The Forgotten Fighters Behind The Indian Independence Struggle

A History

The history that is heard, is the history that is told by the victorious

A major bias evident in the retelling of history, but not frequently talked about, is the erasing of the stories of minorities. Among them are the female voices behind the Indian freedom struggle. After nearly a century of British rule, India gained their independence on August 15, 1947. The path to gaining independence involved multiple battles and nationalist movements, and behind them were various female leaders that have gone unheard of. Women have been involved in many aspects of the Indian freedom struggle including the contribution by the Rani of Jhansi in the 1857 Mutiny, the multiple women involved in the Chittagong Raids conducted by the Indian Republican Army, and the Rani of Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army.

Rani of Jhansi and The 1857 Mutiny

“Mein Jhansi nahi doongzi” these words that mean “I will not give up Jhansi” were famously spoken by the Queen of Jhansi on her way to battle. Queen Lakshmi Bai, or more commonly known as the Rani of Jhansi, played a major role in the 1857 Mutiny. The 1857 Mutiny is known as India’s first war of independence. It can be seen as the first major rebellion against the British, but it was also the first time many female fighters and leaders were involved directly in the fighting. Although the mutiny was not a success it was one of the very first milestones in the Indian Freedom Struggle.

There are many stories and legends that surround the Rani. She was born into a poor Brahmin family, and was taken under the tutelage of a Peshwa Nana Sahib. Under his training she learned to fight and horse riding. She later married the Raja Gangadhar Rao, of Jhansi and became the Queen of Jhansi. After his death, under the Doctrine of the Lapse, the British refused to accept Rao’s adopted son Damodar Rao as a successor. The Rani was enraged by this and not willing to give up the rule of Jhansi to the British. She filed a court case in London. The case was rejected which enraged the queen even more and as a result she decided to join the rebellion. She entered the battle dressed as a man and, under her leadership the Rani’s troops showed undaunted courage and returned each shot for shot. Although she died on the battlefield she was praised for inspiring many men and women from various diverse groups such as the Rajputs, Marathi Brahmins, Afghan mercenaries and Purabiya soldiers, to rise against foreign rule and fight against the British. She was thought of highly by Indian nationalists, and grew to influence and inspire future freedom fighters.

The image of the Queen of Jhansi riding into battle with swords in both hands, holding the leash of the horses with her mouth became a symbol for the Indian fight for freedom. She can be considered a nationalist icon for the involvement and bravery of women in the Indian freedom struggle. Even General Hugh Rose, who was responsible for her defeat termed her, “the ‘Joan of Arc’ and showered the highest praise on her as the ‘best and bravest of the rebel leaders.’” Going on to add that “‘the Indian Mutiny has produced but one man, and that man was a woman.’”

Chittagong Raids

The 1930 Chittagong Raids became a turning point for the participation of women in the freedom struggle. Up until then only a few individuals stood out, but the raids saw the involvement of many women. On April 18, 1930 two weeks after Gandhi’s Dandi March, Suriya Sen and his Indian Republican Army organized a two-day raid on the Chittagong Armoury. Although the raid was a failure, it unnerved the British forces and as a result they revived the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act. Meaning, the British had the power to arrest and detain any individual without trial. Many youths and students participated in the raid both men and women but due to the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act many young males were arrested, or had to go underground to avoid arrest. As most of the male members of the IRA could not be active the responsibility to spread information and fight was left to the female members.

Many of these young women students, including Pritilata Waddedar worked as couriers between those who were imprisoned and those who went underground as they were not suspected by the British. Pritilata, also led a raid on the Pahartali Club in Chittagong two years later in September of 1932. She was also a strong advocate for women to join the freedom struggle behind and stand side by side with their brothers in any activities however dangerous or difficult. These women were prepared and ready to take the lead when the necessity arose, and they rose to the occasion creating a strong impact on the freedom struggle.

“I earnestly hope that my sisters will no more think themselves weaker and will get themselves ready to face all dangers and difficulties and join the revolutionary movement in their thousands.” Pritilata Waddedar

Rani of Jhansi Regiment

From 1943–1945 the all female Rani of Jhansi Regiment fought in the Battle of Imphal. Named after the Rani of Jhansi, the regiment consisted of 1500 Indian women from Burma, Malaysia, and Singapore from various economic and religious backgrounds who fought together under the leadership of Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. It was the first women’s army ever to be raised in Asia in the modern period.

Lakshmi Swaminathan was a doctor from Madras who was brought up with an affluent British Indian upbringing. In her childhood she was influenced by her mothers support for the Swadeshi movement as well as inspired by Subhash Chandra Bose. The Rani of Jhansi Regiment is considered the child of Subhash Chandra Bose. He was a strong believer of women being involved in the fight for freedom. He assured the regiment that they were not a publicity stunt or created for propaganda, and asked women to leave the comfort of their homes to join the fight. True to his word, after the formation of the regiment they endured strict disciplined training the same as the other regiments.

Though the Battle of Imphal was a failure, it was an important stepping stone for the INA to reach Delhi and hence independence. Even as the British were advancing to Rangoon, and the monsoon season brought treacherous terrain and leeches the Rani of Jhansi Regiment were at the front lines and later helped by setting up a hospital and helping the wounded. The regiment was avid and awaiting to contribute to the freedom struggle and they proved to be crucial to the efforts taken by the Indian National Army.

References

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Gupta, Charu. “Dalit ‘Viranganas’ and Reinvention of 1857.” Economic and Political Weekly 42, no. 19 (2007): 1739–745.

Gupta, Smita. “Comrade Lakshmi Sahgal (1914–2012): Revolutionary, a True Daughter of India.” Social Scientist 40, no. 9/10 (2012): 85–89.

Hills, Carol, and Daniel C. Silverman. “Nationalism and Feminism in Late Colonial India: The

Rani of Jhansi Regiment, 1943–1945.” Modern Asian Studies 27, no. 4 (1993):741–60.

Karat, Brinda. “Indian Army’s Shameful Treatment of Women Recruits.” NDTV, November 28, 2014. Accessed March 24, 2019.

Kaur, Satwinder. “Role of Women in India’s Struggle for Freedom.” International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research (IJMSSR)2, no. 4 (April 2013): 1–2. Accessed February 26, 2019

Sen, Indrani. “Inscribing the Rani of Jhansi in Colonial ‘Mutiny’ Fiction.” Economic and Political Weekly 42, no. 19 (2007): 1754–761.