1.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Date of Birth : Oct 2, 1869 Date of Death : Jan 30, 1948 !ace of Birth : G"#arat Mahatma Gandhi $Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi% &as 'orn into a (ind" Modh fami!) in or'andar, G"#arat, *ndia in 1869+ (e &as the son of Karamchand Gandhi, the di&an $,hief Minister% of or'andar, and "t!i'ai, Karamchand-s fo"rth &ife $his .re/io"s three &i/es had died in chi!d'irth%, a (ind" of the ranami 0aishna/a order+ Gro&in1 ". &ith a de/o"t mother and s"rro"nded ') the Jain inf!"ences of G"#arat, Gandhi !earned from an ear!) a1e the tenets of non2 in#"r) to !i/in1 'ein1s, /e1etarianism, fastin1 for se!f2."rification, and m"t"a! to!erance 'et&een mem'ers of /ario"s creeds and sects+ (e &as 'orn into the /aish)a, or '"siness, caste+ *n Ma) 1883, at the a1e of 13, Gandhi &as married thro"1h his .arentsarran1ement to Kast"r'a Ma3han#i $a!so s.e!!ed 4Kast"r'ai5 or 3no&n as 4Ba5%, &ho &as the same a1e as he+ 6he) had fo"r sons: (ari!a! Gandhi, 'orn in 18887 Mani!a! Gandhi, 'orn in 18927 8amdas Gandhi, 'orn in 18997 and De/das Gandhi, 'orn in 1900+ Gandhi &as a mediocre st"dent in his )o"th at or'andar and !ater 8a#3ot+ (e 'are!) .assed the matric"!ation e:am for the ;ni/ersit) of Bom'a) in 1889, &here he #oined <ama!das ,o!!e1e+ (e &as a!so "nha..) at the co!!e1e, 'eca"se his fami!) &anted him to 'ecome a 'arrister+ (e !ea.t at the o..ort"nit) to st"d) in =n1!and, &hich he /ie&ed as 4a !and of .hi!oso.hers and .oets, the /er) centre of ci/i!i>ation+5 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi &as a ma#or .o!itica! and s.irit"a! !eader of *ndia, and the *ndian inde.endence mo/ement+ (e &as the .ioneer and .erfector of <at)a1raha ? the resistance of t)rann) thro"1h mass ci/i! diso'edience stron1!) fo"nded ".on ahimsa $tota! non2 /io!ence% ? &hich !ed *ndia to inde.endence, and has ins.ired mo/ements for ci/i! ri1hts and freedom across the &or!d+
2. Subhash Chandra Bose
<"'hash ,handra Bose Date of Birth : Jan 23, 1899 Date of Death : @"1 18, 194A !ace of Birth : Orissa <"'hash ,handra Bose $Jan"ar) 23, 1899 ? @"1"st 18, 194AB%, a!so 3no&n as Ceta#i, &as one of the most .rominent !eaders of the *ndian *nde.endence Mo/ement a1ainst the British 8a#+ <"'has ,handra Bose &as 'orn to an aff!"ent fami!) in ,"ttac3, Orissa+ (is father, Jana3inath Bose, &as a ."'!ic .rosec"tor &ho 'e!ie/ed in orthodo: nationa!ism, and !ater 'ecame a mem'er of the Ben1a! De1is!ati/e ,o"nci!+ (is mother &as ra'ha/ati Bose, a remar3a'!e e:am.!e of *ndian &omanhood+ Bose &as ed"cated at ,am'rid1e ;ni/ersit)+ *n 1920, Bose too3 the *ndian ,i/i! <er/ice entrance e:amination and &as .!aced second+ (o&e/er, he resi1ned from the .resti1io"s *ndian ,i/i! <er/ice in @.ri! 1921 des.ite his hi1h ran3in1 in the merit !ist, and &ent on to 'ecome an acti/e mem'er of *ndia-s inde.endence mo/ement+ (e #oined the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress, and &as .artic"!ar!) acti/e in its )o"th &in1+ <"'has ,handra Bose fe!t that )o"n1 mi!itant 1ro".s co"!d 'e mo!ded into a mi!itar) arm of the freedom mo/ement and "sed to f"rther the ca"se+ Gandhi#i o..osed this ideo!o1) 'eca"se it direct!) conf!icted &ith his .o!ic) of ahimsa $non2/io!ence%+ 6he British Go/ernment in *ndia .ercei/ed <"'has as a .otentia! so"rce of dan1er and had him arrested &itho"t an) char1e on Octo'er 2A, 1924+ (e &as sent to @!i.ore Jai!, ,a!c"tta and in Jan"ar) 2A, 192A transferred to Manda!a), B"rma+ (e &as re!eased from Manda!a) in Ma), 1929 d"e to his i!! hea!th+ ;.on ret"rn to ,a!c"tta, <"'has &as e!ected resident of the Ben1a! ,on1ress ,ommittee on Octo'er 29, 1929+
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
Ja&ahar!a! Cehr" Date of Birth : Co/ 14, 1889 Date of Death : Ma) 29, 1964 !ace of Birth : ;ttar radesh o!itica! .art) : *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress 6oo3 Office : @"1 1A, 1949 Deft Office : Ma) 29, 1964 <"ccessor : Da! Bahad"r <hastri Ja&ahar!a! Cehr" a!so ca!!ed andit Cehr", &as an im.ortant !eader of the *ndian *nde.endence Mo/ement and the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress, and 'ecame the first rime Minister of *ndia &hen *ndia &on its inde.endence on @"1"st 1A, 1949+ Ja&ahar!a! Cehr" &as 'orn on Co/em'er 14, 1889, to <&aroo. 8ani, the &ife of Moti!a! Cehr", a &ea!th) @!!aha'ad 'ased 'arrister and .o!itica! !eader himse!f+ (e &as Cehr"-s on!) son amon1st three )o"n1er da"1hters+ 6he Cehr" fami!) is of Kashmiri !inea1e and of the <aras&at Brahmin caste+ =d"cated in the finest *ndian schoo!s of the time, Cehr" ret"rned from ed"cation in =n1!and at (arro&, 6rinit) ,o!!e1e, ,am'rid1e and the *nner 6em.!e to .ractice !a& 'efore fo!!o&in1 his father into .o!itics+ B) his .arentsarran1ement, Cehr" married Kama!a Cehr", then se/enteen in 1916+ @t the time of his &eddin1 on 8 Ee'r"ar) 1916, Ja&ahar!a! &as t&ent)2si:, a British2ed"cated 'arrister+ Kama!a came from a &e!!23no&n '"siness fami!) of Kashmiris in De!hi+ (is father Moti!a! Cehr" &as a!read) a .rominent fi1"re in the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress and had ser/ed as its .resident+ Cehr" did not share Moti!a!-s moderate2!i'era! !ine+
4. Bhagat Singh
Bha1at <in1h Date of Birth : <e. 29, 1909 Date of Death : Mar 23, 1931 !ace of Birth : Ja!andhar Bha1at <in1h $<e.tem'er 29, 1909 ? March 23, 1931% &as an *ndian re/o!"tionar), considered to 'e one of the most famo"s mart)rs of the *ndian freedom str"11!e+ Eor this reason, he is often referred to as <haheed Bha1at <in1h $the &ord shaheed means 4mart)r5%+ Bha1at <in1h &as 'orn into a <i3h fami!) to <ardar Kishan <in1h and 0id)a/ati in the Khat3ar Ka!an /i!!a1e near Ban1a in the Ja!andhar district of "n#a'+ (is "nc!e, <ardar @#it <in1h, as &e!! as his father, &ere 1reat freedom fi1hters, so Bha1at <in1h 1re& ". in a .atriotic atmos.here+ @#it <in1h esta'!ished the *ndian atriots@ssociation, a!on1 &ith <)ed (aidar 8a>a, to or1ani>e the .easants a1ainst the ,hena' ,ana! ,o!on) Bi!!+ (e a!so esta'!ished the secret or1ani>ation, the Bharat Mata <ociet)+ @t an ear!) a1e, Bha1at <in1h started dreamin1 of ".rootin1 the British em.ire+ Ce/er afraid of fi1htin1 d"rin1 his chi!dhood, he tho"1ht of 41ro&in1 1"ns in the fie!ds,5 so that he co"!d fi1ht a1ainst the British+ 6he Ghadar Mo/ement !eft a dee. im.rint on his mind+ Kartar <in1 <ara'ha, han1ed at the a1e of 19, 'ecame his hero+ 6he massacre at Ja!!ian&a!a Ba1h on @.ri! 13, 1919 dro/e him to 1o to @mritsar, &here he 3issed the earth sanctified ') the mart)rs- '!ood and 'ro"1ht 'ac3 home a !itt!e of the soa3ed soi!+ (e st"died in the D+@+0+ <choo! in Dahore+ @t the a1e of 16, he "sed to &onder &h) so man) *ndians co"!d not dri/e a&a) these fistf"! of in/aders+ *n search of re/o!"tionar) 1ro".s and ideas, he met <"3hde/ and 8a#1"r"+ Bha1at <in1h, a!on1 &ith the he!. of ,handrashe3har @>ad, formed the (ind"stan <ocia!ist 8e."'!ican @rm) $(<8@%+ 6he aim of this *ndian re/o!"tionar) mo/ement &as no& defined as not on!) to ma3e *ndia inde.endent, '"t a!so to create 4a socia!ist *ndia+5 D"rin1 the <imon ,ommission, <her2 e2 "n#a' Da!a Da#.at 8ai &as &o"nded and died !ater+ 6o a/en1e his death, Bha1at <in1h and 8a#1"r" 3i!!ed Mr+ <a"nders $one of the de."t) officers in connection &ith the <imon ,ommission%+
Fhen the British 1o/ernment .rom"!1ated the t&o 'i!!s 46rade ;nion Dis."te Bi!!5 and 4 "'!ic <afet) Bi!!5 &hich Bha1at <in1h and his .art) tho"1ht &ere B!ac3 Da&s aimed at c"r'in1 citi>ens- freedom and ci/i! !i'erties, the) decided to o..ose these 'i!!s ') thro&in1 a 'om' in the ,entra! @ssem'!) (a!! $&hich is no& Do3 <a'ha%+ (o&e/er, thin1s chan1ed, and the Britishers arrested Bha1at <in1h and his friends on @.ri! 8, 1929+ (e and his friends &anted to 'e shot dead, since the) &ere termed as .risoners of &ar+ 6heir reG"est &as not f"!fi!!ed, and on March 23, 1931, Bha1at <in1h, <hi/ram 8a#1"r", and <"3hde/ &ere han1ed to death+ 6his man-s on!) mission in !ife &as to see his co"ntr) free from British r"!e+ (e did his 'est and &hen he &as 'ein1 !ed to the 1a!!o&s, he &as satisfied that he had !i/ed ". to his .rinci.!es, irres.ecti/e of the conseG"ences+ 6he on!) thin1 that made him sad &as that he co"!dn-t do more for his co"ntr)+
. !r. "a#endra $rasad
Dr+ 8a#endra rasad Date of Birth : Dec 3, 1884 Date of Death : Ee' 28, 1963 !ace of Birth : Heradei, Bihar 6en"re Order : 1st resident 6oo3 Office : Jan 26, 19A0 Deft Office : Ma) 13, 1962 <"ccessor : Dr+< 8adha3rishnan Dr+ 8a#endra rasad &as the first resident of *ndia+ 8a#endra rasad &as a 1reat freedom2fi1hter, and the architect of the *ndian ,onstit"tion, ha/in1 ser/ed as resident of the ,onstit"ent @ssem'!) that drafted the ,onstit"tion of the 8e."'!ic from 1948 to 19A0+ (e had a!so ser/ed as a ,a'inet Minister 'rief!) in the first Go/ernment of *nde.endent *ndia+ (e &as a cr"cia! !eader of the *ndian *nde.endence Mo/ement+ rasad &as 'orn in Jiradei, in the <i&an district of Bihar+ (is father, Mahade/ <aha), &as a ersian and <ans3rit !an1"a1e scho!ar7 his mother, Kam!esh&ari De/i, &as a de/o"t !ad) &ho &o"!d te!! stories from the 8ama)ana to her son+ @t the a1e of A, the )o"n1 8a#endra
rasad &as sent to a Ma"!a/i for !earnin1 ersian+ @fter that he &as sent to ,ha.ra Hi!!a <choo! for f"rther .rimar) st"dies+ (e &as married at the a1e of 12 to 8a#/anshi De/i+ (e then &ent on to st"d) at 8+K+ Ghosh-s @cadem) in atna to 'e &ith his o!der 'rother Mahendra rasad+ <oon after&ard, ho&e/er, he re#oined the ,ha.ra Hi!!a <choo!, and it &as from there that he .assed the entrance e:amination of ,a!c"tta ;ni/ersit), at the a1e of 18+ (e stood first in the first di/ision of that e:amination+ (e then #oined the residenc) ,o!!e1e, ,a!c"tta+ (e &as initia!!) a st"dent of science and his teachers inc!"ded J+,+Bose and raf"!!a ,handra 8o)+ Dater he decided to s&itch his foc"s to the arts+ @char)a raf"!!a ,handra 8o), &ho &as im.ressed ') his inte!!ect and dedication as3ed him on the occasion 4Fh) ha/e )o" deserted )o"r c!assB+5 rasad !i/ed &ith his 'rother in the =den (ind" (oste!+ @ .!aG"e sti!! commemorates his sta) in that room+ (e had 'een initiated into the <&adeshi mo/ement ') his 'rother+ (e then #oined the Da&n <ociet) r"n ') <atish ,handra M"3her#ee, and <ister Ci/edita+ *n 1911, he #oined the @+*+,+,+ (o&e/er, his fami!) estate &as in 'ad condition+ (e &as !oo3ed ".on as the .ro/ider+ B"t he so"1ht .ermission from his 'rother in a !etter to #oin the *ndian freedom mo/ement+ (e &rote, 4@m'itions * ha/e none, e:ce.t to 'e of some ser/ice to the Mother!and5+ 6he shoc3 of his 'rother, ho&e/er, he!d him to the fami!)+ *n 1916, 8a#endra rasad #oined the (i1h ,o"rt of Bihar, and Orissa+ <"ch &as his inte!!ect and his inte1rit), that often &hen his ad/ersar) fai!ed to cite a .recedent, the #"d1es as3ed 8a#endra rasad to cite a .recedent a1ainst himse!f+ @fter meetin1 Mahatma Gandhi, he G"it as a <enator of the ;ni/ersit), m"ch to the re1ret of the British 0ice2,hance!!or+(e a!so res.onded to the ca!! ') the Mahatma to 'o)cott Festern ed"cation ') as3in1 his son Mrit)"n#a)a rasad, a 'ri!!iant st"dent to dro. o"t of the ;ni/ersit) and enro!! himse!f in Bihar 0id)a.eeth, an instit"tion he had a!on1 &ith his co!!ea1"es fo"nded on the traditiona! *ndian mode!+ (e &rote artic!es for <earch!i1ht and the Desh and co!!ected f"nds for these .a.ers+ (e to"red a !ot, e:.!ainin1, !ect"rin1 and e:hortin1+ Fhen the earthG"a3e of Bihar occ"rred on Jan"ar) 1A, 1934, 8a#endra rasad &as in #ai!+ (e &as re!eased t&o da)s !ater+ (e set himse!f for the tas3 of raisin1 f"nds+ 6he 0icero) had a!so raised a f"nd+ (o&e/er, &hi!e 8a#endra rasad-s f"nd co!!ected o/er 38 Da3hs $8s+ 3,800,000%, the 0icero) co"!d on!) mana1e one2third of that amo"nt+ 6he &a) re!ief &as or1ani>ed !eft nothin1 to 'e desired+ Cationa!ist *ndia e:.ressed its admiration ') e!ectin1 him to the resident of the Bom'a) session of the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress+
%.&al Bahadur Shastri
Da! Bahad"r <hastri Date of Birth : Oct 2, 1904 Date of Death : Jan 11, 1966 !ace of Birth : ;ttar radesh Da! Bahad"r <hastri &as the second rime Minister of inde.endent *ndia and a si1nificant fi1"re in the str"11!e for inde.endence+ <hashtri#i &as 'orn in M"1ha!sarai, in ;ttar radesh+ 6o ta3e .art in the non2coo.eration mo/ement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921, he 'e1an st"d)in1 at the nationa!ist, Kashi 0id)a.eeth in Kashi, and ".on com.!etion, he &as 1i/en the tit!e <hastri, or <cho!ar, Doctor at Kashi 0id)a.eeth in 1926+ (e s.ent a!most nine )ears in #ai! in tota!, most!) after the start of the <at)a1raha mo/ement in 1940, he &as im.risoned "nti! 1946+ Eo!!o&in1 *ndia-s inde.endence, he &as (ome Minister "nder ,hief Minister Go/ind Ba!!a'h ant of ;ttar radesh+ *n 19A1, he &as a..ointed Genera! <ecretar) of the Do3 <a'ha 'efore re21ainin1 a ministeria! .ost as 8ai!&a)s Minister+ (e resi1ned as Minister fo!!o&in1 a rai! disaster near @ri)a!"r, 6ami! Cad"+ (e ret"rned to the ,a'inet fo!!o&in1 the Genera! =!ections, first as Minister for 6rans.ort, in 1961, he 'ecame (ome Minister+ @fter Ja&ahar!a! Cehr"-s death in Ma) 29, 1964, he 'ecame the .rime minister+ <hastri &or3ed ') his nat"ra! characteristics to o'tain com.romises 'et&een o..osin1 /ie&.oints, '"t in his short ten"re &as ineffect"a! in dea!in1 &ith the economic crisis and food shorta1e in the nation+ (o&e/er, he commanded a 1reat dea! of res.ect in the *ndian .o."!ace, and he "sed it to ad/anta1e in ."shin1 the Green 8e/o!"tion in *ndia7 &hich direct!) !ed to *ndia 'ecomin1 a food2s"r.!"s nation, a!tho"1h he did not !i/e to see it+ (is administration 'e1an on a roc3) t"rf+ *n 196A a3istan attac3ed *ndia on the Kashmiri front and Da! Bahad"r <hastri res.onded in 3ind ') ."nchin1 to&ard Dahore+ *n 1966 a cease2fire &as iss"ed as a res"!t of internationa! .ress"re+ Da! Bahad"r <hastri &ent to 6ash3ent to ho!d ta!3s &ith @)"' Khan and an a1reement &as soon si1ned+ Da! Bahad"r .assed a&a) in 6ash3ent 'efore ret"rnin1 home+ @!! his !ifetime, he &as 3no&n for his honest) and h"mi!it)+ (e &as the first .erson to 'e .osth"mo"s!) a&arded the Bharat 8atna and a memoria! 40i#a) Ghat5 &as '"i!t for him in De!hi+ 6he s!o1an IJai Ja&an, Jai Kisan- is attri'"ted to <hastri+ I*f one .erson 1i/es ". one mea! in a da), some other .erson 1ets his on!) mea! of the da)+-: made d"rin1 the food crisis to enco"ra1e .eo.!e to e/en!) distri'"te food+
'. Chandrashe(har )*ad
,handrashe3har @>ad Date of Birth : J"! 23, 1906 Date of Death : Ee' 29, 1931 !ace of Birth : *ndia ,handrase3har @>ad &as a 1reat *ndian freedom fi1hter and re/o!"tionar) thin3er+ 8e/ered for his a"dacio"s deeds and fierce .atriotism, he &as the mentor of Bha1at <in1h, the famo"s *ndian mart)r+ ,handrase3har @>ad is considered one of the 1reatest *ndian freedom fi1hter a!on1 &ith Bha1at <in1h, <"3hde/, 8a#1"r", 8am rasad Bismi!, and @shfaG"!!a Khan+ ,handrase3har @>ad-s .arents &ere andit <ita 8am 6i&ari and Ja1rani De/i+ (e recei/ed his ear!) schoo!in1 in Bha/ra District Jha'"a $Madh)a radesh%+ Eor hi1her st"dies he &ent to the <ans3rit athasha!a at 0aranasi+ Jo"n1 @>ad &as one of the )o"n1 1eneration of *ndians &hen Mahatma Gandhi !a"nched the Con2 ,oo.eration Mo/ement+ B"t man) &ere disi!!"sioned &ith the s"s.ension of the str"11!e in 1922 o&in1 to the ,ha"ri ,ha"ra massacre of 22 .o!icemen+ @!tho"1h Gandhi &as a..a!!ed ') the 'r"ta! /io!ence, @>ad did not fee! that /io!ence &as "nacce.ta'!e in the str"11!e, es.ecia!!) in /ie& of the @mritsar Massacre of 1919, &here @rm) "nits 3i!!ed h"ndreds of "narmed ci/i!ians and &o"nded tho"sands in @mritsar+ Jo"n1 @>ad and contem.oraries !i3e Bha1at <in1h &ere dee.!) and emotiona!!) inf!"enced ') that tra1ed)+ @s a re/o!"tionar), he ado.ted the !astname I@>ad-, &hich means 4Eree5 in ;rd"+6here is an interestin1 stor) that &hi!e he ado.ted the name 4@>ad5 he made a .!ed1e that the o!ice &i!! ne/er ca.t"re him a!i/e+ @>ad and others had committed themse!/es to a'so!"te inde.endence ') an) means+ (e &as most famo"s for 6he Ka3ori 8ai! Dacoit) in 192A and the assassination of the assistant s".erintendent of o!ice John o)ant> <a"nders in 1928+ @>ad and his com.atriots &o"!d tar1et British officia!s 3no&n for their o..ressi/e actions a1ainst ordinar) .eo.!e, or for 'eatin1 and tort"rin1 arrested freedom fi1hters+ @>ad &as a!so a 'e!ie/er in socia!ism as the 'asis for a f"t"re *ndia, free of socia! and economic o..ression and ad/ersit)+ Bha1at <in1h #oined @>ad fo!!o&in1 the death of Da!a Da#.at 8ai, an *ndian !eader &ho &as 'eaten to death ') .o!ice officia!s+ @>ad trained <in1h and others in co/ert acti/ities, and the !atter 1re& c!ose to him after &itnessin1 his reso!/e, .atriotism and co"ra1e+ @!on1 &ith fe!!o& .atriots !i3e 8a#1"r" and <"3hde/, @>ad and <in1h formed the (ind"stan <ocia!ist 8e."'!ican @ssociation, committed to com.!ete *ndian inde.endence and socia!ist .rinci.!es of for *ndia-s f"t"re
.ro1ress+ Betra)ed ') an informer on 29 Ee'r"ar) 1931 @>ad &as encirc!ed ') British troo.s in the @!fred .ar3, @!!aha'ad+ (e 3e.t on fi1htin1 ti!! the !ast '"!!et+ @>ad is a hero to man) *ndians toda)+ @!fred ar3 &as renamed ,handrase3har @>ad .ar3, as ha/e 'een scores of schoo!s, co!!e1es, roads and other ."'!ic instit"tions across *ndia+
+. Sardar ,allabhbhai $atel
<ardar 0a!!a'h'hai ate! Date of Birth : Oct 31, 189A Date of Death : Dec 1A, 19A0 !ace of Birth : G"#arat 0a!!a'h'hai Jha/er'hai ate! &as 'orn at his materna! "nc!e-s ho"se in Cadiad, G"#arat+ (is act"a! date of 'irth &as ne/er officia!!) recorded ? ate! entered Octo'er 31st as his date of 'irth on his matric"!ation e:amination .a.ers+ (e &as the fo"rth son of Jha/er'hai and Dad'a ate!, and !i/ed in the /i!!a1e of Karamsad, in the Kheda district+ <oma'hai, Carsi'hai and 0itha!'hai ate! $a!so a f"t"re .o!itica! !eader% &ere his e!der 'rothers+ (e had a )o"n1er 'rother, Kashi'hai, and a sister, Dahi'a+ ate! he!.ed his father in the fie!ds, and 'imonth!) 3e.t a da)2!on1 fast, a'stainin1 from food and &ater ? a c"!t"ra! o'ser/ance that ena'!ed him to de/e!o. .h)sica! to"1heness+ (e entered schoo! !ate ? .arenta! attention &as foc"sed on the e!dest 'rothers, th"s !eadin1 to a de1ree of ne1!ect of ate!-s ed"cation+ ate! tra/e!!ed to attend schoo!s in Cadiad, et!ad and Borsad, !i/in1 se!f2s"fficient!) &ith other 'o)s+ (e too3 his matric"!ation at the !ate a1e of 227 at this .oint, he &as 1enera!!) re1arded ') his e!der re!ati/es as an "nam'itio"s man destined for a common.!ace #o'+ B"t ate! himse!f har'ored a .!an ? he &o"!d .ass the !eader-s e:amination and 'ecome a !a&)er+ (e &o"!d then set aside f"nds, tra/e! to =n1!and, then train to 'ecome a 'arrister+
-. Bal Gangadhar .ila(
Ba! Gan1adhar 6i!a3 Date of Birth : J"! 23, 18A6 Date of Death : 1920 !ace of Birth : Maharashtra Ba! Gan1adhar 6i!a3, &as an *ndian nationa!ist, socia! reformer and freedom fi1hter &ho &as the first .o."!ar !eader of the *ndian *nde.endence Mo/ement+ 6i!a3 s.ar3ed the fire for com.!ete inde.endence in *ndian conscio"sness, and is considered the father of (ind" nationa!ism as &e!!+ <&ara# is m) 'irthri1ht, and * sha!! ha/e itK 6his famo"s G"ote of his is /er) .o."!ar and &e!!2remem'ered in *ndia e/en toda)+ 8e/erent!) addressed as Do3man)a $meanin1 4Be!o/ed of the .eo.!e5 or 48e/ered ') the &or!d5%, 6i!a3 &as a scho!ar of *ndian histor), <ans3rit, (ind"ism, mathematics and astronom)+ (e &as 'orn on J"!) 23, 18A6, in a /i!!a1e near 8atna1iri, Maharashtra, into a midd!e c!ass ,hit.a/an Brahmin fami!)+ 6i!a3 &as an a/id st"dent &ith a s.ecia! a.tit"de for mathematics+ (e &as amon1 *ndia-s first 1eneration of )o"th to recei/e a modern, co!!e1e ed"cation+ @fter 1rad"ation, 6i!a3 'e1an teachin1 mathematics in a .ri/ate schoo! in "ne and !ater 'ecame a #o"rna!ist+ (e 'ecame a stron1 critic of the Festern ed"cation s)stem, fee!in1 it demeanin1 to *ndian st"dents and disres.ectf"! to *ndia-s herita1e+ (e or1ani>ed the Deccan =d"cation <ociet) to im.ro/e the G"a!it) of ed"cation for *ndia-s )o"th+ 6i!a3 fo"nded the Marathi dai!) Kesari $6he Dion% &hich fast 'ecame a .o."!ar readin1 for the common .eo.!e of *ndia+ 6i!a3 stron1!) critici>ed the 1o/ernment for its 'r"ta!ism in s"..ression of free e:.ression, es.ecia!!) in face of .rotests a1ainst the di/ision of Ben1a! in 190A, and for deni1ratin1 *ndia-s c"!t"re, its .eo.!e and herita1e+ (e demanded the British immediate!) 1i/e the ri1ht to se!f21o/ernment to *ndia-s .eo.!e+ 6i!a3 #oined the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress in the 1890s, '"t soon fe!! into o..osition of its !i'era!2moderate attit"de to&ards the fi1ht for se!f21o/ernment+ 6i!a3 o..osed the moderate /ie&s of Go.a! Krishna Go3ha!e, and &as s"..orted ') fe!!o& *ndian nationa!ists Bi.in ,handra a! in Ben1a! and Da!a Da#.at 8ai in "n#a'+ *n 1909, the ,on1ress art) s.!it into the Garam Da! $!itera!!), 4(ot Eaction5%, !ed ') 6i!a3, a! and Da#.at 8ai, and the Caram Da! $!itera!!), 4<oft Eaction5% !ed ') Go3ha!e d"rin1 its con/ention at <"rat in G"#arat+ Fhen arrested on char1es of sedition in 1906, 6i!a3 as3ed a )o"n1 Mohammad @!i Jinnah to re.resent him+ B"t the British #"d1e con/icted him and he &as im.risoned from 1908 to 1914 in Manda!a), B"rma+ ;.on his re!ease, 6i!a3 re2 "nited &ith his fe!!o& nationa!ists and re2"nited the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress in 1916+ (e a!so he!.ed fo"nd the @!! *ndia (ome 8"!e Dea1"e in 1916218 &ith @nnie Besant and
Mohammad @!i Jinnah+ 6i!a3 .ro.osed /ario"s socia! reforms, s"ch as a minim"m a1e for marria1e, and &as es.ecia!!) 3een to see a .rohi'ition .!aced on the sa!e of a!coho!+ (is tho"1hts on ed"cation and *ndian .o!itica! !ife ha/e remained hi1h!) inf!"entia! ? he &as the first ,on1ress !eader to s"11est that (indi, &ritten in the de/ana1ari scri.t, sho"!d 'e acce.ted as the so!e nationa! !an1"a1e of *ndia, a .o!ic) that &as !ater stron1!) endorsed ') Mahatma Gandhi+ (o&e/er, =n1!ish, &hich 6i!a3 &ished to remo/e com.!ete!) from the *ndian mind, remains an im.ortant means of comm"nication in *ndia+ B"t the "sa1e of (indi $and other *ndian !an1"a1es% has 'een reinforced and &ide!) enco"ra1ed since the da)s of the British 8a#, and 6i!a3-s !e1ac) is often credited &ith this res"r1ence+ @nother of the ma#or contri'"tions re!ates to the .ro.a1ation of <ar/a#ani3 $."'!ic% Ganesh festi/a!, o/er 10211 da)s from Bhadra.ada <h"3!a $Ganesh% ,hat"rthi to $@nant% ,hat"rdashi $in @"1L<e.t s.an%, &hich contri'"ted for .eo.!e to 1et to1ether and ce!e'rate the festi/a! and .ro/ided a 1ood .!atform for !eaders to ins.ire masses+ (is ca!! for 'o)cott of forei1n 1oods a!so ser/ed to ins.ire .atriotism amon1 *ndian masses+ 6i!a3 &as a critic of Mahatma Gandhi-s strate1) of non2/io!ent, ci/i! diso'edience+ @!tho"1h once considered an e:tremist re/o!"tionar), in his !ater )ears 6i!a3 had considera'!) me!!o&ed+ (e fa/ored .o!itica! dia!o1"e and disc"ssions as a more effecti/e &a) to o'tain .o!itica! freedom for *ndia, and did not s"..ort !ea/in1 the British =m.ire+ (o&e/er, 6i!a3 is considered in man) &a)s to ha/e created the nationa!ist mo/ement in *ndia, ') e:.andin1 the str"11!e for .o!itica! freedoms and se!f2 1o/ernment to the common .eo.!e of *ndia+ (is &ritin1s on *ndian c"!t"re, histor) and (ind"ism s.read a sense of herita1e and .ride amon1st mi!!ions of *ndians for *ndia-s ancient ci/i!i>ation and 1!or) as a nation+ 6i!a3 &as considered the .o!itica! and s.irit"a! !eader of *ndia ') man), and Gandhi is considered his s"ccessor+ Fhen 6i!a3 died in 1920, Gandhi .aid his res.ects at his cremation in Bom'a), a!on1 &ith 200,000 .eo.!e+ Gandhi ca!!ed 6i!a3 46he Ma3er of Modern *ndia5+ 6i!a3 is a!so toda) considered the father of (ind" Cationa!ism+ (e &as the ido! of *ndian re/o!"tionar) 0ina)a3 Damodar <a/ar3ar, &ho .enned the .o!itica! doctrine of (ind"t/a+
1/. Go0al Krishna Go(hale
Go.a! Krishna Go3ha!e Date of Birth : Ma) 9, 1866 Date of Death : 191A !ace of Birth : Maharashtra Go.a! Krishna Go3ha!e &as 'orn on Ma) 9, 1866, in 8atna1iri, Maharashtra, and he 'ecame one of the most !earned men in *ndia, a !eader of socia! and .o!itica! reformists and one of the ear!iest, fo"ndin1 !eaders of the *ndian *nde.endence Mo/ement+ Go3ha!e &as a senior !eader of the *ndian Cationa! ,on1ress and the <er/ants of *ndia <ociet)+ 6he !atter &as committed to on!) socia! reform, '"t the ,on1ress art) in Go3ha!e-s time &as the main /ehic!e for *ndian .o!itica! re.resentation+ Go3ha!e &as a 1reat, ear!) *ndian cham.ion for ."'!ic ed"cation+ Bein1 one of the first 1enerations of *ndians to recei/e co!!e1e ed"cation, Go3ha!e &as res.ected &ide!) in the nascent *ndian inte!!ec"ta! comm"nit) and acoss *ndia, &hose .eo.!e !oo3ed ". to him as the !east e!itist of ed"cated *ndians+ ,omin1 from a 'ac31ro"nd of .o/ert), Go3ha!e &as a rea! man of the .eo.!e, a hero to )o"n1 *ndians disco/erin1 the ne& a1e and the .ros.ects of the comin1 20th cent"r)7 he &or3ed amon1st common *ndians to enco"ra1e ed"cation, sanitation and ."'!ic de/e!o.ment+ (e acti/e!) s.o3e a1ainst i1norance, casteism and "nto"cha'i!it) in *ndian societ)+ Go3ha!e &as a!so re."ted for &or3in1 for tr"st and friendshi. 'et&een (ind" and M"s!im comm"nities+ *t sho"!d 'e remem'ered that Go3ha!e &as a .ioneer in this &or3, ne/er done 'efore in *ndian histor) ') *ndians+ @!on1 &ith distin1"ished co!!ea1"es !i3e Ba! Gan1adhar 6i!a3, Dada'hai Caoro#i, Bi.in ,handra a!, Da!a Da#.at 8ai and @nnie Besant, Go3ha!e fo"1ht for decades to o'tain 1reater .o!itica! re.resentation and .o&er o/er ."'!ic affairs for common *ndians+ (e &as moderate in his /ie&s and attit"des, and so"1ht to .etition the British a"thorities, c"!ti/ate a .rocess of dia!o1"e and disc"ssion &hich &o"!d )ie!d 1reater British res.ect for *ndian ri1hts+ *n 1906, he and 6i!a3 &ere the res.ecti/e !eaders of the moderates and e:tremists $no& 3no&n ') the more .o!itica!!) correct term,-a11ressi/e nationa!ists-% in the ,on1ress+ 6i!a3 ad/ocated ci/i! a1itation and direct re/o!"tion to o/erthro& the British =m.ire, and the ,on1ress art) s.!it into t&o &in1s+ 6he t&o sides &o"!d .atch ". in 1916+ Go3ha!e did not s"..ort e:.!icit *ndian inde.endence, for s"ch an idea &as not e/en "nderstood or e:.ressed "nti! after the For!d Far *+ Go.a! Krishna Go3ha!e-s 'i11est contri'"tion to *ndia &as as a teacher, n"rt"rer of a &ho!e ne& 1eneration of !eaders conscio"s to their res.onsi'i!ities to a &ider nation+ Go3ha!e &as famo"s!) a mentor to a )o"n1 'arrister &ho had 'een '!ooded in the &or3 of re/o!"tion in <o"th @frica a fe& )ears ear!ier+ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi recei/ed 1reat &armth and hos.ita!it) from Go3ha!e, inc!"din1 .ersona! 1"idance, 3no&!ed1e and "nderstandin1 of *ndia, the iss"es of common *ndians and *ndian .o!itics+ B) 1920, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi &o"!d 'ecome 3no&n as Mahatma Gandhi, and ad the !eader of nationa!ist *ndians and the !ar1est non2/io!ent re/o!"tion in the histor) of the &or!d+ (o&e/er, Go3ha!e himse!f died in 191A+ *n his a"to'io1ra.h), Gandhi ca!!s Go3ha!e his mentor and 1"ide, &hi!e Mohammed @!i Jinnah, the f"t"re fo"nder of a3istan, in 1912 &anted to 'ecome the 4M"s!im Go3ha!e,5 4@m'assador of (ind"2 M"s!im ;nit)+5
