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Home , Hijli Detention Camp, Khudiram Bose, Matangini Hazra, Prafulla Chaki

Contribution of in freedom struggle

By CDT Nikita Maity Reg No: WB19SWN136584 No 1 Bengal Naval NCC Unit Kol-C, WB&Sikkim Directorate

Freedom is something which given to every organism who has born on this Earth. It is that right which is given to everyone irrespective of anything. (Bharat) was one of prosperous country of the world and people from different parts of world had come to rule over her, want to take her culture and heritage but she had always been brave and protected herself from various invaders. The last and the worst invader was British . BEIC not only drained India‟s wealth but also had destroyed our rich culture and knowledge. They had tried to completely destroy India in every aspect. But we Indian were not going to let them be successful in their dirty plan. Every section of Indian society had revolved in their own way. One of the major and consistent revolved was going in then Bengal province. In Bengal, from writer to fighter and from men to women everyone had given everything for freedom.

One of the prominent forefront freedom fighter was Netaji Shubhas Chandra Bose. Netaji was born on 23rd January, 1897 in Cuttack. He had studied in Presidency College. In 1920 he passed the civil service examination, but in April 1921, after hearing of the nationalist turmoil in India, he resigned his candidacy and hurried back to India. He started the newspaper ''. He was founder of (INA) or Fauj. There was also an all-women regiment named after Rani of Jhanshi, Lakshmibai. On 21 October 1943, Netaji, proclaimed the formation and making of the provisional government of Independent India in Singapore. Netaji went to the Andaman which had been taken by the Japanese and hoisted there the flag of India. In early 1944, three units of the Azad Hind Fauj actively took part in the attack on the north-eastern part of India to oust the British from India. However, they had lost but it had inspired other freedom fighters who were struggling.

Another inspiring freedom fighter was . For his role in the Conspiracy Case, along with , he was sentenced to death and subsequently executed, making him one of the youngest martyrs of the Indian Independence Movement. Khudiram Bose was born on 3 December 1889 the small village named Mohobani, in the Medinipur district of Bengal. At the time of his hanging, Khudiram was 18 years, 8 months, and 11 days.

Bengal had protested not only on battlefield but also cultural and supported the freedom movements. The eminent writers of Bengal through their work had united people from different sect together and inspire them for freedom struggle. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was first to portrait Bharat Mata. In the 1870s he wrote „‟ as a hymn to the motherland. Later it was included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung during the in Bengal. The great poet, composer and philosopher had contribution in freedom struggle. His songs and poems like "Ekla Chalo Re" were great source of inspiration and strength to freedom fighter in their struggle. Tagore renounced his knighthood in response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. In the repudiation letter to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, he wrote “The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation, and I for my part, wish to stand, shorn, of all special distinctions, by the side of those of my countrymen who, for their so called insignificance, are liable to suffer degradation not fit for human beings”. He came up with a unique way to protest against the communal partition of Bengal in 1905.i.e rakhi Bandhan ustav. It had strengthened the bond between Bengali Hindus and Muslims.

Women of Bengal hadn‟t sat back in their home; they had also given their heart and soul for freedom. Matangini Hazra participated in the Indian Independence Movement and was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the Police Station (of erstwhile District). She was also affectionately called Gandhi Buri or „Old Lady Gandhi‟. Hazra took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement and got arrested for breaking the Salt Act. After being released, she protested against the abolition of the tax. Later, Matangini Hazra became an active member of the and also spun her own Khadi. is a famous Indian political activist and poet. She was also an advocate of women‟s emancipation, anti-imperialistic ideas and civil rights. The activist travelled to different parts of India and delivered speeches on the need for the emancipation of women, social welfare and nationalism. Suhasini Ganguly was captivated in Detention Camp under the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act for six years (1932-1938). After her release, she participated in India‟s Communist Movement and was also associated with the women‟s front of the Communist Party of India. The list of woman freedom fighter is endless like man.

Time under British Rule was extremely distressful. We living in free India can‟t imagine what the people had felt back then. It was such a situation where breathing was more painful than death and such a situation everyone had to revolt. We all should cherish all our fighter and should get inspiration from their story to struggle in our life to make India what it was.

Jai Hind.