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Women freedom fighters – in news

2022 JAN 29

Preliminary   > Modern Indian History   >   Personalities   >   Women in freedom struggle

Why in news?

  • A pictorial book telling the stories of unsung women freedom fighters was released by the Culture Ministry recently.

Rani Abbakka:

  • Rani Abbakka thwarted Portuguese attacks for several decades.
  • She was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century.
  • She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka. Their capital was Puttige.

Matangiri Hazra:

  • She participated in the Indian independence movement until she was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the Tamluk Police Station in 1942.
  • She was affectionately known as Gandhi buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi.
  • In 1930, she took part in the Civil Disobedience movement and was arrested for breaking the Salt Act.

Gulab Kaur:

  • Gulab Kaur, who fought against the British rule after abandoning her own dreams of a life abroad.
  • In Manila, Gulab Kaur joined Ghadar Party, an organization founded by Indian immigrants with the aim to liberate the Indian Subcontinent from British Rule.

Padmaja Naidu:

  • Sarojini Naidu’s daughter and a freedom fighter in her own right.
  • She was also a politician who was the 5th Governor of West Bengal from 1956 to 1967.
  • At the age of 21, she co-founded the Indian National Congress in the Nizam ruled princely state of Hyderabad.
  • She was jailed for taking part in the “Quit India” movement in 1942. After Independence, she was elected to the Indian Parliament in 1950.

Velu Nachiyar:

  • The first Indian queen to wage war against the East India Company.
  • She was a queen of Sivaganga estate from 1780–1790.
  • She is known by Tamils as Veeramangai (“brave woman”).
  • With the support of Haider Alis Army, feudal lords, marudhu brothers, Dalit commanders and Thandavarayan Pillai she fought the East India Company.

Jhalkari Bai:

  • A solider and adviser to the Rani of Jhansi.
  • She was a woman soldier who played an important role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
  • At the height of the Siege of Jhansi, she disguised herself as the queen and fought on her behalf, on the front, allowing the queen to escape safely out of the fort.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. Rani Abbakka was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century

2. Padmaja Naidu co-founded the Indian National Congress in the Nizam ruled princely state of Hyderabad.

3. Jhalkari Bai played an important role in the revolt of 1857

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer