Men always look down women and insult them showing their macho and male chauvinism. Generally during Independence Day,people remember only male freedom fighters but Indian women are no way inferior in many struggles. Infact they are the backbone for the strength of Indian freedom movement.
All mythologies also stress upon the point that one cannot survive with out women power and people should respect women force. However now a days women are always insulted with growing atrocities and women too should realise their true power drawing inspiration from women freedom fighters.
Let us pay tribute to women fighters who laid their lives for India's freedom. People should pay floral tributes to Indian women for their valour during freedom struggle. Many without knowing the intricacies blame Manu for insults on women. But Manu himself declared that Gods frequent where women are adored.
Women showed their power when Bhima Bai Holkar fought British colonel Malcom and defeated in guerilla warfare in 1817. Rani Channamma of Kittor fought East India Company in 1824. valor of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi is well known. She used to dress like a man and fought many battles holding the reigns of her horse with her mouth and using sword with both hands tying her son at her back. Britishers hailed her for her leadership qualities,courage and military strategies which baffled even seasoned colonels.
Sarojini Naidu shot to fame with her fiery speech as president of Indian National Congress. She showed her power during the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms, the Khilafat issue, the draconian Rowlett Act and the Satyagraha.She defied police to march towards the barbed wire stockade where she was arrested.
Kasturba Gandhi popularly known as Ba was the wife of Mahatma Gandhi. She worked with him ever since she joined him in South Africa. She headed the Women's Satyagraha and was imprisoned. She helped Gandhi in Champaran, Bihar and the No Tax Campaign in Kaira, Gujarat. She was arrested twice for picketing liquor and foreign cloth shops, and in 1939 for participating in the Rajkot Satyagraha.
Aruna Asaf Ali after graduating worked as a teacher at Gokhale Memorial School, Kolkata. She married Asaf Ali in 1928 and participated in Salt Satyagraha. She was arrested and was not released in 1931 under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact which stipulated release of all political prisoners. Other women co-prisoners refused to leave the premises unless she was also released and gave in only after Mahatma Gandhi intervened. A public agitation secured her release. She was called the grand old lady and was awarded International Lenin Peace Prize for the year 1964. She was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1997. In 1998, a stamp commemorating her was issued. Aruna Asaf Ali marg in New Delhi is named after her. All India Minorities Front distributes the Dr Aruna Asaf Ali Sadbhawana Award annually. Aruna was branded as the heroine of 1942 movement for her bravery.
Kamala Nehru wife of Jawaharlal Nehru supported taking part in meetings and led picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops. She played a prominent part in organizing the No Tax Campaign in United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). Britishers arrested her twice. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was inspired by Rani Lakshmi Bai and Sarojini Naidu. She was sister of Nehru and participated in Non Cooperation movement. She was arrested in 1932 and sent to and sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. She was arrested in 1940, and yet again during the Quit India Movement. She attended the Pacific Relations Conference at Hot Springs, U.S.A. as leader of the Indian delegation sponsored by the Indian Council of World Affairs. She was present in San Francisco when the U.N first met there, and through numerous well attended public lectures she challenged the British dominated delegates rights to represent India therein.Sister of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also played a great role in the freedom movement. She was elected to Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 1936 and in 1946. She was the first woman in India to hold a ministerial rank. She was imprisoned thrice for taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932. 1941 and 1942. After Independence, she continued to serve the country. She was the first woman to become president of the United Nations General Assembly.
Sucheta Kripalani was imprisoned for taking part in freedom movement. She was hailed as “a person of rare courage and character who brought credit to Indian womanhood.” She as CM of Uttarpradesh remained strong by not giving in to the demands of government employees for payhike. Padmaja Naidu,daughter of Sarojini Naidu spread the message of Khadi and inspired many to boycott foreign goods. She was arrested for participating in Quit India movement. Begum Hazrat Mahal, Begum of Outh fought against British in a courageous manner and took refuge in Nepal.
Madam Cama, Germany thundered "This flag is of Indian Independence! Behold, it is born! It has been made sacred by the blood of young Indians who sacrificed their lives. I call upon you, gentlemen to rise and salute this flag of Indian Independence. In the name of this flag, I appeal to lovers of freedom all over the world to support this flag."
