Unsung Heroes - A Tribute

Maniram Dewan

(17 April 1806 - 26 February 1858)

Maniram Dewan was one of the first native to establish Tea Industry in Assam
and was initially a loyalist of British. He fell out with the British due to the
oppressive dominance of the British and during the First War of Indian
Independence, he motivated the last Ahom Royal of Assam to rise in mutiny
and to declare himself as Independent of the British. The plot was unearthed
and he along with Piyali Barua was hanged on 26th February 1858 at Jorhat
Central Jail. His death led to an open rebellion against the British.

43

Manorama Banerjee

Manorama Banerjee was the wife of a prominent freedom fighter of Tripura
Pramod Ranjan Banerjee. She was ideologically inclined for a violent struggle
against the British even as a Child. She saved money and brought a pistol which
she kept hidden in her blouse and gave it to her friend Anwara Begum to open
fire on a British Magistrate. Another friend accompanied them and they were
arrested on charges of murder and were jailed in Comilla Women’s Cell for six
months.

44

Maqbool Sherwani

Maqbool Sherwani a 19-year-old brave heart has been credited with single
handedly stalling the advance of Pakistan-sponsored tribal raiders to Srinagar.
He was a Kashmiri Muslim youth who delayed the march of ‘Pakhtoon’
tribesmen from Pakistan and Pakistani Army personnel disguised as tribesman
in Baramulla in October 1947. He played an important role in buying time for
Indian troops who landed in Srinagar once the accession was accepted. If
Srinagar had fallen to the tribal raiders, many commentators believe that the
outcome of the 1947 war would have been very different. It was the sacrifice of
this 19-year-old from Baramulla, who ensured that the Indian armed forces had
enough time to thwart the raiders. Mulk Raj Anand a famous writer has written
a novel on Sherwani ‘Death of a Hero’.

45

Matangini Hazra

(17 November 1869 – 29 September 1942)

Matangini Hazra born in Tamluk, Bengal (1869) was a revolutionary in the
Indian Independence movement who fought for upholding the Gandhian
Principles. She was actively involved in the ‘Quit India Movement’. She led a
procession of revolutionaries to seize Tamluk Police Station in West Bengal on
September 29th, 1942. The police opened fire at the crowd causing fatal injury
to the 73 year old brave heart. She was affectionately known as ‘Gandhi Buri’
means ‘Old Lady-Gandhi’.

46

Matmur Jamoh

Matmur Jamoh, was an Adi Tribe Headman of Yangrung, about 20 kms from
Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. He opposed the British ingress into Adi territory
and along with few Abor actually the Adi warriors attacked and killed Captain
Neol Williamson British Assistant Political Officer and his troops in 1911. This
led to the 4th Anglo-Adi-war and Abor expedition of 1911-12. Kebang Abors
were at the fore front of this battle and this victory was crafted by Matmur
Jamoh alongwith Lunrung Tamuk, Lotlang Taloh and Bishong Tabing. He
surrendered to the British in order to stop the atrocities on his people and was
believed to have died at the Cellular Jail in the Andamans.

47

Moji Riba

(1911)

Moji Riba was born in Darin village of Lepa Rada District of Arunachal Pradesh in 1911. After
completing his primary education in Sadiya he moved to Jorhat, Assam for higher education
and there he learnt about the freedom struggle of India.
He met stalwart leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi and Lalit Hazarika. He actively participated in
Quit India Movement and was instrumental in gathering the rural mass support. On the day
of Independence, he along with many leaders, freedom fighters and villagers unfurled the
national flag in Dipa Village, Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh.
For his contribution and sacrifices he was honoured with the Tamra Patra by the
Government of India, the first person from Arunachal Pradesh to receive it.

48

Mool Chand Jain

(20 August 1915 - 12 September 1997)

Babu Mool Chand Jain was born on 20th August, 1915. He is often referred to as
“Gandhi of Haryana”. He was born in the village-Sikanderpur Majra of Tehsil-
Gohana, Sonipat, Haryana. He started his law practice in Gohana and became a
volunteer of freedom movement. He involved himself in non-violent freedom
movement in 1937. In 1939 he was left unconscious during ‘Asodha Satyagrah’
by assailants thinking him as dead. He also participated and courted arrest in
the Individual Civil Disobedience Movement in 1941 and continued his active
participation in the freedom movement. He remained deeply involved in
‘Bhoodaan and Sarvodaya Movement’. He died on 12th September, 1997.

49

Moolmati

Moolmati was the mother of freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil who was
hanged by the British Raj for his role in ‘Mainpuri Conspiracy Case’ 1918 and
the ‘Kakori Train Robbery Conspiracy’ in 1925. She met Bismil before his
hanging at the Gorakhpur jail. Ram Prasad Bismil broke down on seeing his
mother who remained firm, unmoved and felt proud. He told his mother that
his tears were not for his upcoming death, but that he would never get another
mother like her. Moolmati in a public gathering, after Ram Prasad Bismil's
death, she raised her other son's hand and offered him to the freedom
movement. It is true that without her philanthropic support and faith in the
freedom struggle, Ram Prasad Bismil might not have had the determination to
pursue the path he had chosen.

50

Nawab Abdur Rahman Khan

(23 October 1857)

Nawab Abdur Rahman Khan was the Nawab of Jhajjar, Haryana. He refused to
surrender to Britisher’s oppression and in protest led the first freedom struggle
in 1857 in Haryana. He was ‘People’s Nawab’ as he was loved and respected by
people. Therefore, Pathans extended support to him. He used guerilla warfare
techniques using his army and Pathans army from outside. But later British use
other tactics using the informers to arrest Nawab at Chhuchhakwas and he was
brought to Delhi. He was arrested and tried in a summary trial. On 17th October
1857, he was pronounced Death Penalty. On 23rd October 1857, he was
executed in front of The Red Fort.

51

Pa Togan Sangma

(12 December 1872)

Also known as Togan Sangma or Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma, he was a 19th
century Garo (A-chik) warrior and leader from Garo hills, Meghalaya, who died
battling British forces on 12th December, 1872. In 1872, British soldiers entered
the Garo hills and set up a camp near Chisobibra village. Pa Togan Sangma and
other warriors launched an attack against the British forces, only to face a
barrage of bullets. Being less equipped, the warriors suffered grave losses and
Pa Togan Sangma died on the spot, in his quest to save his motherland and his
people.

52

Pandit Kanshi Ram

(13 October 1883—27 March 1915)

Pandit Kanshi Ram was born on 13th October 1883. He along with Har Dayal and
Sohan Singh Bhakna, were the three key members who founded the ‘Ghadar
Party’. He served as the treasurer of the party from its inception in 1913. In
1914, Kanshi Ram returned to India as a part of the Ghadar Mutiny which
attempted to trigger mutinies in the British Indian Army during World War-I. He
was arrested in the aftermath of the failed ‘February Plot’ and later tried in the
‘Lahore Conspiracy Case’. Kanshi Ram was charged along with Kartar Singh
Sarabha and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle and executed on 27th March 1915.

53

Parbati Giri

(19 January 1926 - 17 August 1995)

Parbati Giri born in Sambalpur, Odisha in 1926. She was only 16 but actively
involved in the freedom struggle, especially the Quit India Movement. She was
also imprisoned for 2 years at Sambalpur Jail for taking part in these activities
and for invading the SDO’s office at Bargar. Parbati Giri served the general
public at grass root level both in the pre and post-independence era and was
also known as ‘Mother Teresa of Western Orissa’.

54

Pingali Venkaiah

(2 August 1876 - 4 July 1963)

Pingali Venkaiah was born at Bhatlapenumarru near Macchulipatnam in 1876
in Andhra Pradesh. He was a linguist, geolist and a writer. In 1913 he gave
speech in Japanese, therefore, also known as “Japan Venkayya”, also known as
“Patti (Cotton) Venkayya and “Jhanda Venkayya.” He was an ardent follower of
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. He published a book in 1916 offering 30 designs of
flags for selecting Indian National Flag. He designed a flag which was approved
in Vijayawada Session 1921 by Gandhiji on which the present day Indian
National flag design was based with some modification.

55

Potti Sriramulu

( 16 March 1901 - 15 December 1952)

Potti Sriramulu was a Gandhian and Dalit rights activist. He is also known as
Amarjeevi Potti Sriramulu. He was born in 1901 in Padamatapalli, in Nellore
district of Andhra Pradesh. He participated in the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India
Movement and in individual Satyagraha. He also joined the Gandhi Ashram. He
also struggled for the upliftment and justice to the Dalits on many occasions for
instance temple entry by Dalits into the Venugopalaswamy Temple in
Moolapeta, Nellore. He was arrested multiple times for his passionate pursuit
of these causes.

56

Pramod Ranjan Banerjee

Pramod, despite being born in a rich family of a zamindar, he left home when
he was only 12 years old. Pramod got a job in Railways at Jabalpur but left it at
the age of 22 and involved himself in the freedom movement entirely. During
his service he spent his salary to aid his co-freedom fighters especially buying
arms to fight with the British. He had many contributions to the freedom
struggle amongst which the ‘Armoury Movement’ stood out. He was jailed in
Dhaka Central Jail after being caught in connection with the ‘Armoury
Movement’. He was then shifted to Dumdum Central Jail and Andaman Central
Jail. He got inspired by Subhash Chandra Bose and followed his ideals till his last
breath He also accompanied Mahatma Gandhi in his ‘Quit India Movement’ in
1942.

57

Prithvi Singh Azad

(15 September 1892—5 March 1989)

Prithvi Singh Azad was born in Lalru on 15th September 1892, Mohali, Punjab.
He was associated with the upliftment of Dalits. He was influenced by the arrest
of Lokmanya Tilak and Khudi Ram Bose by the British Government in 1907—08.
He visited USA in 1912 and during this time he met Lala Har Dayal of ‘Ghadar
Party’. He assisted the ‘Hindustan Ghadar’, the mouthpiece of the party. On
returning to India alongwith around 150 freedom fighters, he was captured by
the British on 7th December 1914, tried, sentenced for 10 years imprisonment.
He spent time in various jails including Calcutta, Madras and the Cellular Jail. He
was arrested several times which included the ‘Lahore Conspiracy Case’ in
which he was sentenced to death and the sentence was later commuted to life
imprisonment in the Cellular Jail.

58

Pritilata Waddedar

(5 May 1911 – 24 September 1932)

Pritilata Waddedar was born in 1911 in Dhalghat, Chittagong, Bengal (then)
Presidency. She was a school teacher and a prominent leader of the anti-British
movement in Chittagong. In 1932, Senior Revolutionary Surya Sen planned to
attack the Pahartali European Club which had a signboard that read "Dogs and
Indians not allowed”. As a member of Surya Sen’s revolutionary group, she led
the armed attack on Pahartali European Club on September 23rd, 1932. One
person died and several others were injured in this attack. The attackers were
later caught by the British police. Pritilata was wounded in a shooting that
followed. To avoid arrest, she consumed cyanide and embraced death. She was
amongst the first revolutionary women of the freedom struggle of India.

59

Pandit Sunderlal Sharma

(21 December 1881)

Pandit Sunderlal Sharma was born in 1881 in an aristocratic family of Chamsoor
village near Rajim. He was associated with the 'National Peasant Movement',
'Alcohol Prohibition', 'Adivasi Movement', 'Swadeshi Movement' and sacrificed
his life for the sake of national freedom. In 1920 'Kandel Canal Satyagraha' was
successfully conducted near Dhamtari, under his leadership. It was because of
his efforts that Mahatma Gandhi came to Raipur for the first time on 20th
December 1920. He was among the prominent people who were jailed from
Chhattisgarh during the 'Non-Cooperation Movement'.

60

Pandit Nekiram Sharma

(September 1887—8 June 1956)

Pandit Nekiram Sharma played a leading role in ‘Anti-Rowlatt Act Movement’
1919, ‘Non-cooperation Movement’ in 1920-22, ‘Salt Satyagraha’ in 1930-34,
Individual Satyagraha in 1940-41 and ‘Quit India Movement’ in 1942-44 and
spent 2200 days in jail. Ambala Divisional Political Conference was convened at
Bhiwani on 22th October, 1920 to popularize the Non-Cooperation Movement.
In that, at the insistence of Pandit Nekiram, the Father of the Nation Mahatma
Gandhi, Shaukat Ali, Mohammad Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Kasturba
Gandhi attended the conference. He opposed the Recruitment of the soldiers
from Haryana in British Army during World War-I. He died on 8th June, 1956.

61

Pursottam Kakodkar

(1913 - 1958)

Pursottam Kakodkar was born in 1913. He participated in the underground
activities during Quit India Movement (1942-45). He was associated with
Mahatma Gandhi and was at the Ashram at Wardha. He founded Goa Seva
Sangha - a socio-political organization in 1945. He organized spinning classes for
producing Khadi cloth, conducted prayers and pravachans, Seva Dal activity and
hoisting of the Indian National flag. He also distributed charkas and mobilized
‘Goa Seva Sangh’ volunteers and other forces for the ‘Civil Disobedience
Movement’. He was tried by Territorial Military Court and was sentenced to
nine years imprisonment. He was deprived of civil rights for fifteen years and
was deported to Portugal. He was released in 1956 and returned to Goa in
1957. He died in 1958.

62

Ram Prasad Bismil

(11 June 1897 – 19 December 1927)

Ram Prasad Bismil was a freedom fighter, a renowned poet who wrote poems
using pen names such as ‘Ram’, ‘Agyat’ and ‘Bismil’. He was one of the founder
members of the Hindustan Republican Association. Bismil was actively involved
in the ‘Mainpuri Conspiracy’ 1918 and the ‘Kakori Train Robbery Conspiracy’
1925 in Uttar Pradesh. He was hanged on December 19th, 1927, for his
revolutionary acts against the British colonial raj. He was associated with Arya
Samaj and got inspiration from ‘Satyarth Prakash’ by Swami Dayanand
Saraswati. He published paper called ‘Deshvasiyo ke Namm Sandesh’ (A
message to my countrymen). He wrote his biography when he was in
Gorakhpur Jail.

63

Rani Avantibai

(1831– 20 March 1858)

Rani Avantibai, the Queen of Ramgarh, Madhya Pradesh was born in 1831. As a
Queen, she efficiently administrated State affairs. As the guardian of her minor
sons, the State powers came to the queen. The queen ordered the farmers not
to obey the instructions of the British and her reform works increased her
popularity. When the revolt of 1857 broke out, Avantibai raised and led an army
of 4000. Her first battle with the British led to defeat of British forces. However,
the British came back with vengeance and launched an attack on Ramgarh.
Avantibai moved to the hills of Devhargarh for safety. The British army set fire
to Ramgarh and turned to Devhargarh to attack the Queen. Avantibai resorted
to guerilla warfare to fend off the British army. When facing almost certain
defeat in battle, she committed suicide to avoid capture. She died on 20th
March 1858.

64

Rani Gaidinliu

(26 January 1915—17 February 1993))

Gaidinliu was born on January 26th, 1915, in present-day Tamenglong district of
Manipur. She was a Naga spiritual and political leader, who led an armed
uprising against the British in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam She belonged to
the Rongmei tribe (also known as Kabui). In 1927, at the age of 13, Gaidinliu,
along with her cousin Haipou Jadonang, joined the ‘Heraka Movement’, aimed
at the revival of Naga tribal religion and to establish Self-Rule of the Nagas
(Naga Raj) by ending the British rule. She was arrested in 1932 when she was
just 16 and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British. Between 1932
and 1947, the Naga freedom fighter was kept at several prisons across the
Northeast.

65

Rao Tularam Singh

(9 December 1825—23 September 1863)

Rao Tularam Singh, born on 9th December in Rewari, Haryana. On 17th May
1857 he, his cousin Rao Gopal Dev and around 500 followers, deposed the local
Tehsildar and occupied Rewari. He raised a force of about 5000 soldiers and set
up a workshop for manufacturing guns and other ammunition. Rao Tula Ram
helped Emperor Bahadur Shah and other rebel forces in war against the British
in Delhi. He sent Rs 45000/- through General Bakht Khan and supplied two
thousand sacks of wheat quantities and other commodities. After he lost the
Battle of Nasibpur near Narnaul to the British, Rao Tularam left India to seek
help from the Shah of Iran, Dost Mohammad Khan ruler of Emirate of
Afghanistan and Alexander-II Emperor of Russia against British colonial empire.
On 23rd September 1863, he died in Kabul in Afghanistan at the age of 38.

66

Saifuddin Kitchlew

(15 January 1888—9 October 1963)

Saifuddin Kitchlew a nationalist, barrister and a peace movement leader. He
was born in Amritsar. He took part in the ‘Satyagraha’ movement. He left his
law practice and joined the Indian Independence movement and All India
Khilafat Committee. Kitchlew was arrested with Mahatma Gandhi and Dr.
Satyapal for leading protests in Punjab against the Rowlatt Act, 1919. To protest
the arrest of the trio, a public meeting was organised at the Jallianwala Bagh,
when General Reginald Dyer and his troops fired upon the unarmed, civilian
crowd. Hundreds were killed, and hundreds more injured. Kitchlew supported a
united Indian nationalism against British colonial rule and opposed the Partition
of India, holding that a divided India would weaken Muslims, both economically
and politically. He was founding member of Jamia-Millia Islamia.

67

Samaldas Gandhi

(1897 - 1953)

Samaldas Gandhi was an Indian independence activist born in 1897. He headed
the ‘Aarzi Hukumat’ or Temporary Government of the erstwhile Princely State
of Junagadh. Samaldas was a close follower of his uncle, Mahatma Gandhi. He
started new newspaper named "Vande Mataram". He played a prominent role
in the integration of Junagadh into India. When the Nawab of Junagadh
acceded his State to Pakistan in 1947, Samaldas headed a Government-in-exile
created by citizens of Junagadh to reflect the wishes of its majority population
who instead wished the State to become part of India. When Indian forces
entered Junagadh and its Principalities, Mangrol and Manavadar, at the
invitation of the Nawab's Dewan, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Samaldas was invited
to accept the reins of the State but deferred to the Government of India. He
died in 1953.

68

Sangolli Rayanna

(1796—26 January 1831)

Sangolli Rayanna was a faithful follower of Dessainee of Kittur. He was known
for his bravery and adventure. Rayanna organized a group of revolutionaries
who were faithful to Rani Chennamma and revolted against the British. He
attacked their strong positions from different directions. During 1830, he
plundered the offices and treasury of Nandagad. He attacked them in
Nandagad, Beedi, Khanapur and Sampagav. People too supported him. He was
a terror in the eyes of the British. He was arrested with the help of traitors
Lingana Gowda of Khadanapura and Venkanna Gowda of Neginahal who caused
his arrest when he was taking bath and was without weapons. He was treated
as a criminal and hanged to a banyan tree publicly in his favourite place
Nandagadan on 26th January 1831.

69

Sardar Ajit Singh Sandhu

(23 February 1881-15 August 1947)

Sardar Ajit Singh born on 23rd February 1881. He organised agitation of Punjabi
peasants against anti-farmer laws known as the ‘Punjab Colonisation
Act’ (Amendment) 1906 and administrative orders increasing water rate
charges. In May 1907, with Lala Lajpat Rai, he was exiled to Mandalay in Burma.
Due to great public pressure and apprehension of unrest in the Indian Army the
order of exile was withdrawn and both were released in October 1907. Along
with Sufi Amba Parshad, he escaped to Iran in 1909, remained in exile for 38
years. He returned to India in March 1947, breathing his last on the morning of
15th August 1947 at Dalhousie, the very day India was declared independent of
the British rule.

70

Senapati Bapat

(12 November 1880 – 28 November 1967)

Pandurang Mahadev Bapat, popularly known as ‘Senapati Bapat’ was born on
12th November 1880 in Marathi family in Parner. He acquired the title of
‘Senapati’, meaning Commander because of his leadership during the ‘Mulshi
Satyagraha’. During his stay in Britain, he was associated with India House, and
spent time in learning bomb-making skills. He became associated at this time
with the Savarkar brothers, Vinayak and Ganesh. While in hiding after the
Alipore bombing of 1908, Bapat travelled the country and discovered that the
majority of the Indian population did not realize that their country was under
foreign rule. At this point, his focus shifted from overthrowing the British
government to educate the population. He re-aligned himself with Mahatma
Gandhi's vision of Swaraj in late 1920, following the death of Tilak. He died on
28th November 1967.

71

Shahid Gundadhur

Shahid Gundadhur spearheaded the Tribal Rebellion against the local king and
British Rule in Bastar, Chhattisgarh in 1910, through a violent movement called
‘The Bhumkal Movement’, the first war of independence. The increasingly
oppressive British Rule in Bastar led to discontent leading to widespread tribal
movement towards a common motive. In order to spread the message of the
rebellion creative signaling by adoption of ‘lal mirch and aam–ki-chatni’, locally
known as ‘Dara-Miri’ was used as the most effective means of communication.
The movement destroyed many British offices and communication networks.
On February 16th 1910 a war took place at Khadag Ghat on Indravati river where
a lot of people were martyred. The movement was brutally crushed in May
1910, though the British could not catch hold the Gundadhur.

72

Sher Nahar Singh

(9 January 1858)

Sher Nahar Singh belonged to Ballabhgarh, Haryana. He had participated in the
First war of Indian Independence. He became the ruler of Ballabhgarh in 1829.
In order to defeat the British he joined hands with the last Mughal Emperor
Bahadurshah Jafar. On 23rd of Sept 1857, he was arrested by the British and
kept in the horse ranch. Then he was tried and hanged at Chandni Chowk in
completely open public view on 9th January 1858. Gulab Singh Saini, Bhura
Singh Valmiki the Commander of Raja Nahar Singh’s forces led the Ballabhgarh
army against the British. Gulab Singh was also hanged alongwith Raja Nahar
Singh.

73

Shyam Narayan Singh

(1901-1968)

Shyam Narayan Singh was born in 1901 in Nalanda district. He was a student of Patna
college and during his college days he was inspired by the ideology of Chandrasekhar
Azad and other revolutionary leaders but gradually he realised the importance of
electoral politics in gaining Swarajya from the British Government. In the August of
1942 when Mahatma Gandhi gave clarion call asking the Britishers to Quit India,
nationalist fervour was running high, all across the country. During that time in Patna,
Shyam Narayan Singh gave a nationalist speech, past which, seven students
proceeded to unfurl the Indian National flag at Patna secretariat. During the ensuing
protest, all seven of them died. While Shyam Narayan Singh emerged unscathed from
the event, the colonial government issued shoot at sight order and a reward of Rs
5000 against him. Later on, he was arrested and sent to a jail in Bihar Sharif.

74

Shyamdev Narayan

(5 October 1905—6 July 2000)

Shyamdev Narayan was born on 5th October 1905 in Siswan in Siwan district. In 1917
he attended a meeting of Mahatma Gandhi at Siwan. This pushed him towards the
cause of freedom and joined Yogendra Shukla’s group. He would communicate
important information regarding revolutionary activities to Rambinod Singh,
Yogendra Shukla and other group members. In the mid 1920’s, he was part of the
‘Champaran Dacoity’ and in late 1920’s, he was an active member of the Hindustan
Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). On 22nd October 1932, he was accused in the
‘Patna Conspiracy Case’ and sent to the dreaded Kalapani jail on life imprisonment.
Four years later in 1936, he along with 11 other prisoners were transferred to
Hazaribagh jail and released in 1937 when the Congress Government threatened
resignation if they were not released. After being released from jail, he worked for
the labour association of Jharia and Bherata Nagar. In 1942, he was under house
arrest on the orders of the Governor.

75

Subramania Bharati

(11 December 1882—12 September 1921)

Subramania Bharati was born in Ettaiyapuram, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. He is
the greatest nationalist poet of India popularly known as ‘Mahakavi Bharathi’.
He was involved in the extremist wing of the freedom struggle, as a result, he
was forced to flee to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), a French colony, where he
lived in exile from 1910 to 1919. During this time Bharati’s nationalistic poems
and essays were very popular in Tamil Nadu. Upon his return to British India in
1919 he was briefly imprisoned. He composed innumerable poems and wrote
articles, uniting the Indians and raising the thirst for freedom amongst the
illiterate masses of our nation and thus successfully spreading the freedom
movement.

76

Subramania Siva

(1884-1925)

Subramania Siva a writer and freedom fighter was born at
Batlagundu near Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. He was follower of Balagangadhar Tilak,
Swami Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and opposed Gandhian ideology
of ‘ahimsa’. He wanted Indians to be aware and to join the Freedom Struggle in
a big way. In this regard he instituted the ‘Dharma Paripalana Sangam’ and
himself travelled extensively and delivered speeches. He was arrested in 1908.
Till 1922 he had under went rigorous imprisonment multiple times. He used
‘Tamil Language’ as a cultural expression of freedom movement.

77

Surya Sen

(22 March 1894 – 12 January 1934)

Surya Sen born in Raozan, Chittagong then Bengal Presidency was popularly
known as ‘Master da’ and was a leading revolutionary in the Indian
Independence struggle against the British rule. He was actively involved in the
‘Non-Cooperation Movement’. He is well known for his leading role in the 1930
‘Chittagong Armoury Raid’ where he led a group of revolutionaries to raid the
police armoury. In the fierce battle over 80 British troops and
12 revolutionaries were killed. He was hanged on January 12, 1934, for his
attempts to rebel against the British. He was tortured immensely by police. It is
said that his teeth were hammered off & his nails were plucked out by the Jailer
so that he couldn’t say ‘Bande Mataram’ at his execution.

78

Swami Anand

(1887 - 25 January 1976)

Swami Anand was a Gandhian, writer and a monk, born in 1887 in Wadhwan,
Surendra Nagar, Gujarat. He was manager of Mahatma Gandhi's publications
such as ‘Navajivan’ and ‘Young India’ and also inspired Mahatma Gandhi to pen
his autobiography. He was associated with the revolutionaries of Bengal in
1905. Later, in 1907 he worked in the ‘Kesari’, the Marathi newspaper founded
by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He was Vallabhbhai Patel's Secretary during the ‘Bardoli
Satyagraha’ of 1928. In 1930, he was jailed for three years for participating in
‘Salt Satyagraha’ at Vile Parle in Bombay. After his release, he focused on the
upliftment of the tribals and the unprivileged. He also founded the Gandhi
Ashrams in Bordi in Gujarat in 1931 followed by Thane, Kausani and Kosbad. He
worked for 1934 earthquake victims in North India.

79

Swami Ramanand Tirtha

(3 October 1903—22 January 1972)

Swami Ramanand Tirtha or Teerth was born in Sindagi as Vyenkatesh
Bhagvanrao Khedgikan on 3rd October 1903. He was an educator and social
activist who led the Hyderabad liberation struggle during the reign of Osman Ali
Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad State. He participated in ‘Satyagraha’ and
was imprisoned for 111 days by Osman Ali Khan. Swami Ramanand Tirtha is
credited with having created a revolutionary movement to integrate Hyderabad
State with the Indian Union in 1948. Swami Ramanand Tirtha's ability to
galvanize the people in concert with the decisive military victory of the
Hyderabad Police Action led to the Hyderabad State's successful integration into
the India Union.

80

Tantia Tope

(1814-1859)

Tantia Tope was born on 16th February 1814. He is widely considered as the best
and most effective General against the British in 1857 Freedom Struggle. Born
as Ramachandra Panduranga Yawalkar to a Marathi family, in Yeola, (near
Nasik), Tantia took on the title ‘Tope’, meaning Commanding Officer. A personal
adherent of Nana Saheb of Bithur, he progressed with the Gwalior contingent
after the British reoccupied Kanpur and forced General Windham to retreat
from the city. Tantia Tope came to the support of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and
seized the city of Gwalior with her. When he was defeated by General Napier's
British troops at Ranod and after a further defeat at Sikar, he resorted to
guerilla warfare. Tantia Tope was executed by the British government at
Shivpuri on 18 April 1859.

81

Tantya Bhil

(1840-1889)

Tantya Bhil was born around 1840 in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.
He rebelled against the British Government. Tantya Bhil was one of the greatest
revolutionaries who waged an armed struggle against the British rule for twelve
years and endeared himself to the masses by virtue of his indomitable courage
and passion to uproot the foreign rule. However, he also provided support to
the needy masses which earned him their good will. He is seen as a symbol of
India’s resistance to foreign hegemony and inspired generations to fight the
British establishment. He was hanged to death in 1889.

82

Tara Rani Srivastava

Tara Rani Srivastava was a freedom fighter and part of Mahatma Gandhi's Quit
India Movement. On 12th August 1942, called upon by Mahatma Gandhi, she
and her husband Phulendu Babu organized a march to raise the Indian National
Flag in front of the Siwan police station, an act that would be seen as "a major
defiance." She and her husband were leading a march in Siwan towards the
police station when Phulendu Babu was shot by police. Despite that, after
bandaging her husband’s wounds with strips of cloth torn from her sari, Tara
Rani continued her march to the police station, where she attempted to hoist
the flag. On her return, she discovered that her husband had died of his
injuries. On 15th August 1942, a prayer meeting was held in Chhapra in honour
of her husband for his sacrifice for the country. She continued to be part of the
freedom struggle until the Independence of India of India on 15th August 1947.

83

T. B. Cunha

(2 April 1891 - 28 September 1958)

Tristao de Braganca Cunha, the ‘Father of Goan Nationalism’, was born in 1891.
He was a member of the Anti-Imperialist League and collaborated with other
Indian patriots in the Pro-Indian Committee of the Information Bureau founded
by Romain Rolland in Paris. In 1928 he founded Goa Congress Committee to
organize intelligentsia. In 1929, he launched a campaign against agents of
British tea planters who had enticed Goans to work in Assam as indentured
labourers which ended the ‘camouflaged slavery’ and got them repatriated to
Goa in 1940. He was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to eight years
imprisonment by the Territorial Military Court of the Portuguese Government
for his nationalistic writings. He was deported to Portugal and released in 1952
but was not allowed to return to Goa. He died in 1958.

84

Thakur Pyarelal

(21 December 1891 - 22 October 1954)

Thakur Pyarelal was born on 21st December 1891 in Daihan (District
Rajnandgaon). When the non-cooperation movement was announced in the
Nagpur session of the Congress, he left his advocacy and went out to campaign
for the movement throughout the district. He travelled from village to village
and propagated charkha and khadi. During the ‘Jhanda Satyagraha’ in 1923, he
organized Satyagrahis in the fort. In 1924, under his leadership, the mill workers
of Rajnandgaon went on strike and even when he was prohibited to enter
Rajnandgaon he protested from its outskirts. In 1946, Thakur Pyarelal
established the Indian National Congress in all the Princely States under
Chhattisgarh. He was a passionate Satyagrahi all through his life. He was
conferred with the honorary title of ‘Tyagmurti’ means “epitome of sacrifice’.

85

Tileswari Barua

On 20th September, 1942 as a part of Quit India Movement, “Mrityu Bahini”, the
death squad went to unfurl the Indian flag. This day is observed in the
Dhekiajuli town in Sonitpur district of Assam as ‘Martyrs’ Day’, in solemn
remembrance of Tileswari Barua. When she and some freedom fighters tried to
unfurl the Indian National Movement flag atop a police station she was shot
dead by the British along with fifteen other people. Tileswari Barua was just 12
years old then. Tileswari was the fourth to be hit by the bullet and fell dead.
The incident increased the women’s participation in the freedom struggle.

86

Tirupur Kumaran

(1904-1932)

Tirupur is a town near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and it was Kumaran’s home
town. Kumaran was the founder of the ‘Desa Bandhu Youth Association’. In
1932, Kumaran organised a protest march against the British. He was carrying
the Indian National Flag, which was banned by the British. This enraged British
officials who then began assaulting the protesters including Kumaran insisted
him to put the flag down. Kumaran held the Indian Flag even after being
repeatedly beaten. He was wounded and even when he fell into a faint before
dying, he clung on to the Indian flag ensuring it did not fall to the ground.
Though he succumbed to the injuries, he was found dead holding the flag. This
incident gained him the title ‘Kodi Kaatha Kumaran’ — Kumaran, the saviour of
the flag.

87

Trilochan Pokhrel

(Died : 27 January 1969)

Pokhrel was born at Takchang Busty, in East Sikkim. Pokhrel is popularly known
as ‘Vande Pokhrel’ was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s fundamental
principles of peace and non-violence. He was actively involved in Gandhi's
movements such as the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’, the ‘Civil Disobedience
Movement’ and the ‘Quit India Movement’. Trilochan Pokhrel had immense
faith in the teachings of leading a simple life as led by Mahatma Gandhi. He is
known for promoting the concept of ‘Swadeshi’ among the Sikkimese
peasantry. He was the first Sikkimese freedom fighter who fought against the
British hegemony. He is the prominent figure of Indian Independence
Movement activism in North Bengal & Sikkim.

88

Tyagi Ansari Doraisamy

Ansari Doriasamy, was born in Pondicherry in July 1906 and was educated in
French at Pondicherry. He was a veteran and leading nationalist who was
associated with the Gandhian Ideology and Freedom Movements since 1930.
He underwent a lot of trials and tribulations as a leader of the liberation
movement. He was the founder member of the French India National Congress
and was its Secretary during 1948-49. He was arrested and severely assaulted
by the police. He suffered heavy loss of property due to his activities during the
freedom struggle.

89

U Kiang Nangbah

A Khasi freedom fighter born in Jowai Meghalaya, he led an uprising against the
British during the 1860s. Colonial government in 1860 imposed the house tax
on the tribes inhabiting the Jaintia hills. That’s when infuriated tribals joined
forces against the British under the leadership of Nangbah. His forces soon
attacked a British police station and set fire to all its weapons. What followed
was a series of guerilla attacks which paralysed the colonial administration. In
response, the British launched a full-scale military operation against Nangbah
and his men. The British captured him in December 1862 after one of his men
had tipped off the enemy. After a mock trial, he was hanged at Lawmusiang in
Jowai town in West Jaintia Hill district on 30th December, 1862.

90

U Tirot Sing Syiemlieh

(Died : 17 July 1835)

Born in 1802, U Tirot Sing Syiemlieh, a native Chief of Nongkhlaw, in the Khasi
Hills of Meghalaya. He led the Khasis in their fight against the British during the
1829-1833 Anglo-Khasi War. The British sought permission from Tirot to
construct a road cutting through the hills inhabited by the Khasis. Britisher’s
promised to give control of the duars (alluvial floodplains of Assam) and
favourable terms of trade, but Britisher betrayed their promise. On 4th April
1829, Tirot’s forces attacked the British garrison stationed at Nongkhlaw and
killed two officers. The British retaliated heavily but Tirot and his men in Anglo-
Khasi War battled the British for four years engaging in guerilla warfare. In
1833, Tirot was hiding in the hills after sustaining bullet injury, but was betrayed
by one of his men and captured by the British forces and deported to Dhaka,
where he died in captivity on 17th July 1835.

91

Udham Singh

(26 December 1899 – 31 July 1940)

Udham Singh was born on 26th December 1899 at Sunam, Sangrur district of
Punjab. He was a revolutionary of the Ghadar Party. On 13 April, over 10,000
unarmed People assembled in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar to celebrate the
important Hindu and Sikh festival of Baisakhi and to peacefully protest the
arrests made against Rowlatt Act,1919. Troops under the command of Colonel
Reginald Dyer opened fire on the crowd, killed several hundred. Udham Singh is
best known for his assassination in London of Michael O'Dwyer ,in revenge for
the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919, for which O'Dwyer was
responsible. He was subsequently tried and convicted of murder and hanged in
July 1940. He is also referred to as ‘Shaheed-i-Azam’ Sardar Udham Singh
meaning ‘the great martyr’.

92