Women Freedom Fighters Of India

Throughout history, women have fought tirelessly for their rights and freedoms, and in India, a country steeped in rich cultural heritage and diversity, female trailblazers have made indelible marks on the nation’s struggle for independence and equality.

These women were not afraid to challenge societal norms, rise up against oppression, and stand for what they believed in. From armed resistance against the colonial rule to leading mass protests for social justice, the women freedom fighters of India have inspired generations with their bravery, tenacity, and unwavering spirit.

Their stories of sacrifice and bravery are a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of women to shape their own destinies and those of their communities. Her voice was silenced, her spirit unbroken.

From the salt march to the battlefields, these women left an indelible mark on India’s rich history and culture.

So, come journey with us as we uncover the stories of these remarkable women, whose legacy continues to inspire and empower us to this day.

Some of the names of female freedom fighters of India are Rani Abbakka (the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century), Matangini Hazra (the Bengali revolutionary who was shot dead by British Indian police in 1942), Chakali Ilamma, and Parbati Giri, the “Mother Teresa” of western Odisha.

In this article, we will discuss the famous female freedom fighters of India, of which some were widely known for their tremendous contributions, and others were those unsung heroes, who have lost in the past.

These forgotten courageous women must be remembered for their sacrifice and struggle for freedom.

For the IAS exam, here you can also find a list of the nation’s influential women freedom fighters. Direct questions related to these freedom warriors were asked frequently in the modern Indian history of the UPSC Exam.

Women Freedom Fighters of India

Women led the freedom struggle on many fronts against British Rule. Their contributions should be remembered equally without bias on either side. Women gave their life, their family, and their identity away for the independence of their beloved nation, India.

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest ladies freedom fighters of India of their time and their contributions to the Indian freedom struggle.

1. Sarojini Naidu

Born in 1879, Sarojini Naidu was influenced by the political world of her country. She began writing poetry at a young age. Her literary work as a poet earned her the sobriquet the “Nightingale of India”, or “Bharat Kokila” by Mahatma Gandhi.

Naidu gained popularity as a public speaker and political activist by advocating for women’s rights, and education, and by participating in the Indian independence movement.

In 1925, she was chosen to lead the Indian National Congress as its president, making history as the organization’s second female president and the first Indian woman to lead an INC conference. She also contributed to the 1917 establishment of the Women’s Indian Association.

Naidu has actively participated in the Indian freedom movement. She has close ties with Gandhi and other prominent leaders. She joined Gandhi’s non-cooperation and satyagraha movement. As a member of the All India Home Rule League, she traveled to London in 1919 to advocate against British oppression.

In 1924, she attended the East African Indian National Congress on behalf of the Indian National Congress. Gandhi chose Naidu to take over as the campaign’s new political leader, when Gandhi was detained for the salt march on April 6, 1930. Naidu attended the Second Round Table Conference in 1931 alongside other leaders of Congress.

Naidu was imprisoned by the British in 1942 as a result of her participation in the Quit India Movement. She was incarcerated for 21 months.

During India’s war for independence, she was integral to the Civil Disobedience movement.

Later, in 1947, she was elected Governor of the United Provinces, making history as the first woman governor to hold that position in the Dominion of India.

The British government honored her with the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal for her efforts during the plague outbreak in India.

The 13th of February, Naidu’s birthday, is marked as Women’s Day in India to recognize the significant contributions of women throughout the country’s history.

2. Kamala Nehru

Kamala Nehru was an Indian independence activist and wife of the first PM of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. She followed her husband in the struggle for independence.

She participated in the fight for independence during the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921 and convinced large numbers of women to picket shops and join the national movement. Along with other female volunteers, she organized anti-tax campaigns.

The British quickly came to understand how dangerous Kamala Nehru was to them and how well-liked she had grown to be among women’s organizations across India. Along with Sarojini Naidu, Nehru’s mother, and other women involved in the Indian freedom struggle, she was therefore detained two separate times for her participation in these actions.

Kamala Nehru started a dispensary at Swaraj Bhawan. She used the dispensary to treat wounded Congress workers and their families. However, it wasn’t limited only to independence activists, as the dispensary also catered to residents of Prayagraj (then Allahabad).

After she passed away, Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital was established in her honor by Mahatma Gandhi with assistance from other well-known figures.

Her courage and determination were exemplary and she went on to become one of the most important women freedom fighters in Indian history.

3. Kasturba Gandhi

While Mahatma Gandhi was a ferocious freedom fighter, Kasturba Gandhi’s life was characterized by a combination of strength and gentleness. Kasturba Gandhi was born in porbandar.

Despite her lack of formal education, she was able to use her time and skills to help establish the Phoenix settlement near Durban in South Africa.

After her return to India with her husband, Mahatma Gandhi, she used to follow keep up with the responsibilities her husband was fulfilling. She did not take part in the freedom movement to only support her husband but she was deeply engaged in it at a personal level too.

Despite being in bad condition, she took part in a Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) movement in 1922 in Borsad, Gujarat. Despite continuing to participate in other civil disobedience activities and marches, she chose not to participate in Gandhi’s infamous Salt March in 1930.

She was consequently detained and arrested multiple times. Gandhi participated in a peaceful protest against British authority in Rajkot in 1939 in response to a request from the city’s women for her to speak out in their favor. Gandhi was detained once more and held in solitary for a month. Although her health deteriorated, she persisted in her battle for freedom.

In 1942, she was once more detained for her involvement in the Quit India movement, along with Gandhi Ji and some other freedom fighters. The Aga Khan Palace in Pune served as her prison. She passed away at the detention facility in Pune at this point due to a serious decline in her health.

Mahatma Gandhi was arrested before his public address in Shivaji Park near Bombay. He asked Kasturba to address the public. She was arrested on her way to the public meeting. She was sent to her Arthur road jail where she fell ill because of the bad hygiene in the prison cell.

She was transferred to Aga Khan Palace in Poona and on February 22, 1944, where she breathed her last.

During Mahatma Gandhi’s exile, Kasturba Gandhi became a devoted hostess at their ashram. She also used to take care of people at the ashram and was a good role model for her daughters. Great woman freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu’s words describing Kasturba Gandhi are quoted below-

“The living symbol of Indian womanhood. Never once did her feet falter or her heart quail on the steep path of perpetual sacrifice, which was her portion in the wake of the great man whom she loved and served and followed with such surpassing courage, faith and devotion. She has passed from mortality to immortality and taken her rightful place in the valiant assembly of the beloved heroines of India’s legend, history and song”.

Every year, on April 11, India celebrates National Safe Motherhood Day, which also happens to be Kasturbai Gandhi’s birthdate.

4. Satyawati Devi

Satyawati Devi was called “Toofani Behan Satyawati” by Mahatma Gandhi. She was born on 26th January 1906 in Jalandhar. She played an active role in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

She was a ferocious freedom activist who, while being a mother of two, was addressing meetings, led mass processions, and inspired many to boycott foreign goods, and embrace Swadeshi.

She reached out to women and encourage them to participate in the freedom struggle. She made salt in Shadra and distributed packets of salt to people while the Salt Satyagraha was going on.

She was imprisoned and later released after the Gandhi-Irvin Pact came into force. She was imprisoned many times. Once she was imprisoned with her 11-year-old son, but that also cannot deter Satyawati from taking part in the freedom struggle.

She was a founding member of the Congress Socialist Forum. She contributed equally to the freedom struggle as the likes of prominent freedom fighters like Acharya Narayan Dev, Jaiprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Jawahar Lal Nehru.

She was imprisoned for one year for taking part in individual satyagraha. She fell ill after suffering from tuberculosis, but she refused to sign an agreement with the British that she would not continue her freedom struggle after being released from jail.

4. Madam Bhikaiji Cama

Born on September 24th, 1861, Madam Bhikaiji was one of the most prominent women freedom fighters in Indian history. Born to a wealthy Parsi family in Bombay, she is widely known for unfurling the first version of the Indian Flag at the International Socialist Conference of Germany.

In October 1896, she tirelessly worked for the welfare of people who were suffering from famine and bubonic plague. During her social service of taking care of plague patients, she herself caught the plague but survived and was sent to Britain for further medical care in 1902.

Her life was exposed to the freedom struggle in 1905. She met and supported the Indian Home Rule Society of Shyamji Krishna Varma.

She refused to sign a statement promising that she would not participate in nationalist activities upon her return to India. She also co-founded the Paris India Society on foreign soil. She, with many other notable of the Indian independence movement, lived in exile.

She was a socialist and had connections to Lenin and Maxim Gorky. In 1905, she migrated to Paris and made contact with French Socialists and the Russian leadership.

Her work for India’s freedom was hampered by her deteriorating health, because of which she returned to India and died on 13th August 1936 in Bombay’s Parsi General Hospital.

5. Annie Besant

Annie Besant was a social activist and a prominent woman leader who found her mention in India’s history. She was born on 1 October 1847 in London.

Besant was a fighter from the start and fought for the causes she believed in, like freedom of thought, rights of women, secularism, workers’ rights, etc. She was a prominent member of the National Secular Society and South Place Ethical Society.

She joined the Indian National Congress. She promoted the Indian national consciousness and advocated against ill practices like child marriage and the caste system.

Annie Besant launched the All India Home Rule League in 1916, with Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Annie Besant was arrested and flew a red and green flag. Major protests erupted all over India against her arrest.

She was made the president of the Indian National Congress when she was freed in 1917. She was the first woman to hold that post and continued for one year. Besant had a profound impact on the independence movement of India.

She set up a Central Hindu College in Benares (Banaras). She campaigned for India’s independence till the end of her life. She died on September 20, 1933.

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6. Rani Lakshmi Bai

Rani Lakshmi bai became an iconic figure in Indian history and is regarded as the epitome of female bravery. She was born on 19 November 1835.

Her father, a Commander of the war for Peshwa Baji Rao II, gave her various lessons about the world. She later married King Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi, in 1842, and had a son. However, their son died of critical illness, and they adopted another child and named him Damodar Rao.

The Britishers claimed control over Jhansi by applying the doctrine of lapse, thereby rejecting the claim of Damodar Rao over Jhansi. She ruled over Jhansi from August 1857 to January 1858.

The British Government announced that to maintain control Jhansi Regiment of the British Army will be sent, but none showed up.

On 17 June 1858, the 8th Hussars led by Captain Heneage fought a large force that was commanded by Rani Lakshmibai.

Rani Laxmibai was wounded seriously in this battle against the Britishers and asked a hermit to burn her body so that the Britishers could not capture it. She was cremated by local people after her death.

The 23-year-old slain Rani Laxmibai is remembered as a representation of both fortitude and bravery in addition to the Indian people’s resistance to British tyranny. Numerous other national leaders were motivated to fight for their country’s freedom by the Rani of Jhansi.

Though she had no British allies, Rani Laxmibai fought the British until the end, refusing to yield to her kingdom. She fought to the death, taking up the cause of independence from British Rule.

She was described as “personable, clever and beautiful and the most dangerous of all Indian leaders” by a senior British Army officer.

Relatable Link: To know about other female freedom fighters of India, check out the linked article listed below:

1. First Women Freedom Fighter
2. Unknown Female Freedom Fighters of India
3. Famous Slogans Of Female Freedom Fighters
4. Female Freedom Fighters Of Bengal
5. Women Freedom Fighters Of Karnataka
6. Female Freedom Fighters Of Telangana
7. Female Freedom Fighters Of Maharashtra
8. Female Freedom Fighters Of Goa
9. Women Freedom Fighters Of Kerala
10. Women Freedom Fighters Of Odisha
11. Female Freedom Fighters Of Uttarakhand
12. Female Freedom Fighters Of Punjab
13. Female Freedom Fighters Of Tamilnadu

7. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani

Sarala Devi was an activist and educationist. She maintained a close relationship with Suhrid Samiti, a revolutionary organization that worked to instill physical competence and mental courage in young men.

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was born on 9th November 1872 in Calcutta. She was the niece of Rabindranath Tagore. She was one of the few women to go to college at that time and was awarded Padmavati Gold Media for excellence in studies.

She ventured into the Freedom Struggle by singing and writing songs to instill people with nationalism and empower them to stand against the British.

Rabindranath Tagore created a tune for the Vande Mataram for the first two lines, the rest were put to music by Sarala Devi. She sang Bande Mataram in the Banaras Congress Session.

She founded the first woman’s organization in India, the Bharat Stree Mahamandal. The organization worked towards women’s empowerment and education. She also founded the Bharat Stree Shiksa Sadan in Calcutta.

She was also a fierce journalist and was the editor of the journal Bharati. She also helped edit Urdu weekly newspaper, Hindustan. She also started an English edition for the weekly. She also worked to promote swadeshi products and promoted their sale, while staying under the radar of the British.

During her last days, she wrote her biography titled: Jiboner Jhara Pata, meaning scattered leaves of my life.

Unsung Indian Women Freedom Fighters

Some of the women freedom fighters who were lost in the pages of History were:

1. Mahadevi Verma

Known for her contributions to Hindi literature, Mahadevi Verma is considered the founder of the Chhayavad movement. Her writings are marked by a strong sense of experience and self-expression. She was born on 26th March 1907 in Farrukhabad.

She was the first Principal of the Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth and later served as its vice-chancellor. Her writings were incorporated into the curriculum of the CBSE school system and she was awarded the Jnanpith Award in 1982 for her contributions to Indian literature.

Today, Mahadevi is known as the Meera of the modern era, a prominent writer, poet, and educationist. She added unimaginable joy to the lives of many Indian children by spreading anti-British pamphlets, hosting the freedom fighters, and teaching them Hindi.

In addition, she made a vow to wear only khadi and never speak English.

2. Basanti Devi

Basanti Devi, one of the most inspirational women freedom fighters of the 19th century, was born in Calcutta on 23 March 1880. At the age of 17, she married Indian freedom fighter, Chittaranjan Das. She took part in various movements related to the freedom struggle like the Civil Disobedience movement and the Khilafat movement.

She also participated in the Indian National Congress session held at Nagpur in 1920. She was a leading voice in the non-cooperation movement. She lead a group in Calcutta selling hand-spun Khadi clothes and called for a ban on foreign goods.

She was arrested by the British but was released by midnight following widespread protests.

After her husband Chittaranjan Das’s death, she assumed control of the weekly publication- Bangalar Katha (The story of Bengal).

She was made Bengal Provincial Congress’ president in 1921-22. She traveled across India and opposed colonialism and encouraged grassroots agitation.

Subhash Chandra Bose often discussed his political and personal doubts with Basanti Devi and considered her to be his “adopted mother”. He also regards her as one of the four most prominent women in his life.

After independence, she continued to work on social movements. In 1973, she has rewarded with the Padma Vibhushan award.

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3. Ashalata Sen

As one of India’s untold stories, Ashalata Sen is a true Gandhian and a great inspiration to women in our country. She was born on 5th February 1894 into a lawyer family in the present-day Chittagong division of Bangladesh. She lived a modest life governed by Gandhiji’s principles.

She participated in the Salt March and also established a weaving machine in Dhaka’s Gandaria as a result of the call to ban foreign goods and wear swadeshi. She also established a Shiksha Ashram to empower women.

She co-founded the Gandaria Mahila Samiti to encourage women to take up Gandhian principles and instill nationalism in women.

She was always willing to help others and took an interest in everything around her. Ashalata Sen studied English, Sanskrit, and Bengali. She also worked as a spinner of Khadi and helped the underprivileged.

The freedom fighters of that era greatly influenced her. She contributed greatly to Indian literature and penned books like Uchchhvas, Utsa, Vidyut, and Chhotoder Chhada. She established the Gandaria Mahila Samiti to instill Gandhian values in Women.

4. Maniben Patel

Maniben Patel, undoubtedly one of the most important unsung women freedom fighters in Indian history, was born on 3rd April 1903 in Karamsad, in present-day Gujarat. At the age of six, she lost her mother and was raised by her uncle Vitthalbhai Patel.

She completed her early education in Bombay and later migrated to Ahmedabad, where she studied at Rashtriya Vidhyapith and eventually graduated from college.

She was a significant figure to motivate women to join the Borsad Movement or the No-Tax Movement in 1923-24 to protest against the heavy taxes levied on common people.

A similar movement was started in 1928 when the peasants of Bardoli were heavily taxed. She motivated women to join the Bardoli Satyagraha. Women outnumbered men in this Satyagraha.

She was also part of the Rajkot Satyagrah, to protest against the unjust rule of the Diwan of Rajkot when the Britishers separated the women from Kasturba Gandhi. Maniben Patel went on a hunger strike and the authorities had to allow her to be with Kasturba Gandhi.

Maniben also participated in the Salt Satyagraha and the Non-Cooperation Movement. She faced imprisonment many times by the Britishers for taking part in the Indian independence movement.

She was jailed for 3 years for her participation in the Quit India Movement. She worked with her father and the freedom movement, inspiring many women to join Gandhiji’s campaign. Maniben was the daughter of the Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

5. Rama Devi

Rama Devi was a notable woman freedom fighter in India and rigorously campaigned against colonial rule. She joined the freedom struggle in 1921.

She traveled across villages garnering support for the Non-Cooperation movement. She also actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha.

She was jailed multiple times by the Britishers for taking part in the Indian independence movement. After her release from prison, she founded Asprushyata Nibarana Samiti.

The organization worked for the upliftment of untouchable people and the eradication of untouchability. The organization was renamed Harijan Sewa Sangh after some time.

Ramadevi was the founder of Seva Ghar that worked for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi during his Harijan Padyatra in Orissa. When Kasturba Gandhi passed away, Rama Devi was made the Odisha representative of the Kasturba’s Trust.

Post-independence, she contributed greatly to the Bhoodan and Gramdan Movements which were led by Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

List of 18 Female Freedom Fighters in India

Women Freedom Fighters Names	About Women Freedom Fighters & Achievement
Bhikaji Cama	First to unfurl the Indian flag on foreign land
Rani Vellu	First Indian Queen to rebel against the British in India
Aruna Asaf Ali	She made history by raising the Indian National Flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay in 1942, during the Quit India Movement. In her honor, a stamp was released in 1998 and Aruna Asaf Ali Marg was established in New Delhi. She was chosen as Delhi’s first mayor.
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay	First Woman To Contest For Political Office
Madeleine Slade	Gandhi had named her Mira Behn
Accamma Cherian	‘Jhansi Rani of Travancore‘ by Mahatma Gandhi.
Matangini Hazra	For leading a simple, ascetic life, she was affectionately referred to as Gandhi Buri (Bengali old lady Gandhian). She continued to chant Vande Mataram, “hail to the Motherland,” as she was shot numerous times. She passed away while carrying an Indian National Congress flag
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani	The freedom fighter who invoked patriotism through music
Jhalkari Bai	A forgotten warrior who risked her life to help Rani Laxmi Bai escape
Captain Laksmi Sehgal	She led the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose-led INA (one of the first women contingents in the world)
Begum Hazrat Mehal	She played a significant role during India’s First War of Independence (was also known as a counterpart of Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai.)
Usha Mehta	One of the youngest well-known freedom fighters of the Indian freedom movement.
Sarojini Naidu	The first woman to hold the office of governor of an Indian state. The second woman to be elected as president of the Indian National Congress. She laid the foundation of the All India Women’s Conference.
Amrit Kaur	After independence, she became the first woman to hold Cabinet rank.
Yashodhara Dasappa	Her home was a meeting point for underground Satyagrahi activity.
Sucheta Kriplani	India’s first woman chief minister and founder of Congress women’s wing
Parbati Giri	Dropped out of school to join the freedom movement in India. Also called her “Mother Teresa of Western Odisha.”
Vijay Laxmi Pandit	Maharastra’s sixth governor is also the first woman to hold the office of the United Nations President.

Role Of Female Freedom Fighters In India

The women of India played a crucial role in the country’s fight for independence from British rule. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, these female trailblazers rose to the occasion and made their mark on history with their bravery, determination, and unwavering spirit.

From participating in nonviolent protests and demonstrations to leading mass movements, these women proved that their voices and actions could bring about change. Notable freedom fighters like Sarojini Naidu, Rani Laxmi Bai, and Aruna Asaf Ali inspired generations with their courage and leadership, leaving an indelible impact on India’s rich history and cultural heritage.

But the contributions of these women went beyond the spotlight. Behind the scenes, countless other women worked tirelessly to support the independence movement, often sacrificing their own personal comforts to provide critical assistance to their families and communities.

Today, their legacy continues to inspire and empower future generations. These women were trailblazers who shattered glass ceilings and defied the odds, paving the way for a better future for all Indians. Their bravery, determination, and unwavering spirit serve as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can triumph.

Winding Up

Without acknowledging the courage and determination of Indian female freedom fighters, the historical context of the Indian Freedom Struggle would be incomplete.

The sacrifices made by Indian women hold a prominent position in the country’s history. They overcame numerous hardships, exploitations, and sufferings with true spirit and unwavering courage.

The majority of Indians are aware of the males who actively participated in the campaign for Indian independence, but we frequently overlook the pioneering women who fought tenaciously to drive the British out of India.

They were at the vanguard of directing processions, planning events, and demonstrating vehemently against colonial rule and were instrumental in securing India’s independence.

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