Evaluate the contribution of revolutionaries of Uttar Pradesh in the Indian freedom struggle

India’s freedom struggle was a long and difficult journey. Many brave men and women from different parts of the country fought against British rule. One such important region was Uttar Pradesh (UP). The revolutionaries of UP played a major role in the fight for independence. Their courage, sacrifice, and love for the country inspired millions of Indians.

In this article, we will learn about the contribution of these great heroes from Uttar Pradesh in the Indian freedom movement.

Why Uttar Pradesh Was Important

Uttar Pradesh was at the heart of British India. Many important cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, and Allahabad were in UP. These cities were not only cultural and religious centers, but also centers of politics and education.

Because of this, many freedom fighters came from this region. They raised their voices against the British and took part in various movements like the Revolt of 1857, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, and more.

The First War of Independence – 1857 Revolt

The Revolt of 1857 was the first big fight against British rule. It began in Meerut, a city in UP. It is also called the First War of Indian Independence. This revolt spread quickly to many other parts of the country.

Key Leaders from Uttar Pradesh in 1857:

1.Mangal Pandey (Ballia):

o   He was a soldier in the British army.

o   He refused to use the new cartridges that were against his religion.

o   He attacked a British officer and was later hanged.

o   His bravery made him a symbol of resistance.

2.Begum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow):

o   She was the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

o   When the British took over Awadh, she led the fight to free Lucknow.

o   She encouraged people to join the revolt.

o   She fought bravely but had to leave India later.

3.Rani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi, near UP border):

o   Although from present-day Madhya Pradesh, her influence was strong in UP.

o   She fought against British forces in Jhansi and later joined hands with leaders from UP.

4.Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope also led revolts from Kanpur and nearby areas.

The revolt of 1857 failed, but it showed the courage of Indians and inspired future generations.

Role in Later Freedom Movements

After 1857, India saw many movements to fight British rule. Uttar Pradesh was active in almost all of them.

1. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)

• Led by Mahatma Gandhi, this movement asked people to stop working with the British.
• People left government jobs, schools, and courts.
• In UP, many leaders encouraged people to support this movement.

2. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

• People refused to obey British laws.
• They protested peacefully and refused to pay taxes.
• UP saw mass participation in this movement.

3. Quit India Movement (1942)

• It was the final push to remove the British.
• People shouted the slogan “Do or Die”.
• Many leaders from UP were arrested.

Great Revolutionaries of Uttar Pradesh

Now let’s learn about some of the brave revolutionaries from UP who made great sacrifices for India’s freedom.

1. Ram Prasad Bismil (Shahjahanpur)

• He was one of the most famous revolutionaries of India.
• He was a member of Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).
• He took part in the Kakori Train Robbery in 1925, where freedom fighters looted British government money.
• He was caught and hanged in 1927.
• His poem “Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna” became the voice of freedom fighters.

2. Ashfaqulla Khan (Shahjahanpur)

• A close friend of Bismil, he was also involved in the Kakori case.
• He belonged to a Muslim family but worked closely with Hindu revolutionaries.
• His friendship with Bismil showed the unity among Indians.
• He was also hanged in 1927.

3. Chandrashekhar Azad (Born in MP, but active in UP)

• Though born in Madhya Pradesh, he worked mainly in UP, especially in Allahabad.
• He was part of the HRA and later HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association).
• He promised never to be caught alive.
• He shot himself during a police encounter in Alfred Park, Allahabad (now Azad Park).

4. Bhagwati Charan Vohra (Lucknow)

• A key member of HSRA.
• He believed in revolutionary ideas and wrote pamphlets against the British.
• He died while testing a bomb near the Ravi River.

5. Raja Mahendra Pratap (Hathras)

• A prince who gave up his royal life for India’s freedom.
• He went abroad and tried to form a government-in-exile.
• He worked with leaders from many countries to get support for Indian independence.

6. Purushottam Das Tandon (Allahabad)

• A great leader who worked for Hindu-Muslim unity.
• He was active in the Congress party.
• He believed in non-violence and was a close associate of Gandhi.

Role of Students and Youth in UP

Students and young people from UP were very active in the freedom struggle. Many schools and colleges became centers of revolutionary ideas.

• Allahabad University and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were important places where young minds got inspired to fight for freedom.
• Many students left their studies to join the movements led by Gandhi and other leaders.
• Youth groups secretly printed pamphlets, organized protests, and even made bombs in some cases.

Women's Contribution from UP

Women from UP also played a big role in the freedom struggle.

• Begum Rokeya and Begum Hazrat Mahal were among the early women freedom fighters.
• Later, women like Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, Smt. Sucheta Kriplani, and others led protests and served jail time.
• Sucheta Kriplani, from Ambala (but politically active in UP), later became the first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Importance of Literature and Culture

The writers and poets of UP also inspired people to fight for freedom through their words.

• Munshi Premchand from Varanasi wrote stories about the pain of common people under British rule.
• Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, and Maithili Sharan Gupt wrote poems that awakened patriotic feelings.

Songs, plays, and books from UP helped spread nationalist feelings across India.

Jails and British Repression in UP

Many freedom fighters from all over India were sent to jails in UP like Naini Jail (Allahabad) and Lucknow Jail. These jails became symbols of British cruelty.

Despite the torture, revolutionaries from UP continued to raise their voices for justice.

After Independence

After 1947, many freedom fighters from UP took part in building the new India.

• Govind Ballabh Pant from Almora (now in Uttarakhand but then part of UP) became the Chief Minister and later Home Minister of India.
• Jawaharlal Nehru, though born in Allahabad to a Kashmiri family, represented UP in politics and became the first Prime Minister of India.

The revolutionaries of Uttar Pradesh played a huge role in India’s freedom struggle. From the Revolt of 1857 to the Quit India Movement, they were always at the front. Some chose peaceful methods, while others took up arms. Some wrote, others fought. But all had one dream – a free India.

Their courage, sacrifice, and love for the motherland will always be remembered. We should honor them by learning about their lives and living as responsible citizens of the free country they helped build.