Veeranganas Of The Nation
- PM in his independence day speech underlined the role of women-veeranganas - in our freedom movement.
- The initiative highlighting the brave women of our freedom struggle, under the broader celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, will mark a turning point in Indian feminist history
Current Sources
- The historical memories of courage and sacrifice are preserved in folktales, songs and regional lore.
- They reveal the less-celebrated character of Indian society, in which women's power was acknowledged.
- The PM paid tribute not only to celebrated women but also to unsung veeranganas.
Fighters PM Mentioned
- Rani Lakshmi Bai: First woman warrior of the revolt of 1857, is known to every young woman in India.
- Begum Hazrat Mahal: Took the battlefields along with Lakshmi Bai in 1857 and fought the British.
- Durgawati Devi: Remembered as the "Agni of India",was an armed revolutionary and active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and a close associate of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.
- Jhalkari Bai: Tales of bravery have travelled far and wide. Her story presents a social reality where even a Dalit woman had acquired social and cultural significance.
- Uda Devi: also belonged to the Dalit community from Awadh.
- Asha Devi Gurjari: Led women in a bid to restore the political self-respect of the motherland.
Conclusion
- These stories of the valour of veeranganas were not limited to any time or area.
- They are rather of a piece with the national consciousness of the times.