Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (/ndi, n-/;[2] Hindustani: [mondd as krmtndd andd i] (

listen); 2 October 1869 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence
movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to
independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
The honorificMahatma (Sanskrit: "high-souled", "venerable")[3]applied to him first in 1914 in South
Africa,[4]is now used worldwide. He is also called Bapu (Gujarati: endearment for "father",[5] "papa"[5][6])
in India.
Born and raised in a Hindu merchant caste family in coastal Gujarat, western India, and trained in law at
the Inner Temple, London, Gandhi first employed nonviolent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in
South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915,
he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and
discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide
campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity,
ending untouchability, but above all for achieving Swaraj or self-rule.
Gandhi famously led Indians in challenging the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (250 mi) Dandi
Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many
years, upon many occasions, in both South Africa and India. Gandhi attempted to practise nonviolence
and truth in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient
residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn hand-spun on
a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as a means of both selfpurification and social protest.
Gandhi's vision of an independent India based on religious pluralism, however, was challenged in the
early 1940s by a new Muslim nationalism which was demanding a separate Muslim homeland carved out
of India.[7] Eventually, in August 1947, Britain granted independence, but the British Indian
Empire[7] was partitioned into two dominions, a Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan.[8] As many
displaced Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious violence broke out,
especially in the Punjaband Bengal. Eschewing the official celebration of independence in Delhi, Gandhi
visited the affected areas, attempting to provide solace. In the months following, he undertook
several fasts unto death to promote religious harmony. The last of these, undertaken on 12 January 1948
at age 78,[9] also had the indirect goal of pressuring India to pay out some cash assets owed to Pakistan.
[9]

Some Indians thought Gandhi was too accommodating. [9][10] Nathuram Godse, a Hindu

nationalist, assassinated Gandhi on 30 January 1948 by firing three bullets into his chest at point-blank
range.[10]

Indians widely describe Gandhi as the father of the nation (Hindi: ).[11][12] The title "The Father of
the Nation" for Gandhi is not an official title and has not been officially accorded by Government of India.
An RTI query filed by a 10-year-old girl fromLucknow in February 2012 revealed that PMO has no records

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ([bimraw ramdi ambekr]; 14 April 1891 6 December 1956),
popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who
inspired the Modern Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination
against Untouchables (Dalits), while also supporting the rights of women and labour. He was
Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India.[4][5][6][7]
Ambedkar was a prolific student, earning a law degree and various doctorates from Columbia
University and the London School of Economics, and gained a reputation as a scholar for his
research in law, economics and political science. In his early career he was an economist, professor,
and lawyer. His later life was marked by his political activities; he became involved in campaigning
and negotiations for India's independence, publishing journals advocating political rights and social
freedom for Dalits, and contributing significantly to the establishment of the state of India. In 1956 he
converted to Buddhism, initiating mass conversions of Dalits.[8][9][10][11]
In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon
Ambedkar.[12][13][14][15] Ambedkar's legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular
culture.
Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town and military cantonment of Mhow in the Central
Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh).[16] He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal, a
ranked army officer at the post of Subedar and Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal.[17] His family was
of Marathi background from the town of Ambavade (Mandangad taluka) in Ratnagiri district of
modern-day Maharashtra. Ambedkar was born into a poor low Mahar (dalit) caste, who were treated
as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination.[18] Ambedkar's ancestors had long
worked for the army of the British East India Company, and his father served in the British Indian
Army at the Mhow cantonment.[19] Although they attended school, Ambedkar and other untouchable
children were segregated and given little attention or help by teachers. They were not allowed to sit
inside the class. When they needed to drink water, someone from a higher caste had to pour that
water from a height as they were not allowed to touch either the water or the vessel that contained it.
This task was usually performed for the young Ambedkar by the school peon, and if the peon was
not available then he had to go without water; the situation he later in his writings described as "No
peon, No Water".[20] He was required to sit on a gunny sack which he had to take home with him.[21]
Ramji Sakpal retired in 1894 and the family moved to Satara two years later. Shortly after their
move, Ambedkar's mother died. The children were cared for by their paternal aunt, and lived in

difficult circumstances. Three sons Balaram, Anandrao and Bhimrao and two daughters
Manjula and Tulasa of the Ambedkars would go on to survive them. Of his brothers and sisters,
only Ambedkar passed his examinations and graduated to high school. His original
surname Ambavadekar comes from his native village 'Ambavade' in Ratnagiri district.
[22]

His Brahmin teacher, Mahadev Ambedkar, who was fond of him, changed his surname from

'Ambavadekar' to his own surname 'Ambedkar' in school records.[22]

Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi (19 November 1828[1][2] 17/18 June 1858)[3] was
an Indian queen and warrior.
She was one of the leaders of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became for Indian nationalists a
symbol of resistance to the rule of the British East India Company in India.
Manikarnika was born into a Maratha family at Varanasi.[4] She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao,
the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842, and became the Rani of Jhansi. After her marriage Manikarnika
became Lakshmibai, so named in honour of the goddess Lakshmi. Before her marriage, she was
known as Chabeeli because of her jolly ways. In 1851, Rani Lakshmibai had a son, Damodar Rao.
He died at the age of about four months. On the day before the raja's death in November 1853, he
adopted a son. His name was Anand, but was renamed Damodar, after their actual son. The raja
wrote a letter to the British government of India requesting that his widow should be recognised as
the ruler of Jhansi after his death during her lifetime. After the death of her husband the head of the
British government of India, Lord Dalhousie, refused to allow her adopted son to become raja and
Jhansi was then ruled by the British.[5]
After all the British in Jhansi had been killed by mutinous Indian troops in June 1857 the Rani took
over the administration provisionally until the British returned. However she had to form an army to
defeat the invading forces of Orchha and Datia and the British believed she had been responsible for
the earlier British deaths.[6] In March 1858, British forces led by Sir Hugh Rose came to Jhansi to
take back the city from the Rani who now wanted independence. Jhansi was besieged and finally
taken after strong resistance. Many of the people of the city were killed in the fighting and many
more afterwards. The Rani escaped to Kalpi and jointly with the Maratha general Tatya Tope then
seized Gwalior. In the battle of Kotah ki Serai in which the British forces commanded by Sir Hugh
Rose conquered Gwalior, fought on 17 and 18 June 1858, she died.[7]
The war Jhansi became the focal point of uprising. Rani of Jhansi began to strengthen her position.
By seeking the support of others, she formed a volunteer army. The army not just consisted of the
men folk, but the women were also actively involved. Women were also given military training to fight
a battle. In the revolt, Rani Lakshmibai was accompanied by her generals. From the period between
Sep-Oct 1857, Rani defended Jhansi from being invaded by the armies of the neighboring rajas of

Orchha and Datia. In January 1858, the British army headed it's away towards Jhansi. The conflict
went on for two weeks. Finally, the Britishers succeeded in the annexation of the city. However, Rani
Laksmi Bai managed to escape along with her son, in the guise of a man. She took refuge in Kalpi,
where she met Tatya Tope, a great warrior. She died on 17thJune, during the battle for Gwalior. It is
believed that, when she was lying unconscious in the battle field, a Brahmin found her and brought
her to an ashram, where she died. For her immense effort, she is referred to as the 'Icon of the
Indian Nationalist Movement'. Throughout the uprising, the aim of Rani was to secure the throne for
her adopted son Damodar. Her story became a beacon for the upcoming generations of freedom
fighters. Lot of literature has been written on the life history of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Heroic
Ramachandra Pandurang Tope (1814 18 April 1859) was an Indian leader in the Indian Rebellion of
1857 and one of its notable generals. He is better known by his nickname Tatya Tope, which is also
transliterated as Tantya Tope or Tantia Topi.[1]
A personal adherent of Nana Sahib of Bithur, he progressed with the Gwalior contingent after the British
reoccupied Kanpur and forced General Windham to retreat from the city. Later on, he came to the relief
of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and with her seized the city of Gwalior. However, he was defeated by
General Napier's British Indian troops at Ranod and after a further defeat at Sikarabandoned the
campaign.[2] He was executed by the British Government at Shivpuri on 18 April 1859
born in a Yeola of Nashik District (Maharashtra), he was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope and his wife
Rukhmabai. In 1851, when James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie deprived Nana
Sahib of his father's pension, Tatya Tope also became a sworn enemy of the British. [citatiNana Sahib
decided to use the captives for bargaining with the British. [3] The Company forces from Allahabad, under
the command of General Henry Havelock, advanced relentlessly towards Cawnpore. Two forces sent by
Nana Sahib to check their advance were defeated. When it became clear that the bargaining attempts
had failed, an order was given to murder the women and children imprisoned at Bibighar, on July 15. The
details of the incident, such as who ordered the massacre, are not clear.[4] The sepoys refused to kill the
captive women and children, but some of them agreed to remove the women and children from the
courtyard, when Tope threatened to execute them for dereliction of duty.[citation needed]
After losing Gwalior to the British, Tope and Rao Sahib, nephew of Nana Sahib, fled into the Rajputana.
He was able to induce the army ofTonk to join him. He was unable to enter the town of Bundi and though
announcing he would go south in fact went west towards Nimach. A British flying column commanded by
Colonel Holmes was in pursuit of him and the British commander in Rajputana, General Abraham
Roberts, was able to attack the rebel force when they had reached a position
between Sanganer andBhilwara. Tope again fled from the field towards Udaipur and, after visiting a Hindu
shrine on 13 August, he drew up his forces on the Banas River. They were defeated again by Roberts's
forces and Tope fled. He crossed the Chambal River and reached the town of Jhalrapatan in the state

of Jhalawar. He induced the state forces to rebel against the raja and was able to replace the artillery he
had lost at the Banas River. Tope then took his forces towards Indore but was pursued by the British now
commanded by General John Michel as he fled towards Sironj. He was still accompanied by Rao Sahib
and they decided to divide their forces so that Tope could move to Chanderi, and Rao Sahib, with a
smaller force, to Jhansi. However they combined again in October and suffered another defeat at Chota
Udaipur. By January 1859 they were in the state ofJaipur and experienced two more defeats. Tope then
escaped alone into the jungles of Paron.[citation needed] At this point he met Man Singh, raja of Narwar, and his
household and decided to stay with them. Man Singh was in dispute with the maharaja of Gwalior and the
British were successful in negotiating with him to surrender to them in return for his life and protection of
his family from any reprisals by the maharaja. After this Tope was alone. [5]

Nana Sahib (born 19 May 1824 disappeared 1857), born as Dhondu Pant, was an
Indian, Maratha aristocrat, who led theCawnpore rebellion during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. As
the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he was entitled to a pension from
the English East India Company. The Company's refusal to continue the pension after his father's
death, as well as what he perceived as high-handed policies, compelled him to revolt and seek
freedom from company rule in India. He forced the British garrison in Cawnpore to surrender, and
gained control of Cawnpore for a few days. He later disappeared, after his forces were defeated by a
British force that recaptured Cawnpore. Nana Sahib was born on 19 May 1824 as Nana Govind
Dhondu Pant, to Narayan Bhatt and Ganga Bai. [1]
After the Maratha Confederation defeat in the Third Maratha War, the East India Company had
exiled Peshwa Baji Rao II to Bithoor near Cawnpore (now Kanpur), where he maintained a large
establishment paid for in part out of a British pension. Nana Sahib's father, a well-educated Deccani
Brahmin, had travelled with his family from the Western Ghats to become a court official of the
former Peshwa at Bithoor. Lacking sons, Baji Rao adopted Nana Sahib and his younger brother in
1827. The mother of both children was a sister of one of the Peshwa's wives. [2] Nana Sahib's
childhood close associates included Tantya Tope, Azimullah Khan and Manikarnika Tambe who later
became famous as Rani Lakshmibai. Tantya Tope was the son of Pandurang Rao Tope, an
important noble at the court of the Peshwa Baji Rao II. After Baji Rao II was exiled to Bithoor,
Pandurang Rao and his family also shifted there. Tantya Tope was the fencing master to Nana
Sahib. Azimullah Khan joined the court of Nana Sahib as Secretary, after the death of Baji Rao II in
1851. He later became the dewan in Nana Sahib's court.
The Doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor
General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856. According to the Doctrine, any princely state
or territory under the direct influence (paramountcy) of the British East India Company (the dominant
imperial power in the subcontinent), as a vassal state under the British Subsidiary System, would
automatically be annexed if the ruler was either "manifestly incompetent or died without a direct

heir".[3] The latter supplanted the long-established legal right of an Indian sovereign without an heir to
choose a successor. In addition, the British were to decide whether potential rulers were competent
enough. The doctrine and its application were widely regarded by Indians as illegitimate. At that time,
the Company had absolute, imperial administrative jurisdiction over many regions spread over the
subcontinent. The company took over the princely states
of Satara (1848), Jaipur and Sambalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Nagpur (1853), and Jhansi (1854)
using this doctrine. The British took over Awadh (Oudh) (1856) claiming that the local ruler was not
ruling properly. The Company added about four million pounds sterling to its annual revenue by the
use of this doctrine.[1] With the increasing power of the East India Company, discontent simmered
amongst sections of Indian society and the largely indigenous armed Jhansi forces; these joined with
members of the deposed dynasties during the Indian rebellion of 1857.
Subhas Chandra Bose (

listen (helpinfo); 23 January 1897 18 August 1945[1]), widely known

throughout India as Netaji(Hindustani: "Respected Leader"), was an Indian nationalist and prominent
figure of the Indian independence movement, whose attempt during World War II to rid India of British
rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Japan left a troubled legacy.[4][5][6] Bose was a twice-elected
President of the Indian National Congress, founder and President of the All India Forward Bloc, and
founder and Head of State of the Provisional Government of Free India, which he led alongside the Indian
National Army from 1943 until his death in 1945. Bose is perhaps best known for his advocacy and
leadership of an armed struggle for Indian independence against the British Empire, as well as his early
calls for Purna Swaraj, or complete self-rule, for the people of India. Bose's The honorificNetaji, first
applied to Bose in Germany, by the Indian soldiers of the Indische Legion and by the German and Indian
officials in theSpecial Bureau for India in Berlin, in early 1942, was by 1990 used widely throughout India.
[7]

Earlier, Bose had been a leader of the younger, radical, wing of the Indian National Congress in the late
1920s and 1930s, rising to become Congress President in 1938 and 1939. [8] However, he was ousted
from Congress leadership positions in 1939 following differences with Mohandas K. Gandhi and the
Congress high command.[9] He was subsequently placed under house arrest by the British before
escaping from India in 1940.[10]
Bose arrived in Germany in April 1941, where the leadership offered unexpected, if sometimes
ambivalent, sympathy for the cause of India's independence, contrasting starkly with its attitudes towards
other colonised peoples and ethnic communities.[11][12] In November 1941, with German funds, a Free
India Centre was set up in Berlin, and soon a Free India Radio, on which Bose broadcast nightly. A 3,000strong Free India Legion, comprising Indians captured by Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, was also formed
to aid in a possible future German land invasion of India. [13] During this time Bose also became a father;
his wife, [3] or companion,[2]Emilie Schenkl, whom he had met in 1934, gave birth to a baby girl.[3][11] By
spring 1942, in light of Japanese victories in southeast Asia and changing German priorities, a German

invasion of India became untenable, and Bose became keen to move to southeast Asia. [14] Adolf Hitler,
during his only meeting with Bose in late May 1942, suggested the same, and offered to arrange for a
submarine.[15] Identifying strongly with the Axis powers, and no longer apologetically, Bose boarded a
German submarine in February 1943.[16][17] In Madagascar, he was transferred to a Japanese submarine
from which he disembarked in Japanese-heldSumatra in May 1943.[16]
With Japanese support, Bose revamped the Indian National Army (INA), then composed of Indian soldiers
of the British Indian army who had been captured in the Battle of Singapore.[18] To these, after Bose's
arrival, were added enlisting Indian civilians in Malaya and Singapore. The Japanese had come to
support a number of puppet and provisional governments in the captured regions, such as those
in Burma, the Philippines and Manchukuo. Before long the Provisional Government of Free India,
presided by Bose, was formed in the Japanese-occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[18][19] Bose had
great drive and charismacreating popular Indian slogans, such as "Jai Hind,"and the INA under Bose