ROLE OF EDUCATION IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE

When Indian Freedom Struggle is thought? What comes first in our mind? Probably, the
name of Ali Brothers , Chandra Shekhar Azad ,Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Laxmi Bai, Subhash
Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh Baba Saheb ,Abul Kalam Azad and many more. We know
about their roles, contributions and their achievements but how did they do so? What led
them sacrifice their lives for Indian Independence

Fig. 1 Education in a cycle leading to freedom

Indian freedom struggle and its seeds were cultivated long ago with the beginning of
education phase of our freedom fighters. Proper education imparts knowledge and develops
awareness, communication and various skills. The success of most of the passive and active
movements was the result of those seeds (See Fig.1) sown into their minds and thus, their
heroic act of uniting whole country against the shrewd British rule was remarkable. The
question arises here, how their education was an important part of their role they played?

Awareness, Knowledge and Communication

All three are the initial outcome of education. Various movements led by Mahatma Gandhi
such as Non-cooperation, Champaran and Salt Satyagraha, all had a common cause and that
was imposition of rules by Imperialistic Government. Gandhi, being a lawyer understood the
consequences of those rules on Indians, their rights and Indian Independence. He was aware
that a large mass of people including women and even children can participate in the
movement of non-violence, instead of violence, where the life was at stake. Other side of the
movement was led by intellectuals like Rabindra Nath Tagore who tried uniting every Indian
in a single thread of ‘love for freedom’. He reached and communicated every Indian heart
with his poems, music and other writings and influenced them to participate in the freedom
struggle.

Intellectual Skills and Decision Making

Awareness and knowledge lead to development of intellectual skills. Subhash Chandra Bose
and his strategies to take Indian National Movement at International Level for seeking
financial and Arm support from Germany, Japan, rich personnel and Hitler, shows his fervent
nationalism. When Hitler denied for support, Bose moved to Japan and convinced them to
fight against British, while speaking in a conference in India. In 1943 he revived “Azaad
Hind Fauj” out of Indian POW (Prisoners of War) captured by Japan and formed an alliance
with Japanese forces. In 1944, INA along with Japanese troops was defeated by British
Army. It was not a setback for the dream of Independence; instead it left a strong mark in
Indian hearts to fight with more zeal. Somewhere, Bose knew that his army may not
overcome British forces; despite he moved on to leave that strong message for Indians.

Leadership and Visionary

Intellectual skills and decision making power makes you a leader and visionary. Gandhi once
even convinced Bose to join him and choose the path of non-violence in Indian freedom
struggle. He was a great visionary too. He believed that the path of violence will contaminate
the goal of Independence and non-violence is the strongest weapon against Britishers. Akin to
him, a prominent leader and successful lawyer, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the mission for
uniting the princely states with the Union at the time of Independence. Bose gave slogans like
“Hindu Muslim Sikh Isaai hum aapas mein hain bhai-bhai” to Indian POW(Prisoner of War)
in Germany, while motivating them to fight against British for their land. He wanted to have
a community for the future of India. Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, one of the foremost leaders
of Indian freedom struggle contributed in establishing the education foundation in India
before and after the Independence. . So there should be freedom in education if it can lead to
freedom.