Talk:Indian Freedom Fighters
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
| Freedom Fighter | Province | Ethnicity | Ahimsa | Pro-Hindu | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Bhagwan Das | U.P. | Hindi | Theosophy Society member, founded Kashi Vidya Peeth, wrote commentaries in English and Hindi on scriptures and concepts (i.e., Pranava-Vada), received Bharat Ratna | ||
| Govind Ballabh Pant | U.P. | Marathi | Reference to Ram Rajya like in Constituent Assembly debate (1948), to Krishna for issues like cow protection, supported Hindu Code Bill reforms, first U.P. CM of independent India, "Real Swaraj means Ram Rajya. If secular State means that our children will not know about the Ramayana or listen to the Gita or the Koran or the Granth what is the political freedom worth? Sir, by 'Ram' I mean Hindu God and also Christian God." 1939: "We want Ram Rajya, we want Sarvodaya. But for achieving them it is necessary that every..." | ||
| Purushottam Das Tandon | U.P. | Hindi | Yes | Advocated for Hindu militarism to fight perceived threats in India, used Hindu cultural symbolism (i.e., Ram Rajya), worked with K.M. Munshi in the Constituent Assembly against forced or induced conversions, was Sanskrit scholar, supported education in Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita | |
| Swami Sahajanand Saraswati (born Naurang Rai) | U.P. | Bhojpuri | Yes | Wrote books in Sanskrit and Hindi, on Hinduism and independence, helped form All India Kisan Sabha, in which he was its first President, worked with INC, Swatantra (N.G. Ranga ), and CPI (E.M.S. Namboodiripad), organized Bakasht Movement in Bihar in 1937–1938, built ashram at Bihta, Bihar | |
| Swami Sampurnanand | U.P. | Hindi | Yes | Wrote books like Yogadarshan and commentaries on Vedic texts, portrayed Hinduism as the nationalistic force for strengthening India, mentioned Ram Rajya, openly discussed the threats of Muslim disloyalty | |
| Shiv Prasad Gupta | U.P. | Hindi | Founded Kashi Vidya Peeth for Indian and Hindu studies, funded Hindu institutions like BHU, built Bharat Mata Mandir, held the First National Congress at his residence, Gandhi called him Rashtra Ratna | ||
| Sohan Lal Dwivedi | U.P. | Hindi | Yes | Mentioned Ram Rajya, like in Bharavi collection of poems, used both Krishna and Rama in patriotic poetry to describe India as the privilaged land they lived in | |
| Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar | U.P. | Bundeli | Yes | Wrote commentaries about shastras and ideas, like Shweta-Shwatrupanishad Bhasya on Shvetashvatara Upanishad and Shaivism, Prashnapanishad Saral Bhashya on the Prashna Upanishad, Atmadarshi Geeta Bhashya on Bhagavad Gita, Chaturvedanugami Bhashya on Vedas, and Pillars of Vedant on Vedanta | |
| Awadhesh Pratap Singh | M.P. | Bagheli | |||
| Bal Krishna Sharma Naveen | M.P. | His poetry often evokes India's ancient glory rooted in Hindu themes like in "Kumkum", "Rashmirekha", "Apalak", and revolutionary verses, wrote Urmila (version of Ramayana) | |||
| Dada Dharmadhikari | M.P. | Yes | Mentioned Hindu figures like Krishna in philosophical contexts, was studying Shankaracharya's works for about a year before joining independence movement | ||
| Dwarka Prasad Mishra | M.P. | Malwi | Wrote Krishnayana and emphasized Krishna's struggle against tyrant Kamsa akin to Indians fighting for independence against British imperialists, other writings (i.e., Living an Era) and speeches occassionally invoked India's ancient Hindu heritage | ||
| Madhavrao Sapre | M.P. | Marathi | Translated into Hindi Tilak's Gita Rahasya, Samarth Ramdas' Dasbodh, Chintamani Vinayak Vaidya's Mahabharatma Mimansa, and other Marathi works (i.e., Shri Ram Charitra, Ekanath Charitra, Atma Vidya) | ||
| Ravishankar Shukla | M.P. | Hindi | Headed Kanyakubja Sabha and collaborated with Malaviya to mobilize Brahmans, joined Theosophical Society to explore vastness of Hindu canon, 1st CM of independent M.P. | ||
| Seth Govind Das | M.P. | Hindi | Invoked Hindu scriptures (including Vedas, Upanishads, Vishnu Purana, and Brahma Purana) and figures in Constituent Assembly, wrote drama plays and texts of Hindu subject matter, partook in demonstration against cow slaughter in 1966 led by RSS, VHP, and RRP | ||
| Baba Kanshi Ram | H.P. | Kangri Pahari | Incorporated Hindu symbols into his speeches and writings, emphasized dharma | ||
| Bhagmal Sautha | H.P. | Mahasuvi Pahari | Founding member of Himalayan Riyasati Praja Mandal | ||
| Daualt Ram Sankhyan | H.P. | Bilaspuri Pahari | Founding member of Himalayan Riyasati Praja Mandal | ||
| Krishnanand Swami | H.P. | Mandyali Pahari | A swami | ||
| Lal Chand Prarthi | H.P. | Kullavi Pahari | Documented Hindu folklore, village deities, and rituals, portraying them as symbols of cultural resistance against imperial and feudal oppression, supported Hindu institutions by advocating for preservation of local temples and festivals as part of regional identity | ||
| Padam Dev | H.P. | Mahasuvi Pahari | Arya Samaj preacher -- promoted shuddhi (even converting American Samuel Evans Stokes), referenced Hindu scriptures in his campaigns (i.e., against Begar or forced labour and reet or feudal tax, speeches invoked figures like Dayanand | ||
| Swami Purnanand | H.P. | Mandyali Pahari | A swami | ||
| Satya Dev | H.P. | Founding member of Himalayan Riyasati Praja Mandal | |||
| Shivanand Ramaul | H.P. | Founding member of Himalayan Riyasati Praja Mandal | |||
| Badri Nath Pandey (Kumaon Kesari) | Uttarakhand | Yes | Yes | Blended anti-imperialism with Hindu cultural revival, founded Shakti, wrote about history referencing scriptures, glorified temple patronage, supported maths (i.e., Sanskrit schools like Shivaraj Sanskrit Pathshala) and ashrams (i.e., Sanatan Dharm Maha Mandal), Kuli Begar Movement's first oath was in 1921 at Haru Mandir | |
| Chakravarti Rajagopalacari | T.N. | Tamil | Retold Rama in Chakravarti Thirumagan portraying Ram as the ideal upholder of righteousness/dharma, viewed Hindu principles as moral foundations for nationalism | ||
| Kalki Krishnamurthy | T.N. | Tamil | Adopted the name Kalki, his works like Ponniyin Selvan and Sivagamiyin Sapatham drew heavily from Tamil/Hindu epics and they used Hindu themes to evoke modern nationalism | ||
| Sundara Satyamurti | T.N. | Tamil | Engaged with Hindu scriptures, sometimes invoked dharma for moral nationalism | ||
| Bheemanna Khandre | Karnataka | Kannada | Yes | President of Akhil Bharata Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, imprisoned for activism in liberation of Hyderabad from nizam | |
| Gangadharrao Deshpande | Karnataka | Kannada | Yes | Expressed admiration of Savarkar and RSS, wrote letter to V.J. Patel in December 1947 | |
| Hardekar Manjappa | Karnataka | Kannada | Yes | Used Basava's teachings as a symbol against British rule, promoted Basava's teachings through celebrations (i.e., starting Basava Jayanti festival) and writings (wrote over 40 books, like Basava Charithre), presented a book on Basava to Gandhi, was part of Basweshara Seva Dala, organized first Ganesh Chaturthi in Belgaum (1905), which inspired Tilak to nationalize festival and utilize it for freedom struggle | |
| Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar | Karnataka | Kannada | Yes | Referenced Hindu philosophical ideas, especially in his writings (i.e., Americadalli Gorur, wherein he referenced Upanishads and living by dharma), including essays that invoked Hindu principles for moral nationalism and social reform | |
| Malangi Gurupadaswamy | Karnataka | Kannada | Referenced Hindu culture and scriptures positively context of "Indianisation," suggesting in a Constituent Assembly speech that Muslims should respect Hindu scriptures and culture for national unity | ||
| Swami Ramanand Tirtha | Karnataka | Kannada | Was an Arya Samaj monk, drew from scriptures like Gita, rallied people against Nizam, became first President of the Hyderabad State Congress in 1947 | ||
| Sarojini Naidu | Telangana | Telugu | Used women like Sita, Savitri, Gargi, and Damayanti as ideals for women's empowerment, used Hindi ideas of tolerance for harmony between communities | ||
| Bodheswaran (born Keshava Pillai) | Kerala | Malayali | Disciple of Narayana Guru and Swamikal, promoted Hindu values, especially for reform | ||
| Mahant Laxminarayan Das | Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarhi | Yes | Was mahant of Hindu math, used symbolisms like saffron robes, spoke of Ram in devotional contexts | |
| Swami Anand | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | A Swami | |
| Ela Bhatt | Gujarat | Gujarati | Founder of SEWA and women’s rights activist, mentioned Hindu law in academic contexts (e.g., her gold medal in Hindu law studies). | ||
| Nanabhai Bhatt | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Educationist and Nai Talim pioneer, promoted Hindu ethical values like simplicity and self-reliance in education but without sectarian pro-Hindu statements, referenced Hindu cultural inheritance in educational philosophy | |
| Vinoba Bhave | Gujarat | Marathi | Yes | Bhoodan leader, mentioned Hindu figures like Krishna in philosophical contexts, used slogans like "Jai Jagat" (Victory to the World), his statements emphasized spiritual equality and non-violence, drawing from Hindu texts for universal humanism | |
| Mahadev Desai | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Gandhi’s secretary, mentioned Hindu figures like Krishna [in Gita translations], his statements promoted Gandhian Hinduism as tolerant and inclusive | |
| Morarji Desai | Gujarat | Gujarati | Made pro-Hindu statements like "Hinduism is the most tolerant religion" and emphasized Hindu moral values, referenced Hindu philosophy in governance but balanced with secularism | ||
| Jhaverchand Meghani | Gujarat | Gujarati | A poet and folklorist that mentioned Hindu figures in patriotic literature, his works invoked cultural nationalism | ||
| Nautamlal Bhagavanji Mehta | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Supporter of Gandhi -- coined “Mahatma” for him, invoking Hindu reverence, promoted Hindu unity in nationalism. | |
| Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi | Gujarat | Gujarati | Promoted Hindu cultural revival, founded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, mentioned figures like Shivaji for nationalism, used pro-Hindu symbolism in writings | ||
| Narhari Parikh | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Referenced Hindu ethics in satyagraha | |
| Rang Avadhoot | Gujarat | Gujarati | A mystic saint, mentioned Hindu figures like Dattatreya, used devotional slogans like "Jai Guru", teachings were spiritual | ||
| Shankarlal Banker | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Referenced Hindu ethics in labor reforms | |
| Krishnalal Shridharani | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | A writer, mentioned Hindu figures in nonviolence discussions | |
| Ravishankar Vyas (AKA 'Maharaj') | Gujarat | Gujarati | Yes | Mentioned Hindu dharma in Gandhian contexts |