Independence Day 2018: 5 unsung heroes of Indian freedom struggle

Independence Day 2018: Contribution of many freedom fighters is lost in the pages of history. Here, we try to throw light on some of the unsung warriors of independence.

New Delhi: Indian freedom struggle spanning two centuries, witnessed sacrifices by many brave souls. The contributions of many are glorified, while those of many are forgotten. Here are some unsung warriors of Indian  independence: Khudiram Bose: He is remembered as the youngest revolutionary who cheerfully embraced his gallows the day he was being hanged. Bose was hanged at 18 years of age for assassination of two British women who turned out to be the family members of Kingsford, the magistrate of Muzaffarpur. Udham Singh: Known for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of Amritsar, Singh was the one who assassinated the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Michael O’Dwyer. Dwyer endorsed Genral Dyer’s order of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Batukeshwar Dutt: He exploded bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi along with Bhagat Singh. He was arrested and imprisoned for life in 1929 and was deported to Andaman and Nicobar islands. He participated in Quit India Movement after his release from jail and was imprisoned again for four years. It is said that after independence, he wasn’t given due recognition and he spent his remaining life in poverty away from the political limelight. 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. Bhikaji Cama: Bhikaji Cama hoisted Indian flag on foreign land in Germany. While she was in Netherlands, she also wrote, published and distributed revolutionary literature for the movement, including Bande Mataram and later Madan's Talwar. These weeklies were smuggled into India through the French colony of Pondichéry.