Independence Day 2017: Know These Forgotten Heroes Of Freedom Struggle

Veerapandiya Kattabomman: Very few know about him. He waged a war against British, sixty years before the known war of independence in 1857. He revolted against the East India Company and refused to submit to their taxation orders. He was a Palyekar chieftain of Tamil Nadu. He was arrested and hanged in 1799. Image: Wikimedia Commons

In the two centuries of struggle against British rule, India witnessed countless rebellions and sacrifices by many brave souls. Some are celebrated, but many are forgotten and thus their priceless endeavours are lost in the pages of history..This independence day we try to pay tribute to some of the many unsung freedom fighters of India. Madan Lal Dhingra: Despite having lived and studied in abroad, Madan Lal Dhingra was a devoted patriot and did not hesitate in laying down his life for his country. He assassinated Viceroy Lord Curzon Wyllie who was said to be a close friend of Dhingra’s father. He fired five bullets right at Curzon’s face in the middle of a huge gathering, four of which hit the target. Dhingra was arrested and during his trial he took no lawyer and stated clearly that he did not regret killing Curzon. He said: ‘’ I do not want to say anything in defense of myself, but simply to prove the justice of my deed. As for myself, no English law court has got any authority to arrest and detain me in prison, or pass sentence of death on me. That is the reason I did not have any counsel to defend me.’’ Image: Wikipedia

Khudi Ram Bose: At 18 years of age, this revolutionary cheerfully went to gallows of death. Khudi ram was tasked with murder of Kingsford the magistrate of Muzaffarpur. He threw a bomb at the carriage that was expected to carry his target. However, it turned out that family of another British official was in the carriage. The news spread like wildfire and Khudi ram escaped. He walked 25 km to reach a station called Vaini where he was arrested. He passionately yelled “Vande Mataram” as he took his seat. Khudi Ram is remembered as a cheerful boy who had no fear as he walked up to the gallows on the day he was hanged. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Benoy, Badal and Dinesh: At a very young age the trio of Benoy Krishna Basu, Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta sacrificed their lives. They were a part of Bengal Volunteers, an underground revolutionary group created by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Benoy killed the infamous police officer Lowman. Next the trio disguised in European costume killed Colonel Simpson, the Inspector General of Prisons, who was infamous for the brutal oppression of the prisoners in jails. In the encounter that followed, they chose not to die at British hands and hence Badal took potassium cyanide, while Benoy and Dinesh shot themselves with their own revolvers. However, Dinesh survived the injuries and was later hanged. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Udham Singh: He is known for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of Amritsar. He was the one who assassinated the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Michael O’Dwyer,who endorsed Genral Dyer’s order of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Before dying he adopted the name Ram Mohammed Singh Azad. Image: Wikimedia Commons