15 Women Freedom Fighters in India That Made History

In 1947, India got Independence from the Britishers. While there was not a single person who worked hard to get Independence, it was a struggle of years, and many lady freedom fighters of India initiated many movements. Nationalism is not only about hearing patriotic songs, but it’s also much beyond it.

Amongst all, women were equally active during the pre-independence war. Some of the Indian freedom fighters women’s valor mostly remembered – like Rani Lakshmi Bai became a great example of strength and bravery. There are many women who left their families and even sacrificed their family members to get Independence from British Raj. Let’s recount all the women freedom fighter history who fearlessly fought for Independence. The list has many unsung heroes as well who are not known as their counterparts.

List of Women Freedom Fighters of India with Name & Photo

1. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi

Rani Lakshmi Bai, also known as Jhansi ki rani, was one of the first female freedom fighters of India. She raised her voice against British Raj. From an early age was vocal about the same. She was also one of the National leaders of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao, the king of Jhansi. The couple adopted a son. However, the head of the British Government of India refused to allow her adopted son to become the king after her husband’s demise and instead took Jhansi under British Raj. This was not acceptable to Rani Lakshmi Bai. She armed are own force and fought with the British. Though she died in the battle, she is known for her courage to fight with Britishers.

2. Sarojini Naidu

Famous as the Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu was one of the women freedom fighters of India. She was one of the most prominent among all women freedom fighters names. She was an Independence activist and poet. Naidu was the first woman who became the governor of an Indian state and was the second woman to become a president of the Indian Nation Congress. In the year 1915-1918, she traveled to different cities and delivered lectures on women empowerment, social welfare. She played an essential role in the Civil Disobedience movement and was even jailed for raising her voice in the ‘Quit India Movement’. She succumbed to a heart attack in 1949.

3. Bhikaiji Cama

Bhikaiji Cama was one of the leading female revolutionaries in the Indian Independence Movement. The renowned and one of the top freedom fighters of India is also known as the Madam Cama. She worked for women equality and helped many orphanage girls to lead a prospering life. Bhikaiji belonged to the Parsi family, and her father, Sorabji Framji Patel, was an eminent member of the Parsi community. She participated in many national movements.

4. Moolmati

She is one of the unsung heroes who fought for India’s Independence. Moolmati was a mother of Ram Prasad Bismil (a revolutionary) and played an eminent role struggle for freedom. She supported his son; after his death, she raised another son and supported him to join the Independence movement. Without her support and scarifies, Ram Prasad Bismil might not have got the courage to fight against Britishers.

5. Lakshmi Sahgal

Lakshmi Sahgal was one of the eminent women freedom fighters in India. She was inspired by the Subhash Chandra Bose and went on to become an active member of the Indian National Army. She also created a women’s division that was named Rani of Jhansi Regiment. Following which she participated in most of the movements that were fought against the Britishers. You can know more about her in her autobiography.

6. Kittur Rani Chennamma

Known to be India’s courageous freedom fighter and first women’s Independence activist ruler, Kittur Rani Chennamma was a prominent freedom fighter. At an early age, she lost her husband and son and had to take responsibility for her kingdom. To save her kingdom from the Britishers, she led an army and fought back with the Britishers. Though she died in the battle but her courage inspired many others to fight for freedom.

7. Jhalkari Bai

While we do know Rani Laskshmibai, but we hardly know about Jhalkari Bai. She was amongst the first women who supported Jhansi ki Rani. Jhalkari Bai was born to the Dalit community and was strong enough to fight back against the tiger. She disguised herself as the Rani Lakshmi Bai and helped the queen to save her kingdom. Her devotion and loyalty towards Jhansi made her one of the eminent women Indian freedom fighters.

8. Annie Besant

Anie Basant comes among the names of lady freedom fighters though she was not Indian, she supported India’s fight against Britishers in the best way possible. From an early age, she made echoed about the importance of birth control and other pivotal topics. She went to establish a Hindu College in Varanasi and co-created All India Home Rule League. She was arrested for the same; upon her release, she became the president of the Indian National Congress.

9. Kasturba Gandhi

Wife of Father of Nation, i.e., Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi one of the unsung female heroes of India, played a pivotal role and is known to be a leading woman freedom fighter in India. She was a political activist who raised her voice for civil rights. Kasturba Gandhi worked closely with her husband and went on to become a political activist. She accompanied Gandhi to South Africa and become an active member of Phoenix settlement, Durban. She came to India, and during the Indigo planters movement, she supported Gandhi and taught people about health discipline, hygiene, and writing and reading.

10. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

Known to be a noted theatre actor, Kamaladevi was also a fearless social reformer. She played an important role in India’s fight against the Britishers for Independence. Kamaladevi was the first Indian woman arrested by the British Government for her role as a patriotic leader. She also worked hard to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indian women.

Kamaladevi also revived handicrafts and theatre and promoted them in every possible way. In the 1930s, she also participated in the Salt Movement along with Mahatma Gandhi. She was also the first woman candidate for the legislative assembly. Kamaladevi is also known for its illustrious initiative by establishing the All India Women’s Conference.

11. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

While many of you might not know her, but we certainly know her brother Jawaharlal Nehru. Undoubtedly, she was one of the noted freedom fighters in India. She actively participated in politics during the freedom struggle and was also sent to jail. She was also an Indian diplomat and known politician who was also elected as one of the first female presidents of the United Nations General Assembly.

12. Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali showed massive participation in the Salt Satyagraha movement and was also arrested for the same. Upon her release, she led the Quit India movement. Following this, she became a prominent face of strength and mobility of women freedom fighters in India. Also, she was the editor of Congress’s monthly magazine Inquilab.

13. Begum Hazrat Mahal

Muhammadi Khanum was the courtesan who became the Begum of Hazrat Mahal in Avadh and fought against Britishers for her kingdom. She also raised her voice against the British destruction of both mosques and temples. She was often known as a prominent counterpart of Rani Lakshmi Bai.

14. Savitri Bai Phule

Savitri Bai Phule was the first female teacher in India at the first Indian girl’s school. In the 19th century, she and her husband, Jyotirao Phule, supported women’s empowerment and broke many traditional stereotypes of society. Savitri was a courageous woman who fought every thick and thin to educate girls and is widely known for her literary work.

15. Nellie Sengupta

Though she was an English woman but promoted Khadi during the pre-independence, she married a renowned Lawyer and supported the freedom movement, which was led by Mahatma Gandhi. She even went door-to-door to promote Khadi. In 1933, she was also elected as president of the Indian National Congress.

Conclusion:

It has been more than 72 years since India got its Independence on 15^th August 1947. We wouldn’t have got Independence if there were no freedom fighters. Talking about the freedom fighters, women equally supported nationalism. In this blog, we have curated all freedom fighter names and photos that everyone should know. These top female revolutionaries of India have played a pivotal role in gaining Independence.

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