Women Freedom Fighters of India | Gurukul academy

Women Freedom Fighters of India: List, Leaders, and Their Contributions to Independence 

India’s fight for freedom from British rule was a long and tough journey. While many men are celebrated for their roles, women played an equally important part. These brave women, from queens to poets, stood up against unfair rules, faced dangers, and inspired millions to fight for a free India. This article celebrates their courage and contributions in a way that’s easy to understand, especially for students preparing for exams like UPSC. It’s written in simple language, 

List of Women Freedom Fighters of India

Below is a table listing some of the most prominent women freedom fighters of India and their key contributions to the independence movement.

Freedom Fighter	Key Contributions	Notable Movements
Rani Lakshmibai	Led the 1857 rebellion in Jhansi, fought bravely against British forces	Indian Rebellion of 1857
Sarojini Naidu	Inspired people with speeches and poems, first woman President of Indian National Congress	Non-Cooperation Movement, Quit India Movement
Begum Hazrat Mahal	Led the 1857 revolt in Awadh, united soldiers and civilians	Indian Rebellion of 1857
Kasturba Gandhi	Supported Mahatma Gandhi, joined protests, and promoted nonviolence	Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement
Kamala Nehru	Organized protests, supported women’s rights, and joined civil disobedience	Non-Cooperation Movement, Salt March
Aruna Asaf Ali	Hoisted the Congress flag in 1942, led protests during Quit India Movement	Quit India Movement
Matangini Hazra	Led a procession in Quit India Movement, died holding the flag	Quit India Movement
Usha Mehta	Ran secret Congress Radio to spread freedom messages	Quit India Movement
Annie Besant	Started Home Rule Movement, promoted Indian self-rule	Home Rule Movement
Durgabai Deshmukh	Fought for women’s rights, joined freedom movements	Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit	First woman President of UN General Assembly, fought colonialism	Non-Cooperation Movement, Quit India Movement
Madam Bhikaji Cama	Unfurled India’s flag in Germany in 1907, spread freedom message globally	Paris Indian Society, Revolutionary Activities
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay	Joined Salt March, revived Indian arts and crafts	Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement
Sucheta Kriplani	First woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, active in Quit India Movement	Quit India Movement
Kittur Chennamma	Led an armed rebellion against British in 1824	Kittur Rebellion
Savitribai Phule	Started first girls’ school, fought for women’s education	Social Reform, Education Movement
Lakshmi Sahgal	Led Rani Jhansi Regiment in Indian National Army	Indian National Army (INA)
Rani Gaidinliu	Led a revolt in Naga hills at age 13, fought British rule	Naga Rebellion
Kanaklata Barua	Died at 17 while hoisting flag during Quit India Movement	Quit India Movement
Pritilata Waddedar	Led revolutionary attack in Bengal, died to avoid capture	Revolutionary Movement

Female Freedom Fighters of India & Their Roles".

1. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (1828–1858)

Rani Lakshmibai,( biography) also called the "Warrior Queen," was a fearless leader during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She was the queen of Jhansi, a small kingdom in central India. When the British tried to take her kingdom using the Doctrine of Lapse (a rule that allowed them to take over kingdoms without a direct heir), she refused to give up. She led her army into battle, fighting bravely against British soldiers. Even though she died in battle in 1858, her courage inspired many Indians to fight for freedom. Her story shows that women could be as strong and brave as men in war.

2. Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949) — detailed biography.

Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India,” was a poet and a powerful speaker. She joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement and Quit India Movement, inspiring people with her words. In 1925, she became the first Indian woman to lead the Indian National Congress, a big political group fighting for freedom. She traveled to the United States to spread Gandhi’s message of nonviolence. Even after being arrested during the Quit India Movement, she never stopped fighting. After independence, she became the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Her poems and speeches still inspire people today. 

3. Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820–1879)

Begum Hazrat Mahal was the queen of Awadh (now part of Uttar Pradesh). During the 1857 rebellion, when the British exiled her husband, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, she took charge. She led soldiers and ordinary people to fight against the British in Lucknow. She declared her son as the ruler and worked with other rebel leaders like Nana Saheb. Even after the British took back Lucknow, she continued to resist until she had to flee to Nepal. Her bravery made her a symbol of resistance, especially for Muslim women.

4. Kasturba Gandhi (1869–1944)

Kasturba Gandhi, fondly called “Ba,” was Mahatma Gandhi’s wife and a freedom fighter in her own right. She joined her husband in protests like the Salt Satyagraha, where people made their own salt to defy British laws. She also helped during the Quit India Movement. Kasturba faced jail time and hardships but stayed committed to nonviolence. She worked to improve women’s lives and education, challenging old traditions. Sadly, she died in prison in 1944, but her strength and kindness are remembered forever.

5. Kamala Nehru (1899–1936)

Kamala Nehru was the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. She joined protests against British rule, including the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Salt March. Kamala organized marches and boycotts of foreign goods, encouraging people to use Indian-made products. She also helped start the All India Women’s Conference to fight for women’s rights. Despite poor health, she worked tirelessly for India’s freedom until her death at age 36. Her courage inspired many women to join the struggle.

6. Aruna Asaf Ali (1909–1996)

Aruna Asaf Ali became famous during the Quit India Movement in 1942. When most leaders were arrested, she bravely hoisted the Indian flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai, signaling the start of the movement. She went underground to avoid arrest, organizing protests and spreading freedom messages. Known as the “Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement,” she later became Delhi’s first woman mayor. Her bold actions showed that women could lead in tough times.

7. Matangini Hazra (1870–1942) biography

Matangini Hazra, nicknamed “Gandhi Buri” (Old Lady Gandhi), was a brave protester from West Bengal. At age 72, she led a huge march during the Quit India Movement to capture a police station. Even after being shot by British police, she kept marching, holding the Indian flag and chanting “Vande Mataram” until she died. Her sacrifice showed the world the power of peaceful resistance.

8. Usha Mehta (1920–2000)

Usha Mehta was only 22 when she started the secret “Congress Radio” during the Quit India Movement. This underground radio station broadcasted messages to keep people motivated to fight for freedom. Even though the British caught her and shut down the radio, her efforts helped spread the independence message across India. She later received the Padma Vibhushan for her bravery.

GK Questions Governors-General and viceroy in India 

9. Annie Besant (1847–1933)

Annie Besant was a British woman who fell in love with India and its fight for freedom. She started the Home Rule Movement to demand self-rule for India. In 1917, she became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress. She also founded schools and newspapers to spread awareness about freedom and education. Her work inspired Indians to dream of a free nation.

10. Durgabai Deshmukh (1909–1981)

Durgabai Deshmukh was a freedom fighter and social reformer who joined the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement. She fought for women’s rights and education, starting schools and organizations to help poor communities. Her work in both the freedom struggle and social reform made her a hero for many.

11. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990)

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister, was a bold leader. She joined the Non-Cooperation and Quit India Movements, facing arrest multiple times. After independence, she became India’s first woman ambassador and the first woman President of the UN General Assembly. Her work showed the world that Indian women could lead globally.

12. Madam Bhikaji Cama (1861–1936)

Madam Bhikaji Cama was a revolutionary who took India’s fight to the world. In 1907, she unfurled an early version of India’s flag in Germany, calling for freedom from British rule. She started the Paris Indian Society to spread awareness about India’s struggle. Her bold speeches inspired Indians living abroad to join the fight.

13. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1903–1988)

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was a freedom fighter and cultural hero. She joined the Salt March and Quit India Movement, facing arrest for her protests. She also worked to save India’s traditional arts and crafts, starting organizations like the All India Handicrafts Board. Her work helped preserve India’s culture while fighting for freedom.

14. Sucheta Kriplani (1908–1974)

Sucheta Kriplani was a key figure in the Quit India Movement, organizing protests and facing jail time. After independence, she became the first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She also helped write India’s Constitution, showing her commitment to a free and fair India.

15. Kittur Chennamma (1778–1829)

Kittur Chennamma was a queen from Karnataka who fought the British in 1824, long before the 1857 rebellion. When the British tried to take her kingdom, she led an army to resist them. Though she lost, her bravery inspired others to stand up to colonial rule.

16. Savitribai Phule (1831–1897)

Savitribai Phule was a teacher and social reformer who fought for girls’ education. She started India’s first girls’ school in Pune in 1848, challenging traditions that kept girls uneducated. Her work laid the foundation for women’s empowerment, helping the freedom movement by educating future generations.

17. Lakshmi Sahgal (1914–2012)

Lakshmi Sahgal, also called Captain Lakshmi, was a doctor who joined the Indian National Army (INA) led by Subhas Chandra Bose. She led the Rani Jhansi Regiment, an all-women unit fighting the British. Her courage inspired women to join the armed struggle for freedom.

18. Rani Gaidinliu (1915–1993)

Rani Gaidinliu was only 13 when she led a rebellion against the British in the Naga hills. She fought to protect her people’s rights and was jailed for 14 years. Her bravery made her a hero in Northeast India, and she continued to work for her community after independence.

19. Kanaklata Barua (1924–1942)

Kanaklata Barua was just 17 when she joined the Quit India Movement in Assam. She led a group to hoist the Indian flag at a police station but was shot by British police. Her sacrifice inspired young people to join the freedom struggle.

20. Pritilata Waddedar (1911–1932) detailed biography

Pritilata Waddedar was a revolutionary from Bengal who joined Surya Sen’s group. In 1932, she led an attack on a British club in Chittagong. To avoid capture, she took her own life, becoming a martyr for India’s freedom. Her courage showed the power of young women in the fight.

Women Freedom Fighters' Role in Freedom Struggle

India’s fight for freedom from British rule was a big adventure, and women played a huge role in making it happen. These brave women showed courage, led people, and worked hard to make India free in 1947. Here are 11 ways women freedom fighters helped in the freedom struggle, explained simply for you!

1. Leading Big Protests: Women like Sarojini Naidu and Kamala Nehru led marches against British rules. They joined movements like the Quit India Movement, telling people to stand up and say, “We want India to be free!”
2. Fighting as Warriors: Brave women like Rani Lakshmibai and Begum Hazrat Mahal fought the British with swords and armies. In 1857, Rani Lakshmibai led soldiers in Jhansi, showing everyone that women could be strong fighters too.
3. Making Salt to Break Rules: In the Salt March, women like Kasturba Gandhi walked with others to make salt and say no to British laws. This peaceful protest showed the world that Indians could fight without violence.
4. Spreading News Secretly: Usha Mehta ran a secret radio called “Congress Radio” during the freedom fight. She shared news about India’s struggle to keep people excited and united, even when the British tried to stop her.
5. Inspiring with Speeches: Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India,” gave powerful speeches to make people love India more. Her words encouraged everyone to join the fight for freedom.
6. Helping Injured Fighters: Women like Captain Lakshmi Sahgal helped injured freedom fighters by setting up medical camps. She worked with the Indian National Army to care for those hurt in the struggle.
7. Teaching Girls to Be Strong: Savitribai Phule opened schools for girls when many weren’t allowed to study. By teaching girls to read and write, she helped them join the freedom fight and become leaders.
8. Telling the World About India: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit spoke at the United Nations, telling other countries about India’s fight for freedom. Her words made the world support India’s dream to be free.
9. Boycotting British Goods: Women like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay asked people to stop buying British clothes and use Indian-made cloth (khadi). This showed the British that India could stand on its own.
10. Marching Until the End: Matangini Hazra, even at 72 years old, carried India’s flag in protests. She kept marching for freedom until she was shot, showing how strong and brave women could be.
11. Becoming Symbols of Courage: Women like Bhikaiji Cama raised India’s flag in other countries, like Germany, to tell the world about India’s fight. Their bravery inspired everyone to keep fighting.

These women showed that anyone could help make India free, no matter how tough it was. Their stories of courage and hard work inspire us today to stand up for what’s right and be kind to others

FAQs About Women Freedom Fighters of India

Q1: Who was the first woman freedom fighter in India?

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi is often considered the first major woman freedom fighter due to her leadership in the 1857 rebellion. However, earlier figures like Rani Velu Nachiyar fought the British in the 1780s.

Q2: What roles did women play in India’s freedom struggle?

Women led protests, fought in battles, ran underground networks, wrote inspiring literature, and worked for social reforms like education and women’s rights. They were leaders, organizers, and revolutionaries.

Q3: Who was the youngest female freedom fighter?

Kanaklata Barua, who died at 17 during the Quit India Movement, is considered one of the youngest. Rani Gaidinliu also led a revolt at age 13.

Q4: How did women contribute to the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Women like Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi, and Kamala Nehru joined boycotts, protested foreign goods, and mobilized communities, inspiring others to join the fight.

Q5: Why are these women called “unsung heroes”?

Many women, like Pritilata Waddedar and Usha Mehta, didn’t get as much recognition as male leaders, but their sacrifices were just as important. Their stories are now being celebrated more.