Peer Ali Khan

The Bookseller Revolutionary: Peer Ali Khan

The Bookseller Revolutionary

A key figure in the 1857 rebellion in Bihar.

A Life of Secret Resistance

Peer Ali Khan, a bookseller from Patna, was an unsung hero of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He used his bookshop as a hub for revolutionary activities, secretly distributing messages and organizing a rebellion against the British East India Company. His courage and leadership in the face of immense adversity made him a revered figure in Bihar’s freedom struggle.

1857

The Year of the

Great Revolt

Patna

Center of his

Operations

A Timeline of Courage: A Journey of Resistance

1850s: The Bookseller & Organizer

Peer Ali Khan, a successful bookseller in Patna, used his shop as a front for a secret network of revolutionaries, using books as a cover to exchange messages and plans for the rebellion.

July 3, 1857: The Patna Uprising

He led a major uprising in Patna, which involved a large number of his followers attacking the British East India Company’s offices, creating a state of panic among the colonial officials.

July 4, 1857: Captured and Interrogated

He was captured by the British forces. Despite brutal torture, he refused to reveal the names of his associates, showing unwavering resolve and loyalty to his cause.

July 7, 1857: Martyrdom

He was publicly hanged along with 14 of his associates, a sacrifice that further fueled the revolutionary spirit in Bihar and across the country.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Rani Gaidinliu

The Naga Freedom Fighter: Rani Gaidinliu

The Naga Freedom Fighter

A spiritual and political leader from the Northeast who fought against British rule.

A Symbol of Resistance

Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who spearheaded an armed rebellion against the British in the Northeast. At a young age, she joined her cousin Haipou Jadonang’s movement, and after his execution, she took charge, leading her people against British oppression and becoming a revered figure in the region’s history.

1932

Arrested at Age

Rani

Title Given by

Jawaharlal Nehru

A Life of Defiance: A Timeline

1927: Early Activism

She joined the Heraka religious movement, led by her cousin Haipou Jadonang, which sought to revive Naga tribal religion and resist Christian missionary influence as well as British rule.

1931: Jadonang’s Execution

After Jadonang was executed by the British, Gaidinliu took over the leadership of the movement, turning it into a full-fledged armed rebellion against colonial rule.

1932: Capture and Imprisonment

At just 16 years old, she was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment for her revolutionary activities, spending 14 years in various jails across Assam and Nagaland.

1947: Release and Later Life

She was released from prison after India’s independence and continued to work for the welfare of her people and the preservation of their culture, receiving numerous awards for her service to the nation.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Jatin Das

The Hunger Striker: Jatin Das

The Hunger Striker

A revolutionary who sacrificed his life for the dignity of political prisoners.

A Life of Sacrifice

Jatindra Nath Das, affectionately known as Jatin Das, was an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter. His name is etched in history for his heroic sacrifice in a hunger strike that lasted 63 days, demanding better living conditions and equal rights for Indian political prisoners in British jails. His martyrdom galvanized the nation and brought the plight of political prisoners to the forefront of the freedom struggle.

Days

on Hunger Strike

Years Old

at the time of death

A Journey of a Revolutionary: A Timeline

1921: Non-Cooperation Movement

Jatin Das joined the Non-Cooperation Movement and was arrested for his activities. It was during his time in prison that he first witnessed the inhumane conditions faced by Indian prisoners.

1925: Hunger Strike in Midnapore Jail

He went on a hunger strike for 21 days in Midnapore Jail to protest the mistreatment of Indian prisoners, a strike that led to an improvement in their living conditions.

1929: Arrested for Lahore Conspiracy Case

He was arrested and taken to Lahore Central Jail, where he once again witnessed the discrimination between Indian and European prisoners. He decided to take a firm stand.

1929: The Final Hunger Strike

On July 13, 1929, he began his final hunger strike, demanding better facilities for Indian political prisoners. After a grueling 63 days, he succumbed to his fast on September 13, 1929, becoming a martyr and a national hero.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Bhima Nayak

The Tribal Freedom Fighter: Bhima Nayak

The Tribal Freedom Fighter

A fearless leader who mobilized tribal communities against British rule.

A Beacon of Tribal Resistance

Bhima Nayak was a great revolutionary and freedom fighter from the Bhil community in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh. He was a crucial leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, mobilizing his people to fight against the British East India Company’s oppressive policies and becoming an iconic symbol of tribal resistance.

1857

The Year of the

Great Revolt

Bhil

Community

Led the charge

A Life of Resistance and Sacrifice: A Timeline

Early Life & Mobilization

Bhima Nayak, a leader of the Bhil community, rose to prominence by organizing his people against the exploitation and injustice of the British rule in the Nimar region.

1857: The Revolt

During the 1857 Rebellion, he and his followers actively participated, cutting off British communication lines and disrupting their supply routes, severely hampering their military operations.

Guerrilla Warfare

Bhima Nayak became a master of guerrilla warfare, using his knowledge of the local terrain to launch surprise attacks on the British, who struggled to contain his rebellion.

Capture and Martyrdom

Despite his successful campaign, he was eventually captured and hanged to death in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. His sacrifice inspired many others to continue the fight for freedom.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Bhikaji Cama

The Mother of the Indian Revolution: Bhikaji Cama

The Mother of the Indian Revolution

A Parsi revolutionary who unfurled India’s first flag on foreign soil.

A Life of Exile and Activism

Bhikaji Cama was a prominent figure in the Indian freedom struggle, known for her revolutionary activities from abroad. Forced into exile by the British, she spent her life in Europe, campaigning tirelessly for India’s independence and inspiring many young Indians to join the revolutionary cause. She is widely regarded as the “Mother of the Indian Revolution.”

1907

Unfurled

First Indian Flag

Stuttgart

Location

of Flag Unfurling

A Journey of a Nation-Builder: A Timeline

1896: Social Work in Bombay

She became involved in social work, assisting plague victims in Bombay, where she herself contracted the disease. She was sent to Europe for medical treatment, a journey that would change her life.

1907: Stuttgart Declaration

At the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, she unfurled the first version of the Indian flag, a tricolor with eight lotuses representing the eight provinces of British India.

1909: “Vande Mataram” Newspaper

She started the revolutionary newspaper `Vande Mataram` in Paris, which was smuggled into India to spread the message of independence and inspire resistance.

1935: Return to India

After decades in exile, she was allowed to return to India on the condition that she would not participate in political activities. She passed away shortly after her return, having given her life for her nation’s freedom.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Shivaram Hari Rajguru

The Revolutionary: Shivaram Hari Rajguru

A fearless freedom fighter and a key member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

A Life for the Nation

Shivaram Hari Rajguru was an Indian revolutionary from Maharashtra, best known as an associate of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and, like his comrades, believed that armed struggle was necessary to overthrow British colonial rule. His courage and unwavering resolve made him an iconic figure in the struggle for independence.

1908

Born

in Khed, Pune

1931

Martyred

at Lahore

A Journey of a Revolutionary: A Timeline

1925: Joining the Movement

Inspired by the revolutionary spirit of Maharashtra, he joined the freedom movement and soon became a member of the HSRA, a group committed to direct action.

1928: The Saunder’s Murder

As part of the plot to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Rajguru, along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, assassinated British police officer John Saunders in Lahore.

1929: Fleeing after the Assembly Bombing

After Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly, Rajguru went into hiding, but was eventually arrested in Pune in September 1929.

1931: Martyrdom

Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdev were executed on March 23, 1931, for the murder of John Saunders. Their sacrifice galvanized the nation and made them immortal symbols of India’s fight for freedom.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Rani Avantibai Lodhi

The Warrior Queen of Ramgarh: Avantibai Lodhi

The Warrior Queen of Ramgarh

A courageous leader who led the charge in the 1857 Revolt.

A Defiant Stand Against the British

Rani Avantibai Lodhi, the queen of Ramgarh, was a fierce warrior and an unsung hero of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After the British annexed her kingdom under the “Doctrine of Lapse,” she raised an army and challenged the might of the British East India Company, becoming a symbol of resistance in her region.

1857

The Year of the

Great Rebellion

Ramgarh

Her Kingdom

in Madhya Pradesh

A Legacy of Courage: A Timeline

1850s: Taking the Throne

After her husband’s death, Avantibai took charge of the kingdom as a regent for her son, skillfully managing the affairs of the state.

1857: The Call to Arms

She raised an army of 4,000 men and personally led her troops into battle against the British, inspiring widespread rebellion in the Mandla region.

1858: Battle of Shahpur

She won a decisive victory against the British in the Battle of Shahpur, a testament to her military prowess and leadership.

1858: The Final Stand

Cornered by British forces, she chose to end her life rather than be captured, becoming a martyr and an eternal symbol of Indian defiance against foreign rule.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Rani Lakshmibai

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi: Rani Lakshmibai

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

A fearless leader who fought for her kingdom and her people.

“I will not give up my Jhansi!”

Rani Lakshmibai, born Manikarnika, was the courageous queen of the princely state of Jhansi. Her defiant vow to never surrender her kingdom to the British became a rallying cry for the Indian Rebellion of 1857, where she emerged as one of the most prominent leaders of the uprising.

1857

The Year of the

Great Rebellion

Years Old

at the time of the Revolt

A Life of Courage: A Timeline

1828: Early Life

Born Manikarnika in Varanasi, she was trained in martial arts, swordsmanship, and horse riding from a young age.

1842: Queen of Jhansi

She married the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, and was given the name Rani Lakshmibai.

1853: The Doctrine of Lapse

After her husband’s death, the British East India Company, under the Doctrine of Lapse, refused to recognize her adopted son as the rightful heir and annexed Jhansi.

1857-58: The Great Revolt

Lakshmibai courageously led her troops in the defense of Jhansi, and after its fall, she fought alongside Tatya Tope and other rebels, becoming a beacon of hope for the freedom fighters.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Lala Lajpat Rai

The Lion of Punjab: Lala Lajpat Rai

The Lion of Punjab

A fierce nationalist and a fearless journalist.

“Every blow… will be the last nail in the coffin of the British empire.”

Lala Lajpat Rai, famously known as the “Lion of Punjab,” was a fiery nationalist, writer, and politician. He was a key member of the ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’ trio, which advocated for a more radical approach to achieving Swaraj (self-rule) and inspired a generation with his unwavering courage and defiance against British rule.

1920

Congress President

Calcutta Session

1895

Founded

Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School

A Journey of a Nation-Builder: A Timeline

1907: Deported to Mandalay

His activism led to his deportation without trial to Mandalay, Burma, a move that sparked outrage across the country and further cemented his status as a national hero.

1917: Founded the Home Rule League of America

During his stay in the United States, he established the Home Rule League of America, tirelessly working to raise awareness about India’s struggle for independence among the American public.

1920: Non-Cooperation Movement

As the President of the Indian National Congress, he presided over the special session in Calcutta, where he endorsed Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement.

1928: The Final Stand

He led a peaceful protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore, where he was brutally lathicharged by the police. He later succumbed to his injuries, but his sacrifice ignited a revolutionary fire in the hearts of young Indians, including Bhagat Singh.

August 9, 2025August 10, 2025

Abdul Ghaffar Khan

The Frontier Gandhi: Abdul Ghaffar Khan

The Frontier Gandhi

A life dedicated to non-violence and social reform.

A Life of Compassion

Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as ‘Bacha Khan’, was a spiritual and political leader renowned for his unwavering commitment to non-violence and for organizing the ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’ (Servants of God) movement. His deep belief in peaceful resistance in the volatile North-West Frontier Province earned him the affectionate title of “The Frontier Gandhi.”

1929

Founded

Khudai Khidmatgar

1987

Bharat Ratna

Awarded

A Journey of a Nation-Builder: A Timeline

1910: Social Reforms

He began his lifelong work of social reform by opening schools in his native village, focusing on education to uplift his people and counter British influence.

1929: Khudai Khidmatgar

He founded the ‘Servants of God’, an army of non-violent revolutionaries clad in red uniforms, who were dedicated to fighting for India’s freedom through peaceful means.

1930: Salt Satyagraha

He and his followers actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement, becoming a major force of resistance in the North-West Frontier Province.

1947: Opposition to Partition

A strong opponent of the partition of India, he felt betrayed by the Indian National Congress and chose to remain in Pakistan, where he continued his struggle for the rights of the Pashtun people.