Remembering those who fought for us
On the eve of our 62nd Independence it is important to remember those who fought in the freedom struggle. The five mentioned here are only a few of those valiant soldiers.
ON THE 62nd anniversary of Indian Independence, it is important to look back at those who fought for our freedom; in some cases these freedom fighters even went as far as to lay down their lives for the cause of freedom. Their ideology and methods differed, but their goal remained the same - to gain independence for the country.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is one of the most revered personalities in the context of the freedom struggle. He is known by many names - Bapu, Father of the Nation and the Mahatma. He resolved to fight for national freedom after witnessing the plight of Indians in South Africa. He did so with two radically different weapons - satya and ahimsa (truth and non-violence).
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is one of the most revered personalities in the context of the freedom struggle. He is known by many names - Bapu, Father of the Nation and the Mahatma. He resolved to fight for national freedom after witnessing the plight of Indians in South Africa. He did so with two radically different weapons - satya and ahimsa (truth and non-violence).
With these two methods, he began the satyagraha movement in 1917. By 1921, he started the non-cooperation movement which inspired people, causing them to renounce government jobs, titles and honours, even schools and colleges. He also worked on uniting various communities. He realised India could succeed only with unity among religions, castes and colours. Then, there was the famous Dandi March he organised in protest against the salt tax. In 1942, he started the Quit India movement. However, this phase saw communal tensions which even Bapu failed to prevent. He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on Jan 30 1948.
Bhagat Singh
"Inqilab Zindabad" was the message Bhagat Singh gave to the British government by throwing a small bomb in the middle of Parliament. Singh was one of the radicals involved in the struggle for freedom; one who believed in using any means necessary to do so. He was born on September 27 1907. Though, initially inspired by Gandhi, he stopped believing in the Mahatma after the latter had called off the non co-operation movement.
When Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured in a lathi charge, Bhagat Singh plotted to avenge the attack by assassinating Scott, the SP, who was believed to have ordered the action. However ASP JP Saunders was killed by mistake. His is remembered for having, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, made two harmless bombs and cast them in the Delhi Assembly. Both were arrested and along with Sukhdev, charged for Saunders's murder. On March 23 1931, they were hanged in Lahore and quietly cremated in Hussainiwala on the banks of Sutlej river.
Sardar Patel
The Iron Man of India, Sardar Patel, was born on October 31 1875. A prominent leader of the freedom struggle, he was influenced by Gandhi and helped him organise the Satyagraha. In 1931, he was imprisoned for participating in the salt satyagraha movement but was later released due to the Gandhi-Irwin pact. He had supported the Civil Disobedience movement in 1942.
After Independence, he was appointed Home Minister of India. The credit for uniting the princely states goes to to Sardar Patel. He integrated over 500 princely States in the Indian Union, thereby architecting the modern India. He died in 1950.
BG Tilak
Popularly known as Lokmanya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856. He was a journalist primarily and published his views in the Kesari and Maratha newspapers. He propounded the concept of Swaraj, stating that,“Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” During the freedom struggle, he favoured the Swadeshi movement and boycotted foreign goods. He also stressed on the quality of education, believing that Western education was destroying national heritage. To achieve quality education, he founded the Deccan Education Society.
Along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, he formed the famous Lal- Bal-Pal trio. They formed the extremist group of nationalists whose goal was self rule even when the moderates were not ready for it. This even caused a spilt in the Indian National Congress. While he was deported to Mandalay, he wrote books such as 'Geeta Rahasya' and 'The Arctic home of the Vedas'. After he was released from jail, he tried to unite the two Congress factions but his efforts were in vain. Tilak decided to form a separate organisation named the Home Rule League whose aim was Swaraj. During the First World War, he sought the help of Indians for support to Britain so that Britain would grant freedom to India at the earliest. But this did not happen. He gradually grew weaker and died on August 1 1920.
Subhash Chandra Bose
Unlike others, Subash Chandra Bose organised an Army to sweep out the Britishers from India. Born on January 23 1897 in Cuttack, he was a brilliant student in his childhood and always wanted to serve his motherland. Like Bhagat Singh, he too was brave enough to differ with Gandhi's views. Bose was one of the first few to to demand complete Independence which the senior leaders were not yet clamouring for. It was only later that complete freedom became the motto of the Indian National Congress. In 1937, he became Congress President for the second time - against Gandhi's wishes. However he was forced to resign after winning.
He later formed a new party, the Forward Bloc, and after the breakout of the Second World War, he supported the Axis powers. During that time, he travelled to Italy, Germany and Russia seeking help. He then decided to form an army of his own by gathering Indian war prisoners from Germany and Italy. The newly composed Indian National Army (INA) was however forced to retreat after the defeat of the Axis powers. He then hoped to move on to Russia to seek Soviet help to fight the British, but unfortunately, he was killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18 1945. Even today there are many theories about his death. Some say there were some prominent Indians behind his death, while some believe he was never really killed and that he went on to live in Russia for many years.
Bhagat Singh
"Inqilab Zindabad" was the message Bhagat Singh gave to the British government by throwing a small bomb in the middle of Parliament. Singh was one of the radicals involved in the struggle for freedom; one who believed in using any means necessary to do so. He was born on September 27 1907. Though, initially inspired by Gandhi, he stopped believing in the Mahatma after the latter had called off the non co-operation movement.
When Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured in a lathi charge, Bhagat Singh plotted to avenge the attack by assassinating Scott, the SP, who was believed to have ordered the action. However ASP JP Saunders was killed by mistake. His is remembered for having, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, made two harmless bombs and cast them in the Delhi Assembly. Both were arrested and along with Sukhdev, charged for Saunders's murder. On March 23 1931, they were hanged in Lahore and quietly cremated in Hussainiwala on the banks of Sutlej river.
Sardar Patel
The Iron Man of India, Sardar Patel, was born on October 31 1875. A prominent leader of the freedom struggle, he was influenced by Gandhi and helped him organise the Satyagraha. In 1931, he was imprisoned for participating in the salt satyagraha movement but was later released due to the Gandhi-Irwin pact. He had supported the Civil Disobedience movement in 1942.
After Independence, he was appointed Home Minister of India. The credit for uniting the princely states goes to to Sardar Patel. He integrated over 500 princely States in the Indian Union, thereby architecting the modern India. He died in 1950.
BG Tilak
Popularly known as Lokmanya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856. He was a journalist primarily and published his views in the Kesari and Maratha newspapers. He propounded the concept of Swaraj, stating that,“Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” During the freedom struggle, he favoured the Swadeshi movement and boycotted foreign goods. He also stressed on the quality of education, believing that Western education was destroying national heritage. To achieve quality education, he founded the Deccan Education Society.
Along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, he formed the famous Lal- Bal-Pal trio. They formed the extremist group of nationalists whose goal was self rule even when the moderates were not ready for it. This even caused a spilt in the Indian National Congress. While he was deported to Mandalay, he wrote books such as 'Geeta Rahasya' and 'The Arctic home of the Vedas'. After he was released from jail, he tried to unite the two Congress factions but his efforts were in vain. Tilak decided to form a separate organisation named the Home Rule League whose aim was Swaraj. During the First World War, he sought the help of Indians for support to Britain so that Britain would grant freedom to India at the earliest. But this did not happen. He gradually grew weaker and died on August 1 1920.
Subhash Chandra Bose
Unlike others, Subash Chandra Bose organised an Army to sweep out the Britishers from India. Born on January 23 1897 in Cuttack, he was a brilliant student in his childhood and always wanted to serve his motherland. Like Bhagat Singh, he too was brave enough to differ with Gandhi's views. Bose was one of the first few to to demand complete Independence which the senior leaders were not yet clamouring for. It was only later that complete freedom became the motto of the Indian National Congress. In 1937, he became Congress President for the second time - against Gandhi's wishes. However he was forced to resign after winning.
He later formed a new party, the Forward Bloc, and after the breakout of the Second World War, he supported the Axis powers. During that time, he travelled to Italy, Germany and Russia seeking help. He then decided to form an army of his own by gathering Indian war prisoners from Germany and Italy. The newly composed Indian National Army (INA) was however forced to retreat after the defeat of the Axis powers. He then hoped to move on to Russia to seek Soviet help to fight the British, but unfortunately, he was killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18 1945. Even today there are many theories about his death. Some say there were some prominent Indians behind his death, while some believe he was never really killed and that he went on to live in Russia for many years.
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