Imagine a woman leading an armed attack dressed as a man, taking a bullet on her chest while walking with the Indian national flag at the age of 73 or leading a ‘death squad’ at 17! On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate some of the unsung sheroes of India’s freedom movement, who gave their blood to free Mother India from British colonial clutches but their names got lost in the pages of history!

Matangini Hazra – Bengal (1869-1942)

Matangini Hazra was born in 1869 in the village of Hogla, in what is currently Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. Daughter of a poor farmer and widowed at 18, Hazra took up the flag at Mahatma Gandhi’s call to fight against the British.

A devoted follower of Gandhi, Hazra was one of the millions of women who stepped forward in response to Gandhi Ji’s call to fight against the British. Her name is remembered as one of the great freedom fighters from Bengal. With Gandhi’s call to protest against British rule in the early 1920s, Matangini Hazra was deeply inspired to contribute to the freedom struggle. Despite hardships, Matangini maintained a resilient spirit. She led a quiet life, yet devoted herself to social causes, gradually gaining the respect and trust of the local villagers.

By the time Matangini Hazra reached her 60s, she had faced arrest multiple times due to her active participation in protests, however, these experiences only made her more determined. When Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, she was in her 70s, Matangini emerged as a prominent leader in the movement within her region. One of her most defining moments occurred during a protest march toward the Tamluk police station in Midnapore, where thousands of demonstrators aimed to seize control of the local administration.

With the Indian flag held high in her hands, Matangini continued to march forward, chanting “Vande Mataram.” The British soldiers fired at her, but she did not stop. Even after being hit, she kept moving, flag in hand, until a bullet finally brought her down. 73-year-old revolutionary Matangini Hazra was killed in a police firing on September 29, 1942 in Midnapore.

Despite being shot multiple times, Matangini made sure that the Indian flag did not touch the ground. She is counted amongst the early casualties of the Quit India Movement.

Pritilata Waddedar – Chittagong, Bangladesh (1911-1932)

In the port city of Bangladesh’s Chittagong, a European Club proudly displayed its superiority with a signboard that read, ‘Dogs and Indians not allowed’. 21-year-old revolutionary Pritilata Waddedar led an attack against this colonial dominance on the night of 23rd September 1932. Dressed as a Punjabi man, Pritilata along with other members of revolutionary leader Surya Sen’s ‘Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Branch’ made their way to the Club that night.

Armed British officers and guards opened fire in retaliation when Pritilata was hit by a bullet. The injured revolutionary chose to end her life by consuming potassium cyanide to prevent arrest. Her body was discovered by the police the next day.

Prior to this, Pritilata had also participated in the Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18th April 1930.

Pritilata Waddeder was born in Dhalghat village in Patiya Upazila of Chittagong on 5 May 1911, in a middle-class family. She passed the intermediate examination from Eden College, Dhaka in 1929, securing first place. After two years, she graduated in Philosophy with distinction from Bethune College, Calcutta.

While studying at Dhaka’s Eden College, Pritilata drew inspiration from freedom fighter Leela Nag, a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Nag led a revolutionary group that trained women in combat. During her time at Bethune College, Pritilata met Surya Sen and another woman freedom fighter Bina Das, who attempted to shoot Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson at the convocation hall at Calcutta University in 1932, the same day she was due to receive her degree.

While the British authorities refused to award Bina Das and Pritilata Waddedar a degree, in 2012, The University of Calcutta posthumously awarded degrees to both these freedom fighters. Pritilata is an inspiration to women today.

Kanaklata Barua – Assam (1924-1942)

Kanaklata Barua was born to Krishna Kanta Barua and Korneshwari Barua on 22nd December, 1924 in the village of Barangabari of Gohpur sub-division of Sonitpur district in Assam. Born to a farming family, Barua’s struggles started at a very young age. Her mother died when she was only five years old. Her father passed away a few years later. By the time Barua was 13, she was orphaned and dropped out of school to raise her siblings.

On 20th September, 1942 Kanaklata Barua joined a group of freedom fighters and marched towards Assam’s Gohpur Police station to hoist the Tricolour in support of the Quit India Movement. Police opened fire indiscriminately on the group to prevent them. 17-year-old Kanaklata Barua was martyred with the Tricolour in her hands.

Being refused by Subhash Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj for being a minor, Kanaklata joined Mrityu Bahini – a death squad or suicide squad founded by Gandhian Pushpalata Das to encourage local women of undivided Darrang district to participate in India’s freedom struggle. At 17, Kanaklata was the only minor in the squad which only consisted of adults.

Their sacrifice, however, did not go in vain. The tricolour was hoisted at the police station that day, adding more fuel to the movement. Although an unheard-of name in the history books, Barua with her supreme sacrifice became a symbol of womanhood and patriotism in Assamese history. Her story of grit and gallantry has a legendary status in Assam — from schools being named after her to a life-size statue that adorns a park in the state.

To give tribute to her outstanding sacrifice, the Government of India commissioned a coast guard ship in her name in 2020. Indian Coast Guard’s ship — ICGS Kanaklata Barua was named after the teenage freedom fighter. The ship, a fifth in a series of fast patrol vessels (FPV), is suitable for patrolling, maritime surveillance, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching operations, fishery protection, as well as rescue and search missions.

Parbati Giri – Odisha (1926-1995)

Referred to as “The Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”, Parbati Giri was born to Dhananjay and Srimati Giri on January 19, 1926 at Samlaipadar village in Bargarh district. From her childhood days, Parbati had made up her mind to dedicate herself to the service of the nation. Inspired by her uncle Ramachandra Giri, one of the leading Congressmen of the area, Parbati dropped her education at an early age of 11 to join the organisational work of the Congress.

At the age of 12 she left her home and successfully made her way to ‘Bari Ashram’ near Jajpur which was the hotspot for the training of freedom fighters during the salt satyagraha. After being trained as Satyagrahi in the Ashram for two years, where she learned the Gandhian principles of Ahimsha and self-reliance, Parbati returned to her village and propagated Gandhi’s Swaraj message from village to village, encouraging local residents to step up against against the British rule. She gave training to many people for weaving and thread making in villages nearby Sambhalpur town.

In 1940 she began to mobilise people in her village to participate in Khadi Movement and convinced them to practice charkha and wear khadi. In 1942, she joined the Quit India Movement at the age of 16. With the tri-color flag in her hand, she joined the rallies shouting anti-British slogans.

After India’s independence, Parbati Giri devoted her life to uplift the marginalised people. She moved from village to village in the time of natural calamity to help the poor and the destitute. Because of her selfless service to the people she earned the epithet “Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”. She was also called “Banhi Kanya” or Firewoman for her resilience and aggressive nationalistic sentiment and free expression. She passed away on August 17, 1995.