10 Unsung Heroes of India’s Freedom Struggle You Should Know

When we speak of India’s freedom struggle, names like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Bhagat Singh immediately come to mind. But the soul of India’s fight for independence was enriched by countless others—valiant, passionate, and relentless heroes—whose names often remain forgotten in history textbooks. These unsung heroes made immense sacrifices, many laying down their lives, so that future generations could breathe the air of freedom.

Here are 10 such freedom fighters whose stories deserve to be known and remembered:

1. Matangini Hazra – The Grandmother Who Defied the British

Popularly known as Gandhi Buri, Matangini Hazra was a 73-year-old woman who actively participated in the Quit India Movement. Even after being shot, she held the national flag high and kept chanting “Vande Mataram” until her last breath.

2. Potti Sreeramulu – A Martyr for Linguistic Rights

A devout follower of Gandhi, Potti Sreeramulu fasted to death to demand a separate state for Telugu-speaking people. His sacrifice led to the creation of Andhra Pradesh and sparked the reorganization of Indian states based on language.

3. Kanaklata Barua – The Teenage Martyr of Assam

At just 17, Kanaklata led a procession during the Quit India Movement in 1942, carrying the Indian flag. She was shot dead by British police while trying to hoist the flag at a police station, becoming a symbol of youth bravery in Assam.

4. Alluri Sitarama Raju – The Tribal Rebel

Often referred to as the “Indian Robin Hood,” Raju led the Rampa Rebellion against British rule in the tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh. He mobilized Adivasi communities and used guerrilla warfare against colonial forces before being captured and executed at age 27.

5. Peer Ali Khan – A Forgotten Revolutionary of 1857

One of the early revolutionaries of the 1857 revolt, Peer Ali Khan was a bookseller in Patna who secretly distributed pamphlets and coordinated rebel activities. He was captured by the British and hanged along with 14 other rebels.

6. Aruna Asaf Ali – The Undaunted Torchbearer

While not completely unknown, Aruna Asaf Ali’s contributions remain underappreciated. She hoisted the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement in 1942, defying a British ban. She later became known as the Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement.

7. Udham Singh – The Avenger of Jallianwala Bagh

After witnessing the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Udham Singh vowed revenge. In 1940, he assassinated General O’Dwyer in London—the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. He was hanged soon after but is celebrated in Punjab as a martyr.

8. Velu Nachiyar – The Warrior Queen Before Rani Lakshmibai

Velu Nachiyar, the queen of Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu), led a resistance against the British in the 1780s—decades before the 1857 revolt. She formed alliances with regional rulers and even created a women’s army to fight the colonizers.

9. Tirupur Kumaran – The Flag Bearer Who Never Let Go

Tirupur Kumaran was a young freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu who founded the Desa Bandhu Youth Association. He died holding the Indian flag during a protest march, even as police brutally lathi-charged him. He is remembered as Kodi Kaatha Kumaran (The one who protected the flag).

10. Batukeshwar Dutt – The Silent Revolutionary

A comrade of Bhagat Singh, Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly to make “the deaf hear” — without harming anyone. He spent years in prison and suffered lifelong ill health due to British torture, yet faded into obscurity after independence.

Conclusion

India’s freedom was not won by a few individuals—it was forged through the blood, sweat, and sacrifices of thousands of unsung heroes like these. Remembering them is not just an act of tribute, but a moral responsibility. Their stories inspire us to value liberty and stand up against injustice, no matter the cost.

Let us ensure that their legacy lives on.