Independence Day 2026 Special: 15 Female Freedom Fighters who fought for India’s Freedom

India’s freedom struggle was not fought by men alone. Across generations, women from different regions, communities and backgrounds played remarkable roles in challenging colonial rule, leading protests, supporting revolutionary movements and fighting for social reform. As India prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day in 2026, their courage and sacrifices deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

From revolutionaries who took up arms to social reformers who fought against inequality, these women helped shape the idea of a free and progressive India.

Here are 15 female freedom fighters whose stories continue to inspire generations.

1. Pritilata Waddedar (1911–1932)

Pritilata Waddedar was a revolutionary from Chittagong who became one of the most prominent young women to take part in the armed struggle against British rule. She trained with revolutionary groups and worked alongside Surya Sen’s revolutionary movement. In 1932, she led an attack on the Pahartali European Club, which represented the racial discrimination of colonial rule. Wounded during the operation and unwilling to surrender, Pritilata took her own life with cyanide at just 21.

2. Basanti Devi (1880–1974)

Basanti Devi became actively involved in India’s freedom movement after the arrest of her husband, nationalist leader Chittaranjan Das. She participated in the Non-Cooperation, Khilafat and Civil Disobedience movements and encouraged women to join the national struggle. She was also associated with efforts to promote women’s education and empowerment. Her contribution to Bengal’s political and social life made her an important figure in the freedom movement.

ALSO READ: Independence Day Special: Bollywood actors who stepped into the shoes of India's Freedom Fighters

3. Aruna Asaf Ali (1909–1996)

Aruna Asaf Ali is remembered as one of the most courageous faces of the Quit India Movement. In August 1942, she famously hoisted the Indian National flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, defying British authorities. She subsequently went underground and continued supporting the movement. Often called the “Heroine of the 1942 Movement,” she remained active in public life even after Independence.

4. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1903–1988)

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was a freedom fighter, social reformer and pioneering advocate for women’s participation in public life. She became one of the early Indian women to contest an election and actively participated in the national movement. After Independence, she played a major role in reviving Indian handicrafts, handlooms, theatre and traditional arts. Her work connected the freedom struggle with the cultural and economic empowerment of ordinary Indians.

5. Matangini Hazra (1870–1942)

Matangini Hazra, affectionately known as “Gandhi Buri”, was a fearless participant in the freedom struggle in Bengal. During the Quit India Movement in 1942, she led a procession towards the Tamluk police station while carrying the national flag. British police opened fire on the protesters, but Hazra continued moving forward despite being shot. She died holding the flag, becoming a powerful symbol of courage and sacrifice.

6. Bina Das (1911–1986)

Bina Das was a young Bengali revolutionary who believed that British rule had to be challenged through determined resistance. In 1932, while attending the University of Calcutta’s convocation, she attempted to shoot Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson. She was arrested and sentenced to prison for her revolutionary act. After her release, she joined the Congress and later participated in the Quit India Movement, continuing her commitment to India’s freedom.

7. Suniti Chaudhary (1917–1988)

Suniti Chaudhary became associated with the revolutionary movement while still a teenager. Along with Santi Ghose, she carried out an armed attack on British district magistrate Charles Geoffrey Buckland Stevens in Comilla in 1931. The two young revolutionaries had entered his office under the pretext of presenting a petition. Suniti’s story reflects the extraordinary risks undertaken by young women who chose to challenge colonial authority.

8. Jhalkari Bai (c. 1830–1858)

Jhalkari Bai was a courageous soldier who played an important role during the Revolt of 1857 and served in the women’s army of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Known for her bravery and resemblance to the Queen, she reportedly assumed Lakshmibai’s identity during the siege of Jhansi. This helped create an opportunity for the Queen to escape the fort. Jhalkari Bai remains remembered as a symbol of courage, loyalty and resistance.

9. Savitribai Phule (1831–1897)

Savitribai Phule was a pioneering educator, poet and social reformer whose work transformed the lives of women in 19th-century India. Along with Jyotirao Phule, she helped establish one of the first modern schools for girls in Pune in 1848. She fought against caste discrimination, gender inequality and the denial of education to women. Although her work predates the main phase of the freedom movement, her struggle for equality helped lay foundations for a more liberated Indian society.

10. Begum Hazrat Mahal

Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the prominent women leaders of the Revolt of 1857. After her husband, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled following the British annexation of Awadh, she remained in Lucknow and took an active role in resisting British rule. Alongside her son Birjis Qadr, she helped lead the resistance in Awadh. Her leadership made her one of the most significant female figures of the 1857 uprising.

ALSO READ: Independence Day Special: Punjabi actors who brought Indias freedom fighters to life

11. Rani Gaidinliu (1915–1973)

Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who opposed British rule in the northeastern region of India. She joined the Heraka movement as a young teenager and later became involved in the struggle against colonial authority. The British arrested her in 1932 when she was only 16 and sentenced her to life imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru later supported her release and gave her the title “Rani,” by which she became widely known.

12. Durga Bhabhi (1907–1999)

Durgawati Devi, popularly remembered as Durga Bhabhi, was a revolutionary associated with the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and the revolutionary circles around Bhagat Singh. She played a crucial role in helping Bhagat Singh escape from Lahore after the assassination of British police officer John P. Saunders in 1928. She later remained involved in revolutionary activities and even attempted to attack British official Lord Hailey. Her courage made her an important but often overlooked figure in India’s revolutionary history.

13. Kittur Chennamma (1778–1829)

Rani Kittur Chennamma of Karnataka was one of the earliest Indian rulers to lead an armed rebellion against British expansion. After the British attempted to take control of Kittur, she refused to accept their authority and organized resistance against the East India Company. Her forces initially defeated the British, although a later British assault led to her capture. Today, Rani Chennamma remains an enduring symbol of Karnataka’s resistance to colonial rule.

14. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani (1872–1945)

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was an educator, nationalist and social activist who worked to increase women’s participation in public life. In 1910, she founded the Bharat Stree Mahamandal, an organization focused particularly on women’s education and empowerment. She believed that women needed education and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the nation. Her work helped create an organized platform for women during the nationalist era.

15. Mirabehn (1892–1982)

Born Madeleine Slade in England, Mirabehn became a devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi and joined India’s freedom movement. Inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy, she moved to India in the 1920s and worked closely with him. She accompanied Gandhi to the Round Table Conference in London in 1931 and remained committed to his ideals of non-violence and social reform. Her journey from Britain to India and her dedication to the freedom movement made her story particularly remarkable.

Remembering the Women Who Fought for Freedom

The story of India’s Independence is incomplete without acknowledging the women who stood at the forefront of resistance. Some led armed revolts, some organized movements, some challenged social injustice, while others inspired communities through education and reform. Their struggles came from different regions and circumstances, but they shared a determination to build a freer India.

As the country celebrates its 80th Independence Day in 2026, remembering these women is more than an exercise in history. It is a reminder that India’s freedom was shaped by courage in many forms and that the contributions of women were an essential part of the journey from colonial rule to independence.