931 in Lahore Central Jail along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev.
4. Alluri Sitarama Raju
Alluri Sitarama Raju was born on 4 July 1897 in Pandrangi, Visakhapatnam (in present-day Andhra Pradesh). His father's name was Alluri Venkata Rama Raju, and his mother's name was Surya Narayanamma. After his father's death, he had to quit school, but he traveled a lot at a young age. He is famous for leading the Rampa Rebellion (also known as the Manyam Rebellion) against the Britishers from 1922 to 1924. The rebellion gathered a large number of protestors who were against the Madras Forest Act of 1882, which restricted tribal people from moving in the forest and practicing their traditional shifting cultivation called podu. Along with being a freedom fighter, he also had knowledge of Ayurveda, traditional medicine, and martial arts. He was captured by the British in 1924 in the forest near Chintapalle. Later, he was executed by shooting on 7 May 1924.
5. Birsa Munda
Birsa Munda was one of the bravest tribal leaders from Jharkhand. Birsa was born in a village in Jharkhand whose name is Ulihatu in 1875. People of his tribe, the Mundas, used to live in forests and worked on land doing farming and cattle rearing. But the British took their land from them and forced them to work on that land without any wages or benefits. Britishers also took their trees and farms. Birsa saw and knew this was wrong and his people were suffering because of that. He went to a school run by missionaries and learned to read. His hatred towards Britishers grew. At age 20, he fought a big fight against the Britishers; that fight is known as Ulgulan, or the Great Rebellion, from 1895 to 1900. He brought together Mundas, Oraons, and Santhals. Thousands of them joined him. Birsa influenced people by saying that he was sent by God. He mixed old Munda ideas and traditions with new ideas from books. He encouraged people to stop drinking, stop bad old habits like killing witches, and pray in their sacred places called Sarna. His words were simple: "Let our king rule, make the British go away". The group led by him attacked police posts with spears and guns. They wanted to snatch their land back from the Britishers. The British got scared and sent many soldiers. In 1900, they caught Birsa near Chalkad village. He was just 25. They captured him in Ranchi jail. He died in that jail on June 9, 1900. According to some people, Britishers mixed poison in his food, but it was officially called cholera.
Summarised
Sukhdev: Member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and played an important role in the Lahore Conspiracy case along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru.
Laxmi Bai: Queen of Jhansi, who played an important role in the 1857 revolt against the British.
Rajguru: He was also a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and played an important role in the assassination of J. P. Saunders.
Alluri Sitarama Raju: Leader of the Rampa tribal rebellion and led them against the Britishers from 1922 to 1924.
Birsa Munda: Birsa Munda led Munda tribes against the British for land which was captured by them in the 1895 Ulgulan. United thousands spiritually; captured at 25, died in jail in 1900.
