national leaders of india essay in english

15 Great Leaders of Modern India Who Changed History

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India is an extremely diverse country which houses different communities and a rich history, and we have had some incredible leaders who have inspired us through the decades. They all have contributed to the foundation of the nation through their different roles, and continue to be sources of inspiration for many. Here are 15 of the great leaders of India we think you should always remember.

1. Dr B.R. Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political figure who served as the chairman of the committee that drafted the Constitution of India from the discussions in the Constituent Assembly. He also held the position of Law and Justice Minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s first cabinet and, after renunciating Hinduism, served as an inspiration for the Dalit Buddhist movement. Ambedkar received the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously in 1990. Followers honour him with the salutation Jai Bhim. Additionally, he goes by the title Babasaheb. He is an unforgettable name when it comes to mentioning the great leaders of India.

2. APJ Abdul Kalam

Scientist in aerospace and statesman Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam led India as its 11th president from 2002 to 2007. He studied physics and aeronautical engineering and was nurtured in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. He worked as a scientist and science administrator for the following four decades, primarily at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He was heavily involved in both India’s efforts to develop military missiles and its civilian space programme. As a result of his contributions to the advancement of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology, he earned the moniker “Missile Man of India.” He also had a significant organisational, technical, and political involvement in India’s 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests, which were the country’s first since its initial test in 1974.

3. Mahatma Gandhi

The victorious struggle for India’s independence from British control was led by Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who later served as an inspiration for movements for civil rights and freedom around the globe. In 1914, in South Africa, the title Mahtm (Sanskrit: “great-souled,” “venerable”) was first used to refer to him. Gandhi’s birthday, 2 October, is observed as an international day of nonviolence and as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday in India. Gandhi was known as Bapu and is regarded as the Father of the Nation in India, though not formally. It would be remiss to not mention Gandhi when compiling a list of the great leaders of India.

4. C. Rajagopalachari

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was a statesman, author, lawyer, and champion for Indian independence. Rajagopalachari served as India’s final governor general before it became a republic in 1950. Additionally, he was the first governor-general who was born in India; all previous occupants of the position were British nationals. Aside from leading the Indian National Congress, he also held the positions of premier of the Madras Presidency, governor of West Bengal, minister of home affairs for the Indian Union, and chief minister of the state of Madras. Rajagopalachari was one of the first individuals to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. He also created the Swatantra Party. He was a strong supporter of world peace and disarmament and fiercely opposed the use of nuclear weapons. Throughout his life, he also picked up the moniker “Mango of Salem.”

5. Sardar Vallabhai Patel

The first Deputy Prime Minister of India and the country’s first Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, also known as Sardar, was an Indian lawyer, prominent political figure, lawyer, and statesman who served from 1947 to 1950. He is sometimes referred to as “Unifying India.” At a cost of USD 420 million, the Indian government built the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, which was dedicated to him on October 31, 2018. Its height is roughly 182 metres (597 feet). He was a lawyer and a prominent member of the Indian National Congress who led the country’s independence movement and oversaw its fusion into a single, sovereign state.

6. Jawaharlal Nehru

A major personality in India throughout the middle of the 20th century, Jawaharlal Nehru was an anti-colonial patriot, secular humanist, social democrat, and author. In the 1930s and 1940s, Nehru was a key figure in the Indian nationalist movement. He presided over India for 16 years after the country gained its independence in 1947. Nehru greatly influenced India’s development into a modern nation in the 1950s by promoting parliamentary democracy, secularism, science, and technology. He kept India out of the Cold War’s two blocs in foreign affairs. He was a respected novelist who wrote several works while incarcerated, including The Discovery of India (1946), An Autobiography, and Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929).

7. Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, commonly referred to as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and a foremost name among the great leaders of India, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and was a prominent member of the order. Despite having the name Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu on her passport, she was actually born Anjez Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in the North Macedonian city of Üsküb (now Skopje). She migrated to Ireland and subsequently India after spending eighteen years there in Skopje, where she spent the majority of her life.

8. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

As India’s 10th prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an Indian politician and diplomat who held office for three terms: for 13 days in 1996, for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004. One of the Bharat Janata Party’s co-founders and a prominent figure, Vajpayee (BJP). He belonged to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a group of volunteers with Hindu nationalist views. He was the first Indian prime minister to hold office for the whole duration who was not a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a well-known writer and poet.

9. R.K. Laxman

Indian cartoonist, artist, and humorist Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman created these works. His best-known works are The Common Man, which he created, and You Said It, a daily cartoon that he began publishing in The Times of India in 1951. R. K. Laxman began his career as a part-time cartoonist, primarily for regional publications and newspapers. He drew his older brother R. K. Narayan’s stories for The Hindu while still a college student. Political cartoonist for The Free Press Journal in Mumbai, that was his first full-time position. Later, he joined The Times of India, where he rose to fame as the fictional character known as The Common Man. This proved to be the turning point in Laxman’s life.

10. Baba Amte

Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, better known by his stage name Baba Amte, is well renowned for his work in the rehabilitation and empowerment of leprosy patients. He has won various honours and accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan, the Templeton Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Dr. Ambedkar International Award, and the Jamnalal Bajaj Award. He is frequently referred to be India’s contemporary Gandhi, and an unforgettable mention among the great leaders of India.

11. Homi J Bhabha

Homi Jehangir Bhabha, FRS, was an Indian nuclear physicist who founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and served as its founding director and professor of physics (TIFR). Bhabha was the founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), which is now known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour. He is also known colloquially as the “Father of the Indian Nuclear Program.” The cornerstones of Indian nuclear weapon development, which Bhabha also oversaw as director, were TIFR and AEET. The Adams Prize (1942) and the Padma Bhushan were given to Homi Bhabha (1954). In 1951 and 1953–1956, he was again a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physics.

12. Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali was a publisher, political activist, and educator from India. She was an ardent member of the fight for Indian independence, and she is well known for raising the Indian National flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay in 1942, during the Quit India Movement. She continued involved in politics after independence and was elected as Delhi’s first Mayor.

13. Asima Chatterjee

Asima Chatterjee was an Indian organic chemist known for her contributions to phytomedicine and organic chemistry. Her study on vinca alkaloids, invention of anti-epileptic medications, and creation of anti-malarial medications are some of her most well-known accomplishments. She also wrote a sizable amount of material about Indian subcontinental medicinal plants. She was the first female to be awarded a doctorate in science by a university in India.

14. Mahashweta Devi

An activist and Bengali writer from India, Mahasweta Devi. Rudali, Aranyer Adhikar, and Hajar Churashir Maa are some of her best-known literary works. She was a socialist who fought for the liberation and empowerment of the Lodha and Shabar tribespeople in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. She received numerous literary honours, including the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan, India’s civilian honours, the Jnanpith Award, and the Sahitya Akademi Award (in Bengali). She has been hailed among the great leaders of India for decades.

15. Ela Bhatt

Ela Ramesh Bhatt founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) in 1972 and held the position of general secretary for the organisation from 1972 until 1996. She is an Indian cooperative organiser, activist, and supporter of Gandhi. She is the Gujarat Vidyapith’s current chancellor. Bhatt, a lawyer by profession, has received numerous national and international honours, including the Padma Bhushan, the Right Livelihood Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the Right Livelihood Award for “assisting home-based producers to organise for their welfare and self-respect” (1986).

We hope we reminded you of these great names who have led our nation’s progress through their own journeys. They will continue to be extremely inspiring for all of us throughout the decades that have gone by and the decades to come.

Saptaparna likes movies and cats, and is socially awkward. She also likes giving random recommendations to uninterested people.

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Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation

Last updated on October 2, 2022 by ClearIAS Team

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was a lawyer, nationalist, and anti-colonial activist. He led a non-violent mass movement against the British rule of India which ultimately resulted in Indian independence .

Mahatma Gandhi is revered in India as the Father of the Nation.

Table of Contents

The early life of Mahatma Gandhi: Birth and Family

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 nd October 1869, in Porbandar in the princely state of Kathiawar in Gujarat.

His father was Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi who served as a dewan of Porbandar state. His mother was Putlibai who came from Junagadh. Mohandas was the youngest of four children. He had two brothers and a sister.

At age of 13, Mohandas was married to 14-year-old Kastubai Makhanji Kapadia as was the custom at that time.

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His father passed away in 1885, and the same year he and his wife lost their first child. The Gandhi couple later had four sons over the years.

Education of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi Ji received his primary education in Rajkot where his father had relocated as dewan to the ruler Thakur Sahib. He went to Alfred high school in Rajkot at the age of 11.

In 1887, at the age of 18, Gandhi Ji graduated from a high school in Ahmedabad. He later enrolled at a college in Bhavnagar but dropped out later. He had also joined and eventually dropped out of a college in Bombay.

He then went to London in 1888 to pursue law at the university college. After completing his studies, he was invited to be enrolled at Inner temple to become a barrister.

He returned to India in 1891 at the age of 22 after his mother passed away.

He failed to establish a successful law career both in Rajkot and Bombay.

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In 1893, he moved to Durban, South Africa, on a one-year contract to sort out the legal problems of Abdullah, a Gujarati merchant.

South Africa during the 1800s

The British had colonized and settled in the Natal and Cape provinces of South Africa during the 1840s and 50s. Transvaal and Orange Free State were independent Boer (British and Dutch settlers) ruled states. Boer means farmer settler in Dutch and Afrikaans. The governance of colonial regions (Natal and Cape) was controlled by the minority white population which enforced segregation between government-defined races in all spheres.

This created three societies- whites (British and Dutch or Boer ancestry), Blacks and Coloureds (mixed race) which included ethnic Asians (Indians, Malayans, Filipinos, and Chinese).

Indian immigration to South Africa began in the 1860s, when whites recruited indentured Indian labour (Girmityas), especially from south India, to work on sugar plantations. Later many Indian merchants, mostly meman Muslims also migrated. By the 1890s, the children of the ex-indentured labourers had settled down in South Africa making up the third group.

Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa

1893 : Mohandas Gandhi witnessed extreme apartheid or racial discrimination against Asians in South Africa. His journey from Durban to Pretoria witnessed the famous incident when he was thrown out of a first-class compartment by a white man at Pietermaritzburg station. Upon arriving at Johanessburg, he was refused rooms in the hotels.

These experiences motivated him to stay in South Africa for a longer period to organize the Indian workers to enable them to fight for their rights. He started teaching English to the Asian population there and tried to organize them to protest against the oppression.

1894: After the culmination of his Abdullah case in 1894, he stayed on there and planned to assist Indians in opposing a bill to deny them the right to vote. He founded the Natal Indian Congress and moulded the Indian community into a unified political force.

1899-1902: The Boer War

The Boer War extended Britain’s control from Natal and Cape Province to include Transvaal and Orange Free State.

During this time, Gandhi volunteered to form a group of stretcher-bearers as the Natal Indian ambulance corps. It consisted of indentured labourers and was funded by the Indian community and helped treatment and evacuation of wounded British soldiers.

Gandhi Ji thought that helping the British war efforts would win over the British imperial government and earn sympathy for the plight of Indians there. He was also awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal for serving the British empire.

Till 1906, it was the moderate phase of the struggle for the Indians in South Africa. During this time, Gandhi concentrated on petitioning and sending memorials to the legislatures, the colonial secretary in London, and the British parliament.

1906: The Civil Disobedience in South Africa

The failure of moderate methods led to the second phase of the struggle, civil disobedience or the Satyagraha.

He started two settlements- the Phoenix settlement in Durban and the Tolstoy farm in Johanessburg for helping the needy and initiate a communal living tradition.

His first notable resistance was against the law passed by the government, making it compulsory for Indians to take out certifications of registrations that held their fingerprints and was compulsory to carry it on the person at all times. Gandhi formed a Passive Resistance Association against this.

Gandhi and his followers were jailed. Later the government agreed to withdraw the law if Indians voluntarily registered. They were tricked into the registrations and they protested again by publicly burning their certificates.

1908: The existing campaign expanded to protest against the new law to restrict migrations of Indians between provinces. Gandhi and others were jailed and sentenced to hard physical labour.

1910: Gandhi Ji set up the Tolstoy farm in Johannesburg to ready the satyagrahis to the harsh conditions of the prison hence helping to keep the resistance moving forward.

1911: Gopal Krishna Gokhale visited South Africa as a state guest on the occasion of the coronation of King George V. Gokhale and Gandhi met at Durban and established a good relationship.

1913: The satyagraha continued against varied oppressive laws brought by the government. The movement against the law invalidating marriages not conducted according to Christian rites brought out many Indian women onto the movement.

Gandhi launched a final mass movement of over 2000 men, women, and children. They were jailed and forced into miserable conditions and hard labour. This caused the whole Indian community in South Africa to rise on strike.

In India, Gokhale worked to make the public aware of the situation in South Africa which led the then Viceroy Hardinge to call for an inquiry into the atrocities.

A series of negotiations took place between Gandhiji, Viceroy Hardinge, CR Andrews (Christian missionary and Indian Independence activist), and General Smuts of South Africa. This led to the government conceding to most of the Indians’ demands.

Gandhiji’s return to India: 1915

1915: On the request of Gokhale, conveyed by CF Andrews (Deenbandhu), Gandhi Ji returned to India to help with the Indian struggle for independence .

The last phase of the Indian National movement is known as the Gandhian era.

Mahatma Gandhi became the undisputed leader of the National Movement. His principles of nonviolence and Satyagraha were employed against the British government. Gandhi made the nationalist movement a mass movement.

On returning to India in 1915, Gandhi toured the country for one year on Gokhale’s insistence. He then established an ashram in Ahmedabad to settle his phoenix family.

He first took up the cause of indentured labour in India thus continuing his fight in South Africa to abolish it.

Gandhiji joined the Indian National Congress and was introduced to Indian issues and politics and Gokhale became his political Guru.

1917: At this point, World war I was going on, and Britain and France were in a difficult position. Germany had inflicted a crushing defeat on both the British and French troops in France.

Russia’s war effort had broken down and the revolution was threatening its government.

America had entered the war but no American troops had yet reached the war front.

The British army required reinforcements urgently and they looked to India for participation. Viceroy Chelmsford had invited various Indian leaders to attend a war conference. Gandhi was also invited and he went to Delhi to attend the conference.

After attending the viceroy’s war conference Gandhiji agreed to support the recruitment of Indians in the British war effort. He undertook a recruitment campaign in Kaira district, Gujarat.

He again believed that support from Indians will make the British government look at their plight sympathetically after the war.

Early movements by Gandhiji

Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, and Ahmedabad Mill Strike were the early movements of Gandhi before he was elevated into the role of a national mass leader.

1917: Champaran Satyagraha

Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first civil disobedience movement organized by Gandhiji. Rajkumar Shukla asked Gandhi to look into the problems of the Indigo planters.

The European planters had been forcing passengers to grow Indigo on a 3/20 of the total land called the tinkatiya system.

Gandhi organized passive resistance or civil disobedience against the tinkatiya system. Finally, the authorities relented and permitted Gandhi to make inquiries among the peasants. The government appointed a committee to look into the matter and nominated Gandhi as a member.

Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, and other eminent lawyers became inspired by Gandhi and volunteered to fight for the Indigo farmers in court for free.

Gandhi was able to convince the authorities to abolish the system and the peasants were compensated for the illegal dues extracted from them.

1918: Kheda satyagraha

The Kheda Satyagraha was the first noncooperation movement organized by Gandhi.

Because of the drought in 1918 crops failed in the Kheda district of Gujarat. According to the revenue code if the yield was less than one-fourth of the normal produced the farmers for entitled to remission. Gujarat sabha sent a petition requesting revenue assessment for the year 1919 but the authorities refused to grant permission.

Gandhi supported the peasants’ cause and asked them to withhold revenue. During the Satyagraha, many young nationalists such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Indulal Yagnik became Gandhi’s followers.

Sardar Patel led a group of eminent people who went around villages and gave them political advisors and instructions.

The government finally agreed to form an agreement with the farmers and hence the taxes were suspended for the years 1919 and 1920 and all confiscated properties were returned.

1918: Ahmedabad mill strike

This was Gandhi’s first hunger strike. He intervened in a dispute between Mill owners of Ahmedabad and the workers over the issue of discontinuation of the plague bonus.

The workers were demanding a rise of 50% in their wages while the employees were willing to concede only a 20% bonus.

The striking workers turned to Anusuiya Sarabai in quest of justice and she contacted Gandhi for help. He asked the workers to go on a strike and to remain non-violent and undertook a fast unto death to strengthen the workers’ resolve.

The mill owners finally agreed to submit the issue to a tribunal and the strike was withdrawn in the end the workers receive a 35% increase in their wages.

Gandhiji’s active involvement in the Indian National Movement

Gandhi’s active involvement in the Indian Freedom Struggle was marked by many mass movements like the Khilafat Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement.

1919: Khilafat movement

During World War I Gandhi sought cooperation from the Muslims in his fight against the British by supporting the Ottoman Empire that had been defeated in the world war.

The British passed the Rowlatt act to block the movement. Gandhi called for a nationwide Satyagraha against the act.

It was Rowlatt Satyagraha that elevated Gandhi into a national leader. Rowlatt Satyagraha was against the unjust Rowlatt Act passed by the British.

On April 13th, 1919 the Jallianwala Bagh incident took place. Seeing the violence spread Mahatma Gandhi called off the civil disobedience movement on the 18th of April.

1920: Non-Cooperation Movement

Gandhi convinced the congress leaders to start a Non-Cooperation Movement in support of Khilafat as well as Swaraj. At the congress session of Nagpur in 1920, the non-cooperation program was adopted.

1922 : Chauri chaura incident took place, which caused Gandhi to withdraw from the non-cooperation movement.

After the non-cooperation movement ended, Gandhi withdrew from the political platform and focused on his social reform work.

1930:  The Salt March and The Civil Disobedience Movement

Gandhi declared that he would lead a march to break the salt law as the law gave the state the Monopoly on the manufacturer and the sale of salt.

Gandhi along with his followers marched from his ashram in Sabarmati to the coastal town of Dandi in Gujarat where they broke the government law by gathering natural salt and boiling seawater to produce salt.

This also marked the beginning of the civil disobedience movement.

1931 : The Gandhi Irwin pact

Gandhi accepted the truce offered by Irwin and called off the civil disobedience movement and agreed to attend the second round table conference in London as the representative of the Indian National Congress.

But when he returned from London he relaunched the civil disobedience movement but by 1934 it had lost its momentum.

1932 : Poona pact

This was a pact reached between B.R Ambedkar and Gandhi concerning the communal awards but in the end, strived to achieve a common goal for the upliftment of the marginalized communities of the Indian society.

1934 : Gandhi resigned from the Congress party membership as he did not agree with the party’s position on varied issues.

Gandhi returned to active politics in 1936 with the Lucknow session of Congress where Jawaharlal Nehru was the president.

1938 : Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose’s principles clashed during the Tripuri session which led to the Tripuri crisis in the Indian National Congress.

1942: Quit India movement

The outbreak of World war II and the last and crucial phase of national struggle in India came together.

The failure of the Cripps mission in 1942 gave rise to the Quit India movement.

Gandhi was arrested and held at Aga Khan Palace in Pune. During this time his wife Kasturba died after 18 months of imprisonment and in 1944 Gandhi suffered a severe malaria attack.

He was released before the end of the war on 6th May 1944. World war II was nearing an end and the British gave clear indications that power would be transferred to Indians hence Gandhi called off the struggle and all the political prisoners were released including the leaders of Congress.

Partition and independence

Gandhiji opposed the partition of India along religious lines.

While he and Congress demanded the British quit India the Muslim league demanded to divide and quit India.

All of Gandhi’s efforts to help Congress and the Muslim league reach an agreement to corporate and attain independence failed.

Gandhiji did not celebrate the independence and end of British rule but appealed for peace among his countrymen. He was never in agreement for the country to be partitioned.

His demeanour played a key role in pacifying the people and avoiding a Hindu-Muslim riot during the partition of the rest of India.

Death of Mahatma Gandhi

30th January 1948

Gandhiji was on his way to address a prayer meeting in the Birla House in New Delhi when Nathuram Godse fired three bullets into his chest from close range killing him instantly.

Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy

Throughout his life, in his principles practices, and beliefs, he always held on to non-violence and simple living. He influenced many great leaders and the nation respectfully addresses him as the father of the nation or Bapu.

He worked for the upliftment of untouchables and called them Harijan meaning the children of God.

Rabindranath Tagore is said to have accorded the title of Mahatma to Gandhi.

It was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who first addressed him as the Father of the Nation.

Gandhian Philosophy inspired millions of people across the world.

Many great world leaders like Nelson Mandela followed Gandhiji’s teachings and way of life. Hence, his impact on the global stage is still very profound.

Literary works of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhiji was a prolific writer and he has written many articles throughout his life. He edited several newspapers including Harijan in Gujarati, Indian opinion in South Africa, and Young India in English.

He also wrote several books including his autobiography “The Story Of My Experiments with Truth”.

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Reader Interactions

January 31, 2022 at 6:36 pm

Gandhi the greatest freedom fighter? It is an irony that Gandhi was a British stooge, he partitioned India and was responsible for death of millions of Hindus and Sikhs during partition. How he and Nehru got Bose eliminated is another story. He slept with many women by his own confession. He never went to kala Pani and enjoyed luxury of British even in jails in India.

January 31, 2022 at 7:14 pm

How is he ‘Father of nation’ ?? He is not even close to be a father of post-1947 India(It would be Bose anyday).And he is the one who did all kinds of absurd fantasies(mentioned in his own autobiography).His role in independence was MINIMAL ! His non-violence theory was hypocritic and foolish(teaching oppressed instead of oppressor!) And as AMBEDKAR rightly said ‘sometimes good cometh out of evil'(on jan 30th 1948)

March 26, 2024 at 11:47 am

So true …

Bro I literally agree with all of this…

May 20, 2022 at 1:37 pm

It is Bose who first gave the title of “Father of the Nation” to Gandhi.

Please try to look at things with an open mind.

May 26, 2022 at 11:15 am

Ck is wrong I think Mahatma Gandhi Is a TRUE LEADER.

November 26, 2023 at 8:36 pm

Gandhi the greatest freedom fighter

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Biographical Essay

Social essay, educational essay, political essay, economical essay, moral essay, netaji subhash chandra bose — my favourite national leader.

          Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 Jan, 1897 at Cuttack. In Matricula¬tion examination he stood second in the whole of the province. He secured the fourth position .in the Indian Civil Service Examination. He took the I.C.S. Examination to prove that Indians were in no way less capable than the Britishers. He had no desire to serve the British Imperialism and so resigned. What was foremost in his mind was the freedom for the country. It was he who gave the slogan of 'Delhi Chalo’.           In the beginning Netaji, as he was called, was attracted to Non-Co-operation Movement .and became a whole time worker of freedom movement. He became Chief Executive officer when Deshbandhu was the Mayor of Calcutta. He was so popular that the English regarded him a danger for their rule and framed up false charges against him. So the English deported him to Mandalay. He was released only when he was taken seriously ill. Netaji was extremist in his political thinking and so could not get along with Gandhi and Nehru on equal terms. In 1938 he was elected president of the Indian National Congress. In 1939 he was re-elected president of the INC inspite of the opposition by Mahatma Gandhi. He defeated the candidate of Mahatma Gandhi resulting in the hostile attitude of Gandhi and other senior leaders.           The break with Congress conferred a new status on him and he organized a separate political party, Forward Block. World War II broke out in 1939 and Netaji saw an opportunity for freedom of India. However, he was arrested on July 2,1940. He wrote a letter to the Governor of Bengal in which he wrote "The individual must die so that the nation may live. Today I must die that India may win freedom and glory." While he was under house-arrest in Calcutta, he escaped to Germany in the guise of a pathan and met with Hitler. He founded Free India Centers in Rome and Paris but soon left for far East when he heard of the success of Japanese against the British. The out-break of the war in the East in 1941 encouraged him to align himself with the enemies of the Britishers. Ras Bihari Bose & Captain Mohan Singh formed Indian National Army and handed over the charge to Netaji.           As a matter of fact, Netaji spread Indian Freedom Movement to South East Asia. He was hailed as Netaji, the supreme leader. Netaji declared his decision to form a Provisional Government of free India. It is there that he gave INA the rousing slogan of 'Delhi Chalo'. The provisional Government declared war against Britain and America. In a very short spell nine powers such as Japan, Germany China etc. accorded their recognition to the Provisional Government of Free India headed by Subhash Chandra Bose. Japan handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Neta ji. He renamed them as 'Shaheed' and 'Swaraj' Islands respectively. National Tri-colour of freedom was unfurled by him for the first time. The soldiers of INA fought bravely and reached up to Imphal in Manipur. But when the tide turned against Japanese, the INA had to retreat and was virtually defeated. The Indian Independence Movement in South East Asia met with unfortunate but brave end.

          Thus, Netaji has secured an immortal place of honour in the history of India. There are many myths about his death. Only time will reveal the truth about this great son of India. Who can forget the slogan he gave to Indians, "Give me blood; I shall give you freedom” Netaji made the Britishers realize that it was no more possible to take Indians for granted. So courageous he was that he made the INA truly representative by including the other half of India— the women. A women's wing in the INA was a symbolic fight for the emancipation of Indian women. His popularity was a sore not only in the eyes of the Britishers but also to the vested interests in the congress party. He believed that freedom obtained without blood-shed and sacrifices will never make the nation great. Unfortunately Netaji has not won respect and admiration from the state machinery of post independent India. Today his concept of true freedom has proved prophetically true.

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My Favourite Leader Essay

Leadership is an important aspect of any society, as good leaders help to provide direction, guidance, and organisation. Leaders can also help to bring about change and progress in a society by setting goals and working towards them. Leaders can also play a critical role in solving problems and conflicts that arise within a society. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘My Favourite Leader’.

100 Words On My Favourite Leader

My favourite leader, Mahatma Gandhi, was a beacon of hope and justice in a time of oppression. His unwavering dedication to the cause of Indian independence and the rights of the marginalised inspired countless individuals to join him in his fight for a better world. Gandhi's bravery and resilience in the face of adversity were nothing short of extraordinary. Despite facing discrimination and violence, he never wavered in his commitment to nonviolent resistance and always stood firm in his beliefs. His leadership style was truly visionary, as he believed in the power of the individual to bring about positive change and encouraged others to follow their own conscience. His message of unity and compassion transcended boundaries and brought people from all walks of life together towards a shared goal of creating a more just and equal society.

200 Words On My Favourite Leader

My favourite leader is Mahatma Gandhi who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights and independence of his people. Born in 1869 in Porbandar, India. Gandhi received an education in law in London before returning to India to practise. However, he was not content with simply being a successful lawyer and instead sought to bring about positive change in the world. Gandhi's political career began in South Africa, where he fought for the rights of the Indian community living there. He faced numerous challenges and faced discrimination, and violence, but he never gave up. He also was on the forefront of the independence struggle for India.

Gandhi's leadership style was unique in that he believed in the power of the individual and the importance of personal transformation which is something I find truly inspiring.. He encouraged others to follow their own conscience and to be the change they wanted to see in the world. Gandhi also believed in the importance of unity and worked to bring people from different communities and backgrounds together. His ideas and actions continue to influence people today, and he is considered one of the greatest leaders in history. I only hope that I can follow some of his principles in my life.

500 Words On My Favourite Leader

My favourite leader is Mahatma Gandhi, who was an Indian independence activist and is considered to be the father of the nation. Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, a small coastal town in Gujarat, India. He received his education in law in London and later returned to India to begin his legal practice.

However, Gandhi was not satisfied with simply being a successful lawyer; he wanted to bring about positive change in the world. Gandhi’s political career began in South Africa, where he fought for the rights of the Indian community living there. He faced numerous challenges and faced discrimination and violence, but he never gave up. Gandhi believed in the power of nonviolent resistance and used it as a tool to fight for justice and equality.

Gandhi's Philosophy And Nonviolent Resistance

Salt Satyagraha is considered as one of Gandhi's most famous campaigns, in which he and thousands of others marched to the coast of Gujarat to collect salt from the sea, defying the British law that imposed a tax on salt. This campaign was a symbol of resistance against British rule and became a turning point in the independence movement. Gandhi was also a spiritual leader and believed in the importance of living a simple and humble life. He embraced a philosophy of self-sufficiency and believed that people should rely on their own resources and abilities rather than relying on others.

Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance and self-sufficiency has inspired many people to adopt a more sustainable and compassionate way of living. His ideas about the power of the individual and the importance of personal transformation have encouraged people to take action and make a positive difference in the world.

Gandhi's leadership and message continue to inspire and influence people around the globe, making him a truly remarkable and enduring leader. His leadership and determination inspired millions of people around the world, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. His ideas and actions continue to influence people today, and he is considered one of the greatest leaders in history.

Gandhi’s legacy is one of nonviolent resistance, unity, and personal transformation. His message of peace and justice resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, and his influence continues to be felt around the world. Gandhi's leadership and dedication to bringing about positive change in the world makes him my favourite leader.

My Inspiration

One incident that inspires me the most about Gandhi, is the Salt Satyagraha of 1930. This was a non-violent protest against the British-imposed salt tax in India, and it was a significant moment in the Indian independence movement. Gandhi believed that the salt tax was a symbol of British oppression and he saw the Salt Satyagraha as an opportunity to unite the people of India against British rule.

He called for a nationwide protest in which people would march to the sea and collect their own salt, defying the salt tax and the British law that banned the production of salt by Indians.

This incident inspires me because it shows the power of nonviolent resistance and the ability of one person to bring about change. His leadership and determination were instrumental in leading India to independence and his legacy continues to inspire people around the world today.

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Freedom Fighters of India

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Sub-Categories:

GS-I: Modern History

Prelims :   History of India and Indian National Movement.

Mains :  Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues, The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country. 

Freedom Fighters of India: The Indian national movement, which sought to liberate the country from British colonial rule, was marked by the leadership of several freedom fighters of India who became the driving force behind the struggle for independence. Through their vision, courage, and determination, these freedom fighters played a pivotal role in galvanising the masses and shaping the course of India's history. Each leader brought a unique ideology and approach to the movement, contributing to its diversity and strength. 

Freedom fighters like Dadabhai Naoroji presented a powerful economic analysis of British colonialism and Mahatma Gandhi , the epitome of nonviolent resistance, led a transformative movement for India's freedom. Similarly, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, embodied a visionary nationalist approach.

Prominent Freedom Fighters of India

The Indian freedom movement against the British saw widespread participation from citizens across the country. Thousands of men and women fought together against the British Raj's atrocities from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat. While many selflessly gave their lives to protect their motherland's dignity, others were injured and accepted imprisonment.

List of Freedom Fighters of India: Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel, Sardar Udham Singh, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Dadabhai Naoroji, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Ashfaqulla Khan, Sukhdev, Mangal Pandey, V.D Savarkar, Annie Besant, Rani Lakshmi bai, Sarojini Naidu, Aruna Asaf Ali, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Usha Mehta, Dr. B.R Ambedkar, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, Chittaranjan Das, Prafulla Chaki.

Contribution of Famous Freedom Fighters of India

The Indian National Movement witnessed the emergence of several freedom fighters who challenged British colonial rule through revolutionary means. Leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Bhagat Singh used a wide range of intellectual strategies to force the British out of India. For a self-governing nation, their protests took various forms, ranging from diplomacy to armed struggle. 

Veer Savarkar (1883-1966)

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, an early exponent of Hindu nationalist ideology , underwent a transformation in his approach to nationalism and advocated for cultural unity. 

Early Influences and Ideological Development:

• Savarkar was influenced by Italian nationalist Joseph Mazzini during the first phase of his life.
• Initially, he supported the concept of composite Indian nationalism , which did not exclude any religious community. However, later on, he became a staunch supporter of Hindu Nationalism.

Formation of Mitra Mela and Abhinav Bharat Society:

• Inspired by the sacrifice of the Chaphekar brothers , Savarkar founded the Mitra Mela in 1900, which later transformed into the Abhinav Bharat Society in 1904 .

Shift Towards Hindu Nationalism:

• Savarkar shifted towards Hindu nationalism, becoming a supporter of Hindu Mahasabha and serving as its President from 1938 to 1945.

Influences from Renaissance and Rationalist Philosophy:

• Savarkar was a product of the Western Indian Renaissance and was influenced by Gopal Ganesh Agarkar , a rationalist philosopher.

Critique of Religious Scriptures and Otherworldly Philosophies:

• Savarkar rejected the sanctity of religious scriptures , considering them man-made, and criticised the philosophies of Shankara and Ramanuja.

Critique of Caste System and Advocacy for Cultural Nationalism:

• Savarkar criticised the caste system , considering it detrimental to the unity of Hindu society, and supported cultural nationalism, emphasising cultural, racial, and religious unity as essential elements in the formation of the nation.

Important works:

• ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857' was written in 1909.
• 'Hindutva' in 1924 to explain the basic principles of Hindu nationalism.

Chandra Shekhar Azad (1906-1931)

Chandra Shekhar Azad, driven by his early engagement in radical activities, led daring acts of resistance against British rule, earning him the title of a legendary revolutionary.

Early Life: 

• Born on 23 July 1906 in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, he engaged in radical activities from a young age.

Inspiration from Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement: 

• Fascinated by Gandhi's non-violent, he participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement in Banaras in 1920-21 and actively opposed the sale of foreign goods.

Involvement in Revolutionary Activities:

• Chandrashekhar joined the underground revolutionary party in Banaras after coming in contact with Manmath Nath Gupta and Pranavesh Chatterjee.
• He took part in the Kakori Mail Robbery in 1925 under the leadership of Ram Prasad Bismil.

Formation of the HSRA and Leadership:

• The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) came into existence during an all-India meeting of revolutionaries at Feroz Shah Kotla on 8th and 9th September 1928.
• Although Chandrashekhar did not attend the meeting, he was unanimously accepted as the Commander-in-Chief of HSRA.

Activities as the Commander-in-Chief:

• Chandrashekhar often used the pseudonym "Balraj'' when issuing pamphlets as the HSRA's commander-in-chief.
• He played an active role in the killing of John Saunders on 17 December 1928 and was indirectly involved in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train in December 1929.
• He was martyred at Alfred Park in Allahabad on 27 February 1931.

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh , a visionary socialist , infused the struggle with a strong ideological foundation, seeking a society free from exploitation and class domination.

Early Life and Joining the Freedom Struggle:

• Bhagat Singh was born in Amritsar. 
• His family background has played an important role in shaping his ideas.
• As a soldier, he joined the 23rd Cavalry (Frontier Force) and later established the ' Naujawan Bharat Sabha ' and joined the Hindustan Republican Association .

Plot to Avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's Death:

• In December 1928, Bhagat Singh, along with Sukhdev and Rajguru , planned to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death by plotting to assassinate Superintendent of Police, James Scott, in Lahore.

Assembly Bombing and Death sentence:

• On 8th April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutt threw bombs inside the assembly, shouting the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad!' and were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for this action. 
• On 23rd March, 1931, Bhagat Singh along with Raj Guru and Sukhdev were hanged. They were given the death sentence in the Lahore conspiracy case.

Bhagat Singh's Vision of Socialism:

• Bhagat Singh defined socialism scientifically as the abolition of capitalism and class domination.
• He believed in a society where all individuals had equal rights and opportunities, free from exploitation and oppression.
• ‘Why I am an Atheist’
• “The Jail Notebook and Other Writings”.

Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917)

He was also known as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’. He became the first Indian to hold a professorship at Elphinstone College in Bombay, teaching mathematics and natural philosophy. 

Economic Analysis and Drain Theory: 

• Naoroji's significant contribution was his economic analysis of British colonialism in India, highlighted in his " The EconomicDrain Theory ."
• He argued that India's wealth was systematically drained to Britain through exploitative economic policies, a concept elaborated in his seminal work, " Poverty and Un-British Rule in India ."

Political Activism and the Indian National Congress:

• Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East India Association in 1866.
• From 1892 to 1895, he served as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, becoming the first Indian to achieve this position.
• Actively engaged in political activism, Naoroji played a pivotal role in the formation of the Indian National Congress (INC) and elected as its President in 1886 Calcutta, 1893 Lahore, and 1906 Calcutta.

Literary work:

• Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
• The Wants and Means of India
• Condition of India

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869 , in Porbandar, India, was an Indian lawyer, and political ethicist. He believed in the capacity of every individual for the highest possible development and emphasised the unity of end and means.

Concept of Swaraj:

• He defined S waraj as self-rule, encompassing an integral revolution in all aspects of life, including self-assessment, self-purification, and self-reliance.

Satya and Satyagraha:

• Truth (Satya) for Gandhi was the response of one's moral self and conscience.
• Satyagraha , meaning "urge for truth," was the nonviolent and moral pursuit of truth, appealing to the reasoning of opponents.

The Gandhian Era of National Struggle:

• The Gandhian movement began in 1919 and lasted until India gained independence in 1947.
• Early movements like Champaran Satyagraha, Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha, and Kheda Satyagraha strengthened Gandhi's nonviolent methods.
• In 1920, Gandhi called for a non-cooperation movement, realising that British rule depended on Indian cooperation.
• The INC, under Gandhi's leadership, adopted the goal of " Purna Swaraj " to intensify the freedom movement.  

Nationwide Campaigns and the Dandi Salt March:

• As INC president in 1924, Gandhi led campaigns for poverty alleviation, women's rights, religious harmony, and the abolition of untouchability.
• He popularised anti-colonial nationalism through the iconic Dandi Salt March in 1930.
• The Civil Disobedience Movement began with this iconic Dandi March which attempted to paralyse the government by violating particular British laws.
• In Yerawada jail, Gandhi wrote his famous autobiography, " The Story of My Experiments with Truth ."
• Translated "Songs from Prison," drawing from Sanskrit hymns and Upanishadic scriptures.
• Hind Swaraj

Newspapers:

• Indian Opinion, Young India, Harijan, Navjivan

Subash Chandra Bose (1887-1945)

Born on January 23, 1887, in Cuttack, Subhash Chandra Bose passed I.C.S. examination in England but chose to resign to join the national freedom struggle.

Involvement in the National Freedom Struggle:

• Upon returning to India in 1921, Bose met Mahatma Gandhi and actively participated in the non-cooperation movement.
• Editor of the news daily 'Forward' initiated by C.R. Das's Swaraj Party.
• Supported non-violent methods such as non-cooperation and civil disobedience to mobilise the masses for the cause of freedom.

Congress Leadership and Ideology:

• Bose faced repeated incarcerations in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s for his often violent political actions against the British.
• Congress president in 1938, winning the elections with leftists' backing. 
• Differences with Gandhi led to his departure from the Congress, and he founded ' The Forward Bloc '.

Establishing the Azad Hind Government:

• In Japan in 1943, he supported the establishment of the Indian National Army (INA) and the 'Azad Hind' or Free India provisional government.
• In 1944, the INA and Japanese launched an invasion of India but faced defeat.

Militant Nationalism:

• Subhash Chandra Bose advocated militant nationalism as crucial to rejuvenating Indians for freedom.

Adaptation of Socialism in India:

• Bose urged the assimilation of socialist principles that suit Indian requirements, distinct from the Bolshevik Socialism of the Soviet Union, which he believed did not align with India's needs.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

Jawaharlal Nehru was born in 1889 in Allahabad, he went to England for studies and returned to India in 1912. He immediately entered politics, attending the Bankipore Congress as a delegate in 1912 and becoming Secretary of the Home Rule League , Allahabad, in 1919.

Leadership and Contributions to the Independence Movement:

• Nehru organised the first Kisan March in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh District in 1920 and was imprisoned during the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22.
• He played a crucial role in committing the INC to the goal of Independence at the Madras Congress in 1926 and was a signatory to the Nehru Report on Indian Constitutional Reform.
• Nehru, along with Srinivasa Iyengar and Subhash Chandra Bose, founded the ‘ Independence for India League in 1928, advocating complete severance of the British connection with India.

Presidency of the INC and Imprisonment:

• In 1929, Nehru presided over the Lahore Session of the INC, where ‘ Purna Swaraj’ for the country was adopted as the goal.
• He faced multiple imprisonments during 1930-35, notably during the Salt Satyagraha , and completed his ‘Autobiography’ in Almora Jail in February 1935.

First Prime Minister of Independent India:

• On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India, holding the post until his death in 1964.

Nehru's Vision of Nationalism and Secularism:

• Nehru was a great nationalist with a distinctive form of composite and living nationalism, appealing to the spirit of humanity.
• He promoted secularism in India, fostering a sense of unity and freedom among people of diverse backgrounds.
• The Discovery of India
• Letters from a Father to His Daughter
• Glimpses of World History

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950)

Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born in Nadiad, Gujarat, on October 31, 1875. In 1917, he was elected as the Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad and played a crucial role in handling calamities like the plague and famine in 1917 and 1918.

Kheda Satyagraha:

• Sardar Patel and a group of Mahatma Gandhi's supporters organised the Kheda Satyagraha , a major tax revolt where diverse communities rallied together in Kheda to oppose unjust taxation.

Flag Satyagraha (1923):

• During Mahatma Gandhi's imprisonment, Sardar Patel led the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, standing for the right to honour the national flag.

Municipal Leadership:

• Sardar Patel secured a majority for Congress in the Ahmedabad Municipal body and became its President.

Bardoli Satyagraha (1928):

• He led the Bardoli Satyagraha , opposing the colonial government's increased taxation of farmers in the Bombay Presidency. 
• This movement demanded the cancellation of a 22% tax hike and earned Vallabhbhai Patel the title of " Sardar ."

Borsad Satyagraha (1923):

• Sardar Patel led the Borsad Satyagraha in Gujarat, which opposed the punitive tax imposed on villages in the Anand district, citing the need to protect them from dacoits.

Presidency of the Indian National Congress:

• In March 1931, Vallabhbhai Patel presided over the 46th session of the INC, where the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was ratified.

Role in the Integration of Princely States:

• Sardar Patel, India's deputy prime minister, was charged with integrating the Indian states.
• He came up with numerous plans and persuaded the rulers to unite India by merging their states with it.

PYQs on Freedom Fighters of India

Q)  Throw light on the significance of thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times . (UPSC Mains 2018)

Q)  Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (UPSC Mains 2016)

Q)  How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss. (UPSC Mains 2015)

Q)  Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate. (UPSC Mains 2015)

Q)  Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient India religious lyrics in English? ( UPSC Prelims 2021)

a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

b) Jawaharlal Nehru

c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

d) Sarojini Naidu

Answer: (c)

FAQs on Freedom Fighters of India

Who are some of the prominent freedom fighters in india.

Some prominent freedom fighters in India include Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Dadabhai Naoroji.

Which prominent freedom fighter is known as the Father of India?

Mahatma Gandhi is known as the Father of India.

Who was the correspondent of the Voice of India newspaper in South Africa?

Mahatma Gandhi was the South African correspondent of the Voice of India, a newspaper started by Dadabhai Naoroji.

What is the role of revolutionary freedom fighters in the freedom struggle of India?

The role of revolutionaries in the freedom struggle of India was to actively participate in armed and violent actions against British colonial rule to achieve independence.

Why did Gandhi not support Bhagat Singh?

Gandhi thought that Bhagat Singh was a 'misguided youth' who had gone wrong. Gandhi never wanted anyone to emulate the act of violence. He only admired the spirit behind their action. 

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• IAS Preparation
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• Major Freedom Fighter And Their Slogans

Major Freedom Fighters and their Slogans

The Indian history is divided into three segments- Ancient India, Medieval India and Modern India. The Indian History, especially the Modern India portion has a key role in both UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam and the Main Examination. A significant number of the total number of questions asked in the UPSC IAS prelims exam comes from Modern India.

The journey of India towards freedom was a rigorous one.  It got independence from the British government on 15th August 1947. Celebrating independence and recalling the various martyred personalities, this day embarks upon every Indian, a sense of pride to be born in a country like India.

The Indian independence movement was led by several people from nooks and corners of the nation. They had sacrificed their blood and soul for the freedom of their nation. There are a lot of  freedom fighters in India  who has done commendable struggle against the British Government.

The quotes and slogans are important for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains examination. Aspirants can quote the slogans wherever needed. This will make your answers more attractive and fetch good marks.

Here we bring you the great inspiring slogans by our freedom fighters and leaders who sincerely sacrificed and dedicated their lives to our country.

Slogans of Major Freedom Fighters

Slogans by Mahatma Gandhi

• “Do or Die”
• “Humne Ghutne Tekkar Roti Mangi Kintu Pathar Mile”
• “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”
• “Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?”
• “Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state becomes lawless or corrupt.”
• “Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right.”

Note : The slogan of ‘Quit India’ was proposed to Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, however it was coined by Yusuf Meherally (Socialist Congress Leader)

Slogans by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose  

• “Jai Hind “
• “Give me blood, I will give you freedom”
• “Freedom is not given – it is taken.”
• “It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood. The freedom that we shall win through our sacrifice and exertions, we shall be able to preserve with our own strength.”
• “One individual may die but that idea will, after his earth, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.”
• “Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible.”

Slogans by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

• “ Vande Mataram”
• “When a man is in doubt what to do, he goes wherever he happens to be first called.”

Slogans by Bal Gangadhar Tilak   

• “Swaraj Mera Janamsiddh adhikar hai, aur main ise lekar rahunga”
• “Our nation is like a tree of which the original trunk is swarajya and the branches are swadeshi and boycott.”
• “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!”

Slogans by Lal Bahadur Shastri

• “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan”
• “The preservation of freedom is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong.”
• “True democracy or the swaraj of the masses can never come through untruthful and violent means.”
• “We have now to fight for peace with the same courage and determination as we fought against aggression.”

Slogans by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya  

• “Satyamev Jayathe”

Slogans by Bhagat Singh   

• “Inquilab Zindabad”
• “They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.”
• “‘Revolution’ does not necessarily involve sanguinary strife nor is there any place in it for individual vendetta. It is not the cult of the bomb and the pistol. By ‘Revolution’ we mean that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice, must change.”

Slogans by Ramprasad Bismil  

• “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, Ab hamare dil mein hai”
• “Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my Motherland, I shall not be sorry. Oh, Lord! Grant me a hundred births in India. But grant me this, too, that each time I may give up my life in the service of the Motherland.”

Slogans by Chandra Shekhar Azad

• “Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge”
• “If yet your blood does not rage, then it is water that flows in your veins. For what is the flush of youth, if it is not of service to the motherland.”

Slogans by Jawaharlal Nehru

• “Araam Haraam hai”
• “Blood and tears are going to be our lot, whether we like them or not. Our blood and tears will flow; maybe the parched soil of India needs them so that the fine flower of freedom may grow again.”

Slogans by Ashfaqullah khan  

• “There is no dream and if there is, there only one to see my children struggling for the same and for which I am expected to be finished”.

Slogans by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel  

• “Manpower without Unity is not a strength unless it is harmonized and united properly, then it becomes a spiritual power.”

Slogans by B. R. Ambedkar

• My final words of advice to you are educated, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality.

Slogans by Rabindranath Tagore

• “I am willing to serve my country, but my worship I reserve for Right which is far greater than my country. To worship my country as a god is to bring a curse upon it.”
• “Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.”

The above details would help candidates prepare for  UPSC 2023 .

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Incredible India Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on incredible india.

India represents “Unity in Diversity” . Our country is a mixture of cultures, regions, traditions, diversity in food, languages, etc. Our people of India are so polite, understanding and helping in nature. The national bird of India is Peacock and is very beautiful. India is so incredible and is full of colors and has the tiger as its national animal, hockey as its national game, etc. the national language or mother tongue of our country is Hindi. Indians are also so talented and have shown very high growth. The I.T. sector of our country shows accelerating growth due to intelligent software engineers.

India As a Country

India is the seventh-largest country by its geographical area and is located in South Asia. The beauty surrounds our country from each and every aspect. India is also known by two other names Bharat and Hindustan and the people of India are known as Indians. The national anthem of our country is “ Jan Gan Man ” and the national song of our country is “Sare Jahan Se Achcha”.

India is a Democratic country where people themselves choose their leader and live with freedom i.e. they can do anything they wish to within the limits of the law. If any citizen of India tries to harm any other person, there are also rules and regulations to punish him in order to make him realize his mistake.

Our country is also incredible because of its beautiful mountains, lakes, forests , seas, oceans, etc. Many foreigners each year visit India to see the beauty of our country that is its rich historical temples, its traditions, its language, its heritage, etc.

Different Regions of India

North region.

North Region consists of the most incredible thing in the world that is The Himalayas which is the highest mountain in the world. This region also consists of the beautiful Kashmir covered with mountains. It consists of Uttar Pradesh which is mainly known as the land of Krishna, land of Rama, etc. This region also consists of one of the wonders of the world i.e. Taj Mahal which people come to visit across the world.

Southern Region

This is the “Land of Nawabs”. It is famous for its festivals, food, and languages. The place is famous for its rice dishes. This region consists of cities like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, etc.

East Region

East part of  India consists of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha,  etc. The capital of West Bengal, Kolkata is the largest city of this section and is the metropolitan city and is the third’s largest city in the country. Kolkata is known for its sweetness and festival.

West Region

The West part of the country is really incredible as it is covered with sands and deserts. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are the three most amazing places in this region. The culture, the language, the traditions and the clothes of this region are incredible and you will love to visit this region.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Indian Culture and Religion

India’s culture is among the world’s oldest; civilization in India began about 4,500 years ago. India has 29 states with different culture and civilizations and one of the most populated countries in the world. The Indian culture, often labeled as a mixture of several various cultures.

India gave birth to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and other religions. They are now collectively known as Indian religions. Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are the third and fourth-largest religions respectively of the world. Although India is a secular Hindu-majority country, it has a large Muslim population.

India, being a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions. Major festivals include Diwali, Durga puja, Holi, Ganesh puja, Navratri, Rath yatra, etc are there round the year.

Indian food is a cosmopolitan cuisine that has so many ingredients. It is as diverse as India. Indian recipes use numerous ingredients, deploy a wide range of food preparation styles, cooking techniques, and culinary presentation. Thus the tastes of same food like salads, sauces, vegetables, meat, desserts vary from region to region.

We are proud of our cultural distinctiveness. We are proud to be the inhabitants of India. It is our duty to maintain its unique feature. We have to think beyond the petty interests and work for the broader goals of bringing prosperity and progress in society.

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