TOPIC 6.8 IMPORTANT NATIONAL LEADERS
1.Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917)
He was the first Indian to demand Swaraj in the Calcutta Session of INC, 1906.
He was also known as the Indian Gladstone, Grand Old Man of India.
He was the first Indian to be elected to the House of Commons on Liberal Party ticket.
He highlighted the draining of wealth from India by the British and its effect in his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901).
2.Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1857-1920)
He was awarded with the title Lokmanya.
He established a new English school at Poona. He was the editor of Maratha in English and Kesari in Marathi.
He joined INC in 1891 and moved an Arms Act Resolution.
He celebrated the Ganapati pooja and the Shivaji festival.
He collaborated with Agarkar and set up institutions to give economically feasible education to people.
He was called Bal, Lala Lajpat Rai was called Lal and Bipin Chandra Pal was called Pal.
They were called the trio of Lal, Bal, Pal, an extremist group.
He founded the Home Rule League in 1916 and helped in ushering the Lucknow Pact and the Reforms Act at the Amritsar Congress in 1919.
He demanded swaraj and gave the slogan Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.
Valentine Chortle described him as the Father of Indian unrest.
He wrote the books The Arctic Home of Vedas and Gita Rahasya.
3.Rabindranath Tagore (1861-941)
He was a poet, philosopher, educationist, internationalist and a patriot.
His elder brother, Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to become an ICS.
His first poem was published in the ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika' and then he wrote Banaphul’ (story) and Bhanusinher Padavali’ (series of lyrics). He founded Shantiniketan near Bolpur on 22nd December, 1901.
He wrote Gitanjali, which fetched him the Nobel Prize in 1913.
He inaugurated Raksha Bandhan festival to oppose the Partition of Bengal (1905).
He founded the Vishva Bharati University.
In 1915, the British Crown granted him a knighthood, which he renounced after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
His compositions were chosen as National Anthem by two nations
1. India-Jana Gana Mana
2. Bangladesh—Amclr Sonar Bangla
4.Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928)
He was a courageous man, so he was called The Lion of Punjab (Sher-a-Punjab).
He was inspired by Mahatma Hans Raj. Being an Arya Samajist, he helped in establishment of the DAV College at Lahore.
He withdrew his name from the presidency list of the INC at its Surat session. He was the President of the special session of the Congress at Calcutta, 1920.
He opposed the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. He founded the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru and CR Das.
He was injured during a demonstration against the Simon Commission in 1928.
He was the editor of the Bande Matram, The Punjab and The People.
5.Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915)
Gandhiji regarded him as his political guru.
He was the President of the Banaras Session of INC, 1905, supported the Swadeshi Movement.
He was the founder of the Servants of Indian Society in 1905, to train people, who would work as national missionaries.
6.Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
Gandhi came to India in 1915. He already had Satyagrahas in South Africa in 1907, Satyagrahas were done against compulsory registration and passes for Indians. In 1910, against immigration restrictions, and
derecognition of Non-Christian Indian marriages.He followed the doctrine of Ahimsa.
The Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, against the Tinkathia System led by him, was his first success in India.
The Ahmedabad Satyagraha, where there was a dispute between the mill owner and workers over the plague bonus’ was also a success. Gandhi then advised the worker to go on strike and he undertook a hunger strike, after which the mill owners were pressured to accept the tribunal award of 35 per cent increase in wages.
The peasants of Kheda district were in extreme distress due to the failure of crops and the government ignored their appeals for the remission of land revenue. Gandhiji advised them to withhold the revenue and fight until death.
7.Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (1879-1972)
He was a politician and lawyer from Tamil Nadu.
He gave up his practice during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
He held the post of the General-Secretary of the INC in 1921-1922 and was a member of the Congress Working Committee from 1922 to 1924.
He started the Civil Disobedience Movement in Tamil Nadu and was arrested for leading a Salt March from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast.
He was elected as the Chief Minister of Madras in 1937 elections.
He resigned from Indian National Congress in 1942 for not accepting the Cripps’ Proposal.
He prepared the CR Formula for Congress-League Cooperation.
He served as the Governor of Bengal (August-November 1947) and was the first and last Indian Governor-General of India (1948-50).
He became the Minister of Home Affairs in the country’s first cabinet.
He founded the Swatantra Party in 1959. His rational ideas are reflected in the collection Satyameva Jayate.
He was awarded with the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
8.Dr. Rajindra Prasad (1884-1963)
He participated in Swadeshi Movement (established) Bihari Students, Conference), Champaran Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement.
He founded the National College at Patna.
He was elected as the Minister Incharge of Food and Agriculture in the Interim Government (1946)
He was the President of the Constituent Assembly.
He became the First President of the Indian Republic. He was honoured with Bharat Ratna in 1962.
He edited the newspaper-Desh (Hindi weekly).
9.Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)
He became the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress in 1928 and the President in 1929.
The Independence resolution was passed under his Presidency at the Lahore Session.
He was the first Prime Minister of Republic India (from 1947 to 1964), also known as Architect of Modern India. He authored the Doctrine of Panchen and believed in the policy of non-alignment.
Books—The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, A Bunch of Old Letters, The Unity of India,
Independence and After, India and the World, etc.His autobiography was entitled as Auto-biography.
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891-1956)
Dr Ambedkar was the great leader of the depressed class and an eminent jurist.
He set up a network of colleges in the name of People’s Education Society.
He founded the Depressed Classes Institute (1924) and Samaj Samata Sangh (1927).
He participated in all the Three Round Table Conferences of London and signed the Poona Pact with Gandhiji in 1932.
He was in the Governor-General’s Executive Council from 1942 to 1946 and organised the Indian Labour Party and Scheduled Caste Federation.
He became the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution.
As the first Law Minister of Independent India, he introduced the Hindu Code Bill.
He started The Republican Party in 1956.
He embraced Buddhism towards the end of his life.
10.Subhash Chandra Bose
He passed the Indian Civil Services Examination in 1920 in England, but left it on Gandhiji’s call of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
He founded the independence for India League with Jawaharlal Nehru.
He was elected as the President of INC at its Haripura Session (1938) and Tripuri Session (1939), but resigned from Tripun due to differences with Gandhiji.
He founded the Forward Bloc (1939) and Kisan Sabha.
He escaped to Berlin in 1941 and met Hitler. He took charge of the Indian Army (Azad Hind Fauz) in 1943 in Singapore and set up the Indian Provisional Government there.
He addressed Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation.
He supposedly died in a plane crash in 1945.
He gave the famous slogans — Dilli Chalo and Jai Hind.
The India Struggle was his autobiography.
Bhagat Singh (1907-1931)
He was a member of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
He started the ‘Militant Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ in Punjab.
He killed British official Saunders in 1928 and was involved in Lahore Conspiracy and bombed the Central
Legislative Assembly.He was executed on 23rd March, 1931.
11.Bhagat Singh
Early Life and Education:
Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, in Banga, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan). He came from a family of freedom fighters and was deeply influenced by the nationalist movement from a young age. He was an avid reader and was inspired by the writings of Marx, Lenin, and other revolutionary thinkers.
Role in the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA):
Bhagat Singh joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a revolutionary organization committed to ending British rule in India through direct action. He played a significant role in organizing revolutionary activities and was instrumental in popularizing the ideas of socialism and anti-colonialism among the youth.
Central Legislative Assembly Bombing:
On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, threw non-lethal bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest against repressive laws and to make the deaf British government hear the voice of Indians. They deliberately avoided causing harm and allowed themselves to be arrested, using the trial as a platform to propagate their revolutionary message.
Martyrdom:
Bhagat Singh was involved in the assassination of John Saunders, a British police officer, in 1928, as a retaliation for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. He was arrested and later tried for the murder. Despite a spirited defense, Bhagat Singh was sentenced to death. He, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, was executed on March 23, 1931. Bhagat Singh's execution sparked widespread outrage and further galvanized the Indian independence movement, making him a national martyr and a symbol of resistance against British rule.
12.Jawaharlal Nehru:
Early Life and Education:
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, British India. He came from a prominent and wealthy family; his father, Motilal Nehru, was a successful lawyer and an influential leader in the Indian National Congress. Nehru was educated at Harrow School in England and later at Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied law at the Inner Temple in London and returned to India in 1912 as a barrister.
Role in the Indian Independence Movement:
Nehru was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. He played a pivotal role in the non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience movement, and the Quit India Movement. He was a charismatic leader who championed the cause of complete independence (Purna Swaraj) and was imprisoned several times by the British for his activities. Nehru’s vision of a secular, democratic, and socialist India greatly influenced the Indian independence struggle.
First Prime Minister of Independent India:
After India gained independence on August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. He served as Prime Minister until his death in 1964. Nehru laid the foundation for modern India through his policies of industrialization, modernization, and scientific advancement. He also played a key role in establishing a parliamentary democracy and promoting non-alignment in international relations.
Architect of Modern India:
Nehru is often referred to as the architect of modern India. He focused on building a strong, self-reliant nation with an emphasis on scientific progress and technological development. Nehru established several institutions of higher learning, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). His vision of a mixed economy, with both public and private sectors, aimed to combine the strengths of socialism and capitalism. Nehru's policies and leadership left a lasting legacy on India's political, social, and economic landscape.
13.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
Early Life and Legal Career:
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat. He pursued a career in law, establishing himself as a successful barrister. He was known for his keen legal acumen and leadership qualities, which later played a crucial role in his political career.
Role in the Indian Independence Movement:
Sardar Patel became a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the struggle for independence. He was instrumental in organizing peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience against oppressive British policies, earning him the title "Sardar" (leader) after the successful Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928.
Deputy Prime Minister and Integration of Princely States:
After India gained independence in 1947, Sardar Patel became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He played a pivotal role in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union, using diplomacy, persuasion, and, when necessary, force. His efforts earned him the title "Iron Man of India" for his steadfast resolve and unifying efforts.
Legacy and Contribution to Modern India:
Sardar Patel is remembered for his unwavering commitment to national unity and integrity. His efforts laid the foundation for a strong and united India. In recognition of his contributions, the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, was erected in his honor in Gujarat in 2018. His legacy continues to inspire leaders and citizens alike in the pursuit of a cohesive and robust nation.
14.Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India:
Early Life and Education:
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He was educated at Kashi Vidyapeeth, where he earned the title of "Shastri" (a degree equivalent to a Master's degree). His early education and political consciousness were influenced by the nationalist movements and the freedom struggle.
Role in the Freedom Struggle:
Shastri joined the Indian freedom struggle in his youth and became an active participant in the Indian National Congress. He was involved in various protests and movements, including the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Quit India Movement. His commitment to the cause led to his imprisonment several times by the British authorities.
Ministerial Positions:
Before becoming Prime Minister, Shastri held several key positions in Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. Notably, he served as the Minister of Transport and Communications, where he was instrumental in promoting road and rail infrastructure and in implementing policies that improved public transportation.
Prime Ministership and Policies:
Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India on June 9, 1964, following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru. His tenure is remembered for his efforts to promote agricultural growth through the "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" slogan, which emphasized the importance of both soldiers and farmers for national development. He also played a significant role in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, leading India to victory and strengthening national security.
Legacy and Death:
Shastri's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by his emphasis on simplicity, integrity, and dedication to public service. He passed away on January 11, 1966, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under circumstances that remain somewhat mysterious. His legacy is honored through various institutions and his contributions to Indian politics and development are widely respected.
