DR. ANNIE BESANT

Dr. Annie Besant was born to Irish parents in London on October 1, 1847. From 1893 India was her home. She is one of the foreigners who inspired patriotism among Indians. She declared in 1918, "I love Indian people as I love none other, and... my heart and my mind... have long been laid on the alter of the Motherland". She was a woman of much energy, interests and oratory. She was separated from her husband in 1873. After this she became a member of the Fabian Society and then Theosophical Society. In 1907, she was elected President of this organization. She held that position until her death.

She founded the Home Rule League in 1917. The purpose behind it was to gain freedom of the country and revive the country's cultural heritage. She attended the 1914 session of the Indian National Congress and presided over it in 1917. She could not understand the meaning of the Satyagraha movement. As a result, she withdrew from Home Rule League, in opposition to Mahatma Gandhi's leadership. She identified the talent in young men and women. Her inspiration brought up many leaders. The world famous philosopher K. Krishnamurthy is one of them.

She lived most of her remaining years in India, rejoined at last by her son and daughter. After campaigning brilliantly for Home Rule, she died in Madras in 1933.

BHAGAT SINGH

Bhagat Singh, the name itself is legendary. The courageous sardar who attained martyrdom for our country’s freedom.

Bhagat Singh was born on 27^th September 1907 in the Banga village of Layapur district in Punjab, which now is in Pakistan. Though they were farmers, his family was of patriots known for their revolutionary activities.

Since his school and college days, a hatred against the British rule built up inside him. He became a member of Noujawan Bharat Sabha, where he met Chandrasekhar Azad, Batukeshwar Dutt and others. He worked with them to spread the awareness of freedom struggle.

When Lala Lajpatrai led a silent protest march against the Simon commission, he was brutally beaten up by the British police officer Scott. This resulted in his death. Bhagat Singh, who witnessed this, decided to avenge this death by killing Scott. But by mistaken identity, he killed Sanders, a junior officer. Then he fled to escape death sentence.

When the British were going to pass an ordinance to suppress the freedom struggle, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were chosen to throw bombs in the assembly, but without causing injury to anyone. They courted arrest after throwing the bombs.

At that time Bhagat Singh’s friend turned a government approver and identified him as the killer of Sanders. Bhagat Singh did not disown the crime and fiery courtroom speech, gave reasons for killing.

When sentenced to death, he wished to be shot like soldier, but his plea was rejected. The brave hero was hanged on 23^rd march 1931 

AUROBINDO GHOSH

A great patriot, a revolutionary freedom fighter, a poet, an author, a linguist, a teacher, a yogi….Aurobindo Maharishi was all this and much more.

He was born on 15 August 1872 in Calcutta. His parents were Krishnadhana and Swarnalata Ghosh. He studied at a convent school in Darjeeling. Then did his further studies in England and returned after 14 years in 1893. He taught at Baroda and later at Calcutta. For him English was just like his own mother tongue. He had a great impact on his students with his high moral character, blending of East and West philosophy and his great patriotism.

Then he got involved in the freedom struggle. He identified more with the revolutionary ideas of Lokamanya Tilak. Aurobindo too believed in absolute autonomy and agreed that it was essential to fight for the freedom rights.

During the agitations against the partition of Bengal, he was one of the main revolutionary opposing the partition. Writing through his ‘Bande Mataram’ he spread awareness of activities of freedom struggle like, boycotting the foreign goods and using swadeshi. Several times he was jailed for his activities.

According to him, to gain the political freedom, spiritual awakening in the people was needed. With his inclination towards spiritualism, he retired from the politics and founded an Ashram at Pondicherry in 1926. He wished to bring an awakening in the new generation through Yoga, spiritualism and Vedanta.

Aurobindo wrote many books on spirituality, philosophy and Yoga, some of which are, The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, Essays Divine and Human, Savithri, The Human Cycle etc.

He died at Pondicherry on 5 December 1950. His Ashram ‘Auroville’ was looked after by his French disciple who was called ‘The Mother’.

ACHARYA VINOBA BHAVE

Sarvodaya Movement and Bhoodan Andolan cannot be separated from the name Acharya Vinoba Bhave …. The saintly freedom fighter who for the strave social, economical and religious equality.

Vinoba or Vinayak Bhave was the first child of father Narahari and mother Rugmini Bhave. He was born on 11^th September 1895 in Godode village of Colaba district in Maharashtra. He was influenced by the simplicity and spiritualism of his mother. He remained unmarried and a devout all through his life.

Vinoba was excellent in studies. Later he went to Kashi. He was very much interested in Vedas, Upanishads and other ancient Hindu scriptures.

In 1916 he joined Mahathma Gandhi’s Sabarmathi Ashram at Ahmedabad. He became Gandhiji’s disciple and worked very hard at the Ashram. With his deep knowledge of Bhagavat Gita, he conducted discourses at the Ashram.

Later, on Gandhiji’s suggestion, Vinoba took charge of the Wardha Ashram, which was founded on industrialist Jamnalal Baja’s insistence. Vinoba took part in the Nagpur flag sathyagraha and then temple entry movement. Many times he was imprisoned during the freedom struggle. He conducted long distance Padyatras, visited several villages, worked for the Harijans and spread awareness of freedom struggle. He maintained strict discipline and Gandhian ideals at his Ashram.

Vinoba wished that every village should be totally independent and should produce all the necessary things within itself. He introduced the concept  of Bhoodan … taking taking donations of lands from the landlords and distributing them among the poor landless farmers. The Sarvodaya Movement initiated by him insisted on equality among all.

In the later years he retired to the Pavnar Ashram near Nagpur and continued his spiritual activities. On 15^th November 1982 he died at the age of 88. Government of India honoured him with Bharat Ratna.