List of Indian independence activists
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:12:13 PM Wikipedia source
The Indian independence movement consisted of efforts by individuals and organizations from a wide spectrum of society to obtain political independence from the British, French and Portuguese rule through the use of many methods. This is a list of individuals who notably campaigned against or are considered to have campaigned against colonial rule on the Indian sub-continent. Post-independence, the term "freedom fighter" was officially recognized by the Indian government for those who took part in the movement; people in this category (which can also include dependent family members) receive pensions and other benefits such as Special Railway Counters.
Tables
· List › A
Ambika Chakrabarty
Ambika Chakrabarty
Name
Ambika Chakrabarty
Activity
A revolutionary, he took part in the Chittagong armory raid.
Alluri Sitarama Raju
Alluri Sitarama Raju
Name
Alluri Sitarama Raju
Activity
He led the Rampa Rebellion of 1922.
Amarendranath Chatterjee
Amarendranath Chatterjee
Name
Amarendranath Chatterjee
Activity
A revolutionary, he raised funds and took part in the Indo-German Conspiracy.
Anant Laxman Kanhere
Anant Laxman Kanhere
Name
Anant Laxman Kanhere
Activity
A revolutionary assassin, he was executed by the colonial government for the murder of a British officer A. M. T. Jackson.
Anant Maral Shastri
Anant Maral Shastri
Name
Anant Maral Shastri
Activity
He participated in the Quit India Movement and used his writings to inspire nationalistic sentiments. As a journalist, he worked with several newspapers to spread awareness against British rule.
Ananta Singh
Ananta Singh
Name
Ananta Singh
Activity
A revolutionary, he participated in the Chittagong armoury raid.
Anjana Devi Chaudhry
Anjana Devi Chaudhry
Name
Anjana Devi Chaudhry
Activity
She was the first woman from Rajasthan state to be arrested during freedom struggle. She was also involved in Bijolia movement and led a procession of 500 women in Bijolia
Anugrah Narayan Sinha
Anugrah Narayan Sinha
Name
Anugrah Narayan Sinha
Activity
A prominent revolutionary from Bihar known as Bihar Vibhuti. He was a Gandhian and participated in Champaran Satyagraha in 1917.
Atulkrishna Ghosh
Atulkrishna Ghosh
Name
Atulkrishna Ghosh
Activity
A revolutionary, he took part in the Indo-German Conspiracy.
Abdur Rauf Danapuri
Abdur Rauf Danapuri
Name
Abdur Rauf Danapuri
Activity
He was involved in India's independence movement and opposed British rule. In 1921, he was arrested along with Maulana Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose and was imprisoned for six months.
| Name | Activity |
| Ambika Chakrabarty | A revolutionary, he took part in the Chittagong armory raid. |
| Alluri Sitarama Raju | He led the Rampa Rebellion of 1922. |
| Amarendranath Chatterjee | A revolutionary, he raised funds and took part in the Indo-German Conspiracy. |
| Anant Laxman Kanhere | A revolutionary assassin, he was executed by the colonial government for the murder of a British officer A. M. T. Jackson. |
| Anant Maral Shastri | He participated in the Quit India Movement and used his writings to inspire nationalistic sentiments. As a journalist, he worked with several newspapers to spread awareness against British rule. |
| Ananta Singh | A revolutionary, he participated in the Chittagong armoury raid. |
| Anjana Devi Chaudhry | She was the first woman from Rajasthan state to be arrested during freedom struggle. She was also involved in Bijolia movement and led a procession of 500 women in Bijolia |
| Anugrah Narayan Sinha | A prominent revolutionary from Bihar known as Bihar Vibhuti. He was a Gandhian and participated in Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. |
| Atulkrishna Ghosh | A revolutionary, he took part in the Indo-German Conspiracy. |
| Abdur Rauf Danapuri | He was involved in India's independence movement and opposed British rule. In 1921, he was arrested along with Maulana Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose and was imprisoned for six months. |
· List › B
Babu Bhoop Singh
Babu Bhoop Singh
Name
Babu Bhoop Singh
Activity
Ruler of Kohra (estate) and leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Badal Gupta
Badal Gupta
Name
Badal Gupta
Activity
A revolutionary, he died in an attack on police at Writers' Building.
Bagha Jatin
Bagha Jatin
Name
Bagha Jatin
Activity
A founding member of Anushilan Samiti, convicted in the Howrah-Sibpur conspiracy case and a participant in the Indo-German Conspiracy.
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Name
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Activity
He mobilised farmers against british colonial and feudal policies through the Kisan Sabha
Baikuntha Shukla
Baikuntha Shukla
Name
Baikuntha Shukla
Activity
A revolutionary, he was executed for murdering a government witness.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Name
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Activity
A nationalist, he campaigned for Swaraj (self-rule).
Begum Hazrat Mahal
Begum Hazrat Mahal
Name
Begum Hazrat Mahal
Activity
Also known as the Begum of Awadh, she was the second wife of Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah, and the regent of Awadh in 1857–1858. She is known for the leading role she had in the rebellion against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Name
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Activity
A nationalist, he wrote Vande Mataram which inspired many activists and became the national song of India.
Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Name
Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Activity
A revolutionary organizer, he was convicted in the Alipore bomb case.
Basawon Singh
Basawon Singh
Name
Basawon Singh
Activity
An activist, he was convicted in the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial.
Batukeshwar Dutt
Batukeshwar Dutt
Name
Batukeshwar Dutt
Activity
An Indian revolutionary participating in an armed struggle against British rule in India, he threw a bomb in the Central Assembly in 1929.
Benoy Basu
Benoy Basu
Name
Benoy Basu
Activity
A revolutionary, he died following an attack on police at Writers' Building.
Bhabini Mahato
Bhabini Mahato
Name
Bhabini Mahato
Activity
A freedom fighter and activist who participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942 and the Bengali Language Movement (Manbhum)
Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh
Name
Bhagat Singh
Activity
A socialist, anarchist and Marxist revolutionary who worked with several revolutionary organisations and became prominent in the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
Bhagwati Charan Vohra
Bhagwati Charan Vohra
Name
Bhagwati Charan Vohra
Activity
A revolutionary ideologue and bomb-maker, he wrote the article "The Philosophy of Bomb".
Bhavabhushan Mitra
Bhavabhushan Mitra
Name
Bhavabhushan Mitra
Activity
Ghadar Mutiny
Bhikaiji Cama
Bhikaiji Cama
Name
Bhikaiji Cama
Activity
Bhikaiji Cama was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in a large, affluent Parsi Zoroastrian family. While in London recovering from the plague, she met Dadabhai Naoroji, then president of the British Committee of the Indian National Congress, and for whom she came to work as private secretary. Together with Naoroji and Singh Rewabhai Rana, Cama supported
Bhupendranath Datta
Bhupendranath Datta
Name
Bhupendranath Datta
Activity
A revolutionary, he was editor of newspaper Jugantar Patrika.
Bhupendra Kumar Datta
Bhupendra Kumar Datta
Name
Bhupendra Kumar Datta
Activity
A revolutionary, editor of the publications of Anushilan Samiti.
Bina Das
Bina Das
Name
Bina Das
Activity
A revolutionary, she attempted to assassinate Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson.
Binod Bihari Chowdhury
Binod Bihari Chowdhury
Name
Binod Bihari Chowdhury
Activity
A revolutionary, he took part in the Chittagong armoury raid.
Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal
Name
Bipin Chandra Pal
Activity
A staunch nationalist, he was a founding member of the swadeshi movement and campaigned for complete Swaraj Swadeshi movement. Pal is known as the Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India and was one of the freedom fighters of India Chandra Pal made a strong plea for repeal of the Arms Act which was discriminatory in nature. Along with Lala
Birsa Munda
Birsa Munda
Name
Birsa Munda
Activity
A tribal leader and freedom fighter, he led the Munda uprising (Ulgulan) against the British rule and exploitative landlords in the late 19th century. He is remembered as a symbol of resistance and tribal rights in India.
| Name | Activity |
| Babu Bhoop Singh | Ruler of Kohra (estate) and leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. |
| Badal Gupta | A revolutionary, he died in an attack on police at Writers' Building. |
| Bagha Jatin | A founding member of Anushilan Samiti, convicted in the Howrah-Sibpur conspiracy case and a participant in the Indo-German Conspiracy. |
| Baldev Ram Mirdha | He mobilised farmers against british colonial and feudal policies through the Kisan Sabha |
| Baikuntha Shukla | A revolutionary, he was executed for murdering a government witness. |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak | A nationalist, he campaigned for Swaraj (self-rule). |
| Begum Hazrat Mahal | Also known as the Begum of Awadh, she was the second wife of Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah, and the regent of Awadh in 1857–1858. She is known for the leading role she had in the rebellion against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. |
| Bankim Chandra Chatterjee | A nationalist, he wrote Vande Mataram which inspired many activists and became the national song of India. |
| Barindra Kumar Ghosh | A revolutionary organizer, he was convicted in the Alipore bomb case. |
| Basawon Singh | An activist, he was convicted in the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial. |
| Batukeshwar Dutt | An Indian revolutionary participating in an armed struggle against British rule in India, he threw a bomb in the Central Assembly in 1929. |
| Benoy Basu | A revolutionary, he died following an attack on police at Writers' Building. |
| Bhabini Mahato | A freedom fighter and activist who participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942 and the Bengali Language Movement (Manbhum) |
| Bhagat Singh | A socialist, anarchist and Marxist revolutionary who worked with several revolutionary organisations and became prominent in the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). |
| Bhagwati Charan Vohra | A revolutionary ideologue and bomb-maker, he wrote the article "The Philosophy of Bomb". |
| Bhavabhushan Mitra | Ghadar Mutiny |
| Bhikaiji Cama | Bhikaiji Cama was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in a large, affluent Parsi Zoroastrian family. While in London recovering from the plague, she met Dadabhai Naoroji, then president of the British Committee of the Indian National Congress, and for whom she came to work as private secretary. Together with Naoroji and Singh Rewabhai Rana, Cama supported |
| Bhupendranath Datta | A revolutionary, he was editor of newspaper Jugantar Patrika. |
| Bhupendra Kumar Datta | A revolutionary, editor of the publications of Anushilan Samiti. |
| Bina Das | A revolutionary, she attempted to assassinate Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson. |
| Binod Bihari Chowdhury | A revolutionary, he took part in the Chittagong armoury raid. |
| Bipin Chandra Pal | A staunch nationalist, he was a founding member of the swadeshi movement and campaigned for complete Swaraj Swadeshi movement. Pal is known as the Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India and was one of the freedom fighters of India Chandra Pal made a strong plea for repeal of the Arms Act which was discriminatory in nature. Along with Lala |
| Birsa Munda | A tribal leader and freedom fighter, he led the Munda uprising (Ulgulan) against the British rule and exploitative landlords in the late 19th century. He is remembered as a symbol of resistance and tribal rights in India. |
· List › C
Chandrashekhar Azad
Chandrashekhar Azad
Name
Chandrashekhar Azad
Activity
Indian revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan.
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Name
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Activity
Singh followed Gandhi in non-violent struggle for independence from the British government and was imprisoned several times and later founded his own party Lok Dal.
Chaudhary Mohar Singh
Chaudhary Mohar Singh
Name
Chaudhary Mohar Singh
Activity
He was a rebel in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He along with Thana Bhawan Saiyed Pathans captured the Shamli tehsil from British rule for six months
Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das
Name
Chittaranjan Das
Activity
He founded the Swaraj Party and became the leader of the Non-cooperation Movement in Bengal.
C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Name
C. Rajagopalachari
Activity
A nationalist leader, lawyer and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, he participated in the Non-cooperation movement (1919-1922) and led the Vedaranyam March in 1930. He later became the last Governor-General of India and founder of the Swatantra Party
Chowdary Satyanarayana
Chowdary Satyanarayana
Name
Chowdary Satyanarayana
Activity
He was an Indian freedom fighter, anti-colonial nationalist, politician, legislature in Andhra Pradesh Assembly (1955–62, 1967–72) and a human rights activist.
| Name | Activity |
| Chandrashekhar Azad | Indian revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan. |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh | Singh followed Gandhi in non-violent struggle for independence from the British government and was imprisoned several times and later founded his own party Lok Dal. |
| Chaudhary Mohar Singh | He was a rebel in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He along with Thana Bhawan Saiyed Pathans captured the Shamli tehsil from British rule for six months |
| Chittaranjan Das | He founded the Swaraj Party and became the leader of the Non-cooperation Movement in Bengal. |
| C. Rajagopalachari | A nationalist leader, lawyer and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, he participated in the Non-cooperation movement (1919-1922) and led the Vedaranyam March in 1930. He later became the last Governor-General of India and founder of the Swatantra Party |
| Chowdary Satyanarayana | He was an Indian freedom fighter, anti-colonial nationalist, politician, legislature in Andhra Pradesh Assembly (1955–62, 1967–72) and a human rights activist. |
· List › D
Dhan Singh Gurjar
Dhan Singh Gurjar
Name
Dhan Singh Gurjar
Activity
He was the police chief of Meerut, who participated in the 1857 rebellion and led initial actions against the British East India Company in Meerut.
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Name
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Activity
An indigenous governor, he took part in guerrilla warfare against the British East India Company.
Dinesh Gupta
Dinesh Gupta
Name
Dinesh Gupta
Activity
A revolutionary, he was executed following an attack on police at Writers' Building.
Durgawati Devi
Durgawati Devi
Name
Durgawati Devi
Activity
A revolutionary, she helped operate a bomb factory.
| Name | Activity |
| Dadabhai Naoroji | Known as the Grand Old Man of India, Dadabhai Naoroji was born in Navsari, Gujarat within a Parsi Zoroastrian family. He was an Indian political leader, merchant, scholar and writer who was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom House of Commons between 1892 and 1895 and the first Asian to be a British MP, other than the Anglo-I |
| Dhan Singh Gurjar | He was the police chief of Meerut, who participated in the 1857 rebellion and led initial actions against the British East India Company in Meerut. |
| Dheeran Chinnamalai | An indigenous governor, he took part in guerrilla warfare against the British East India Company. |
| Dinesh Gupta | A revolutionary, he was executed following an attack on police at Writers' Building. |
| Durgawati Devi | A revolutionary, she helped operate a bomb factory. |
· List › G
Ganesh Damodar Savarkar
Ganesh Damodar Savarkar
Name
Ganesh Damodar Savarkar
Activity
Founder of the Abhinav Bharat Society. He led an armed movement against the British colonial government in India, he was sentenced to transportation for life as a result. Was the brother of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Ganesh Ghosh
Ganesh Ghosh
Name
Ganesh Ghosh
Activity
A revolutionary, he participated in the Chittagong armoury raid.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Name
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Activity
A moderate nationalist and social reformer, he advocated constitutional reform, expanded education, and greater Indian representation in government. He founded the Servants of India Society and was an important mentor to Mahatma Gandhi
Gopinath Bordoloi
Gopinath Bordoloi
Name
Gopinath Bordoloi
Activity
He met Jawaharlal Nehru in England in 1925. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Indian Freedom Movement. In 1942 he was arrested during the Quit India Movement and sentenced to 3+1⁄2 years imprisonment. He was the first Chief Minister of undivided Assam. He died in 1950.
| Name | Activity |
| Ganesh Damodar Savarkar | Founder of the Abhinav Bharat Society. He led an armed movement against the British colonial government in India, he was sentenced to transportation for life as a result. Was the brother of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. |
| Ganesh Ghosh | A revolutionary, he participated in the Chittagong armoury raid. |
| Gopal Krishna Gokhale | A moderate nationalist and social reformer, he advocated constitutional reform, expanded education, and greater Indian representation in government. He founded the Servants of India Society and was an important mentor to Mahatma Gandhi |
| Gopinath Bordoloi | He met Jawaharlal Nehru in England in 1925. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Indian Freedom Movement. In 1942 he was arrested during the Quit India Movement and sentenced to 3+1⁄2 years imprisonment. He was the first Chief Minister of undivided Assam. He died in 1950. |
References
- "This flag is of India's independence. Behold, it is born. It is already sanctified by the blood of martyred Indian yout
- The Hindu Business Linehttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pension-of-freedom-fighters-hiked-by-rs-5000/article9003109.ece
- Language, Emotion, and Politics in South India: The Making of a Mother Tonguehttps://books.google.com/books?id=fBchTO0NS0EC&pg=PA193
- "Quit India Movement and the life and times of Anant Maral Shastri"https://newsroom24x7.com/2017/08/09/quit-india-movement-and-the-life-and-times-of-anant-maral-shastri/
- Tazkira-e-Ulama-e-Biharhttps://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/tazkira-ulama-e-bihar-volume-001-abul-kalam-qasmi-shamsi-ebooks
- The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality, Hindutva, and Beyondhttps://books.google.com/books?id=wmKIiAPgnF0C&pg=PA152
- Concise Encyclopaedia of Indiahttps://books.google.com/books?id=9dNOT9iYxcMC
- Navbharat Timeshttps://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/rajasthan/jaipur/who-is-kamla-beniwal-who-passed-away-fought-with-pm-modi-in-gujarat/articleshow/110154775.cms
- "Kanneganti Hanumanthu"https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?2843
- Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradeshhttps://books.google.com/books?id=W58sAAAAMAAJ&q=Kanneganti+hanumanthu
- In Retrospect: Part. 1. Andhra Pradesh: Heroes and Heroines of Telangana Armed Strugglehttps://books.google.com/books?id=Tx1uAAAAMAAJ&q=Kanneganti+hanumanthu
- Sakshihttps://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/andhra-pradesh/azadi-ka-amrit-mahotsav-freedom-fighter-kanneganti-hanumanthu-1476201
- ETV Bharathttps://www.etvbharat.com/telugu/telangana/bharat/the-story-of-kanneganti-hanumanthu-in-indian-independence/na20220407050941814
- amritmahotsavhttps://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?138
- Hazrat Shaykh al-Hind: Hayat awr Karname
- Women in India's freedom strugglehttps://books.google.com/books?id=8RFuAAAAMAAJ&q=Mithuben+Petit
- Women pioneers in India's renaissance, as I remember her: contributions from eminent women of present-day Indiahttps://books.google.com/books?id=2P8pAAAAYAAJ&q=Mithuben+
- "Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu and Mithuben Petit"https://www.gandhiheritageportal.org/photosdetail/MTU5/audio
- women pioneers in India's resistancehttps://books.google.com/books?id=-vDiqxmuQmIC&pg=PA143
- thehinduhttp://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/The-Great-Dandi-March-mdash-eighty-years-after/article16364352.ece