25 Most Popular Indian Freedom Fighters

Born on 4th September 1825, was a Mathematics and Natural Philosophy professor. He was educated at the Elphinstone College in Bombay. He turned towards politics later in life and became very active in the field. Dadabhai Naoroji gained popularity for his famous opinion on the economic consequences of British rule in India. His opinion was unfavourable and he felt that the British rule would leave and cause irreparable damage to the Indian economy. In the years 1886, 1893 and 1906, Dadabhai Naoroji had the privilege of presiding over the annual sessions of the Indian National Congress. This later led to the nationalist movement in India. His popular writings include the article named Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901). In this article, he was of the strong belief and opinion that India was taxed at a very high rate and all of India’s wealth was being drained to England.

• Born: 4 September 1825, Navsari
• Died: 30 June 1917, Mumbai
• Organizations founded: Indian National Congress, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, National Congress, London Indian Society
• Famously Known As: ’Grand Old Man of India’ and ‘Unofficial Ambassador of India’

Tantia Tope was one of the famous revolutionaries of the Rebellion of 1857. Born in 1814, he led his soldiers to fight against the dominance of British rule. He made General Windham leave Kanpur and helped Rani Lakhsmi Bai reinstating Gwalior.

• Born: 1814, Yeola
• Died: 18 April 1859, Shivpuri
• Full name: Ramachandra Pandurang Tope

Bipin Chandra Pal was a revolutionary born in 1858 during the Biggest revolution against the British Army. He was a significant part of the Indian National Congress and encouraged the abandonment of foreign goods. He formed a trio with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be known as Lal-Bal-Pal where they executed several revolutionary activities.

• Born: 7 November 1858, Habiganj District, Bangladesh
• Died: 20 May 1932, Kolkata
• Education: St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College, Presidency University
• Famously Known As: Father of Revolutionary Thoughts

Famously known as Punjab Kesari, he was one of the extremist members of the Indian National Congress. He formed a trio with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be known as Lal-Bal-Pal where they executed several revolutionary activities. He led the Punjab Protest against the Jallianwala Incident and Non-Cooperation Movement. He fought against the Simon Commission Protest and lost his life because of a lathi charge by the Britishers

• Born: 28 January 1865, Dhudike
• Died: 17 November 1928, Lahore, Pakistan
• Famously Known As: Punjab Kesari

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a remarkable freedom fighter born in 1856. Famously known for his quote, ‘Swaraj is my Birthright.  He published several rebellious newspapers and built schools to defy British Rule. He was the third member of the Lal-Bal-Pal along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal.

• Born: 23 July 1856, Chikhali
• Died: 1 August 1920, Mumbai
• Famously Known As Lokmanya Tilak

Born on 22nd October 1900, in the district of Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Ashfaqulla Khan grew up with the non-cooperation movement going on at the forefront, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Just when he was a young gentleman, Ashfaqulla Khan became acquainted with Ram Prasad Bismil. He was one of the main conspirators in the Chauri Chaura incident, which took place in Gorakhpur. He was a strong advocate of independence and wanted the British to leave India at any cost. Ashfaqulla Khan was a popular freedom fighter, known for his true friendship with Bismil, was sentenced to death for the Kakori train robbery. It was popularly known as the Kakori Conspiracy of 1925.

• Born: 22 October 1900, Shahjahanpur
• Died: 19 December 1927, Faizabad
• Organization: Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
• Famously Known As:Ashfaq Ulla Khan

Mangal Pandey, a well-known Indian freedom fighter, is usually recognized as the forerunner of the 1857 revolt against the British, which is regarded as India’s first battle of independence. As a soldier in the East India Company’s army’s 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment, he led the sepoy mutiny, which eventually led to the 1857 uprising. When a new Enfield rifle was launched in India in the mid-1850s, his biggest dispute with the business began. The rifle’s cartridges were rumored to be lubricated with animal fat, specifically cow and pig fat. As a result of the cartridges’ use, the Indian troops rebelled against the corporation since it violated their religious beliefs. Pandey and his fellow sepoys rose up in revolt against the British commanders on March 29, 1857, and even attempted to kill them. He was arrested and sentenced to death on April 18. However, anticipating a sepoy uprising, British officials executed him 10 days prematurely on April 8.

• Born: 19 July 1827, Nagwa
• Died: 8 April 1857, Barrackpore
• Occupation: Sepoy (soldier)
• Cause of death: Execution by hanging
• Known for: Indian independence fighter

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born in 1883 and spent the rest of his life as a dedicated activist and Indian revolutionary. He established the Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society. Swatantryaveer Savarkar was his given name. As a writer, he also penned a piece named ‘The Indian War of Independence,’ which provided wonderful information about the 1857 Indian revolt.

• Born: 28 May 1883, Bhagur
• Died: 26 February 1966, Mumbai
• Party: Hindu Mahasabha
• Education: City Law School (1909), Fergusson College (1902–1905), Wilson College, Mumbai, Mumbai University

C Rajagopalachari, born in 1878, was a lawyer by profession before joining the Indian National Congress in 1906 and rising through the ranks to become a recognizedCongress legislator. Rajagopalachari was a towering figure in contemporary Indian politics. He was a member of the Indian National Congress during the pre-independence era and a staunch supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a fervent devotee of He also actively engaged in Lajpat Rai’s Non-Cooperation Movement.

• Born: 10 December 1878, Thorapalli
• Died: 25 December 1972, Chennai
• Education: Presidency college, Bangalore central University (1894), Bangalore University
• Famously known as CR, Mango of Krishnagiri, Rajaji
• Awards: Bharat Ratna

Ram Prasad Bismil was one of the most notable Indian revolutionaries who fought British colonialism and made it possible for the nation to breathe the air of freedom after eons of struggle against the imperial forces, with a desire for freedom and revolutionary spirit reverberating in every inch of his body and poetry. Bismil, who was born in 1897, was a respected member of the Hindustan Republican Association alongside Sukhdev. He was also a participant in the infamous Kakori train heist, for which the British government condemned him to death.

• Born: 11 June 1897, Shahjahanpur
• Died: 19 December 1927, Gorakhpur Jail, Gorakhpur
• Cause of death: Execution by hanging
• Organization: Hindustan Socialist Republican Association

Chandra Shekhar Azad, born in 1906, was a close companion of Bhagat Singh in the independence movement. He was also a member of the Hindustan Republican Association and the bravest and daring Indian freedom fighters against the British authorities. After murdering several opponents during a battle with British forces, he shot himself with his Colt pistol. He promised he’d never be caught alive by the British.

• Born: 23 July 1906, Bhavra
• Died: 27 February 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad Park
• Full name: Chandrashekhar Tiwari
• Education: Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith

A woman of many roles – a mother, a queen and most importantly, a symbol of resistance. Born to a family with a very weak economic background, her maiden name was Muhammadi Begum. Sold at a very young age to the royal harem as an attendant, Begum Hazrat Mahal got a proper training in etiquettes. She was given the new name of ‘Mahak Pari’ in the Pari Khana and later became one of the wives under a contract of Nawab  Wajid Ali Shah. one of her biggest contributions to the freedom struggle was uniting Hindus and Muslims to come together as one force to fight the British. She proved her mettle as a leader. She even played an important role in encouraging and motivating women to step out of their homes and join the struggle for independence. She believed that women could do anything in the world, fight any battle and come out as winners.

• Born: 1820, Faizabad
• Died: 7 April 1879, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Famously Known As:  Begum of Awadh