1.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak Born: 23 July 1856 Passed Away: 1 August 1920 Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and strongest advocates of Swaraj (Self Rule). He was universally recognized as the "Father of Indian Movement". Tilak was a b rilliant politician as well as a profound scholar who believed that independence is the foremost necessity for the well being of a nation.Bal Gangadhar Tilak wa s born on July 22, 1856 in a middle class family in Ratnagiri, a small coastal t own in southwestern Maharashtra. Tilak's father, Gangadhar Shastri, was a noted Sanskrit scholar and school teacher at Ratnagiri. His mother's name was Paravti Bai Gangadhar. In 1886, following his father's transfer, the entire family shift ed to Poona. Tilak was a brilliant student and also very good in mathematics. Since his child hood, Tilak had an intolerant attitude towards injustice and he was truthful and straightforward in nature. Though, he was among the India's first generation of youth to receive a modern, college education Tilak was a critic of the educatio nal system, the British had provided for the Indians. According to him, the educ ation was not at all adequate. After graduating from Deccan College, Pune in 187 7, Tilak also cleared the L.L.B. from the Elphinston College, Mumbai. Later, he helped found a school that laid emphasis on nationalism. 2. Bhagat Singh Born: September 27, 1907 Passed Away: March 23, 1931 Bhagat Singh was among the prominent revolutionaries who shaped the base of a gr and national movement. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporter s and followers of Bhagat Singh regarded him as a "Shaheed", "martyr".Bhagat Sin gh was born on 27 September 1907 at Banga in Lyallpur district (now Pakistan) to Kishan Singh and Vidya Vati. From his early childhood, Bhagat Singh was imbued with the family's spirit of patriotism. At the time of his birth, his father Kis han Singh was in jail. His uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh, was a great freedom fighter and established the Indian Patriots' Association. He was well-supported by his friend Syed Haidar Raza, in organizing the peasants against the Chenab Canal Col ony Bill. Ajit Singh had 22 cases against him and was forced to flee to Iran. Bh agat Singh was considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of I ndian Nationalist Movement. He became involved with numerous revolutionary organ izations. Kishan Singh enrolled Bhagat Singh in Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School. At a ver y young age, Bhagat Singh started following Non-Cooperation Movement called by M ahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh had openly defied the British and had followed Gandh i's wishes by burning the government-sponsored books. Following the violent inci dents of "Chauri Chaura", Gandhi called for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperatio n movement. Unhappy with the decision, Bhagat Singh, isolated himself from Gandh i's nonviolent action and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement. He was pursui ng B.A. examination when his parents planned to have him married. He vehemently rejected the suggestion and said that, if his marriage was to take place in Slav e-India, my bride shall be only death." Singh later joined the Hindustan Republi can Association, a radical group, later known as the Hindustan Socialist Republi can Association. He returned to his home in Lahore after assurances from his par ents that he would not be compelled to get married. He established contact with the members of the Kirti Kisan Party and started contributing regularly to its m agazine, the "Kirti". In March 1926, the Naujawan Bharat Sabha was formed with B hagat Singh, as its secretary. On 30 October 1928, an all-parties procession, le d by Lala Lajpat Rai, marched towards the Lahore railway station to protest agai nst the arrival of the Simon Commission. Stopping the procession, police made a lathi charge at the activists. The confrontation left Lala Lajpat Rai with sever e injuries and also led to his death. As an avenge to the death of Lala Lajpat R ai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of Scott, the Supe rintendent of Police, believed to have ordered the lathi charge. The revolutiona ries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead. Bhagat Singh quickly left Lahore to escape his arrest. To av oid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of the sacred

tenets of Sikhism. 3. Jawaharlal Nehru Born: 14 November 1889 Passed Away: 27 May 1964 Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was a mem ber the Congress Party that led the freedom movement against British Empire. Neh ru was one of the architects who had the opportunity to steer the newly freed-na tion. He was also the chief framer of domestic and international policies betwee n 1947 and 1964. It was under Nehru's supervision that India launched its first Five-Year Plan in 1951. Nehru's predominant roles in substantiating India's role in the foundation of institutions like NAM had surprised the then stalwarts of international politics. He advocated the policy of Non-Alignment during the cold war and India, subsequently, kept itself aloof from being in the process of "gl obal bifurcation". In 1916, Nehru participated in the Lucknow Session of the Con gress. There, after a very long time, member of both the extremist and moderate factions of the Congress party had come. All the members equivocally agreed to t he demand for "swaraj" (self rule). Although the means of the two sections were different, the motive was "common" - freedom. In 1921 Nehru was imprisoned for participating in the first civil disobedience c ampaign as general secretary of the United Provinces Congress Committee. The lif e in the jail helped him in understanding the philosophy followed by Gandhi and others associated with the movement. He was moved by Gandhi's approach of dealin g with caste and "untouchablity". With the passing of every minute, Nehru was em erging as a popular leader, particularly in Northern India. In 1922, some of the prominent members including his father Motilal Nehru had left the congress and launched the "Swaraj Party". The decision, no doubt upset Jawahar but he rejecte d the possibility of leaving the Congress party. He was also elected as the pres ident of the Allahabad municipal corporation in 1920. 4. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Born: January 23, 1897 Death: Not known Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter of India. He was the founder o f the Indian National Army. During pre-independence period Netaji had visited Lo ndon to discuss the future of India, with the members of the Labor party. His su dden disappearance from Taiwan, led to surfacing of various theories, concerning the possibilities of his survival. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 J anuary, 1897 in Cuttack (Orissa) to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. Subhash was the ninth child among eight brothers and six sisters. His father, Janakinat h Bose, was an affluent and successful lawyer in Cuttack and received the title of "Rai Bahadur". He, later became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council. S ubhash Chandra Bose was a very intelligent and sincere student but never had muc h interest in sports. He passed his B.A. in Philosophy from the Presidency Colle ge in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. He also adored Vivekananda as his spiritual Guru. During the Second World War in September, 1939, Subhash Chandra Bose decided to initiate a mass movement. He started uniting people from all ov er the country. There was a tremendous response to his call and the British prom ptly imprisoned him. In jail, he refused to accept food for around two weeks. Wh en his health condition deteriorated, fearing violent reactions across the count ry, the authority put him under house-arrest. During his house-arrest, in Januar y, 1941, Subhash made a planned escape. He first went to Gomoh in Bihar and from there he went on to Peshawar (now, Pakistan). He finally reached Germany and me t Hitler. Bose had been living together with his wife Emilie Schenkl in Berlin. In 1943, Bose left for south-east Asia and raised the army. The group was later named by Bose, as the Indian National Army (INA). 5. Chandrasekhar Azad Born: July 23, 1906 Passed A way: February 27, 1931 A contemporary of Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad was a born firebrand revoluti onary. He engaged in a heroic battle against the British. His role was crucial i n inspiring the others of his generation to participate in the national movement for freedom. Chandrasekhar Azad was born to Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi on July 23, 1906 in Badarka (Unnao). His original name was Chandrasekhar Ti

wari. He received his early schooling in Bhavra District in Jhabua, Madhya Prade sh. For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi. Chandrash ekhar was deeply troubled by the Jalianwalabagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Az ad, at an age of 15, got involved in the revolutionary activities. He was caught by the British police while participating in the non-cooperation movement and s entenced to. whiplashes as punishment. When the magistrate asked him his name, h e said "Azad" (independence). From that point onwards, Chandrashekhar assumed th e title of Azad and came to be known as Chandrashekhar Azad. Following the Cha uri-Chaura incident, in which police stations were vandalized and burnt by the a ctivists, Mahatma Gandhi called for the suspension of the non-cooperation moveme nt. Azad, along with Bhagat Singh distanced themselves from the paths of Gandhi. They were more attracted by the aggressive and violent revolutionary ideals and means. Towards this end, they formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Associa tion and trained the revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Batukeshwar Dut t, and Rajguru. Azad was instrumental in carrying out numerous acts of violence. This includes the Kakori Train Robbery in 1926, assassination of John Poyantz S aunders in 1928 at Lahore to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. How important his role was in the freedom struggle of India can be understood by the fact that the British police badly wanted to nab him dead or alive. On Febr uary 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad while meeting with friends at Alfred Park, All ahabad, and the police surrounded the park and asked Chandrashekhar Azad to surr ender. Azad fought alone and valiantly and killed three policemen but after near ly exhausting his ammunition and foreseeing no means of escape, he shot himself in the head with his last bullet. He was reportedly betrayed by an informer. Aft er the independence, to commemorate Chandrashekhar Azad, Alfred Park was renamed Chandrashekhar Azad Park. The patriotism of Azad, Rajguru, Pandit Ram Prasad Ba sil and Ashfaqula Khan was depicted in Rang De Besant, a contemporary Bollywood film starring Aimer Khan that was released in February 2006. 6. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Birth : Dec 3, 1884 Death : Feb 28, 1963 Place of Birth : Zeradei, Bihar Tenure Order : 1st President Took Office : Jan 26, 1950 Left Office : May 13, 1962 Successor : Dr.S Radhakrishnan Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India. Rajendra Prasad was a grea t freedom-fighter, and the architect of the Indian Constitution, having served a s President of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution of the Rep ublic from 1948 to 1950. He had also served as a Cabinet Minister briefly in the first Government of Independent India. He was a crucial leader of the Indian In dependence Movement. Prasad was born in Jiradei, in the Siwan district of Bihar. His father, Mahadev Sahay, was a Persian and Sanskrit language scholar; his mot her, Kamleshwari Devi, was a devout lady who would tell stories from the Ramayan a to her son. At the age of 5, the young Rajendra Prasad was sent to a Maulavi f or learning Persian. After that he was sent to Chapra Zilla School for further p rimary studies.