Top 10 Famous Freedom Fighters From Punjab, India

India’s freedom struggle against the British saw participation from people throughout the country. From the north to the south and the east to the west of India, thousands of women and men fought against the tyranny of the British. Many selflessly sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom, while other freedom fighters got imprisoned or suffered injuries. In our series of the top 10 lists of freedom fighters from various states, we bring you the most relevant list of the foremost Top 10 Famous Freedom Fighters From Punjab to honour their sacrifice. 

India’s Unsung Heroes: List Of Ten Brave Freedom Fighters Of Punjab

Punjab is a state known for bravery and courage, and no wonder it has many famous freedom fighters who contributed significantly to Indian independence from British rule. Punjab’s contribution to the freedom struggle of India is replete with stories of courage, bravery, and valour. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation; some even became martyrs and are remembered as heroes, while others faced great hardships. Here is a list of Punjab’s top freedom fighters, in no particular order. 

1. Prithvi Singh Azad

First on the list of freedom fighters of Punjab is Prithvi Singh Azad. Born on 15th September, 1982, near Mohali, Punjab, he joined India’s freedom struggle in his teens, inspired by leaders like Khudiram Bose and Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak. In 1912, he travelled to the USA, where he met founder Lala Har Dayal of the Ghadar Party, a militant group started by Indians in North America to demand India’s independence. Azad assisted in the formation of Hindustan Ghadar, the party’s branch in India. After World War I broke out, the Ghadar Party started an uprising in India to overthrow the British. But that was unsuccessful. Later, he was detained and tried in court as part of the Lahore Conspiracy case. He was imprisoned for a decade in many jails across the country but managed to escape to Russia. Returning from Russia, he joined Gandhi’s freedom movement. He was arrested several times between 1933 and 1947 but remained undeterred. Post-independence, he became the Labour Minister in Punjab and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1977. He died on March 5, 1989, at the age of 96.  

2. Lala Lajpat Rai

The role of Punjab in the freedom struggle is very significant in Indian history and one such person who played a major part is Lala Lajpat Rai. Born in 1865, in Dhudike, Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian revolutionary popularly called the ‘Lion of Punjab’ or ‘Punjab Kesari’. He studied law but was inspired by Swami Dayananda Saraswati and joined the Arya Samaj. Along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, they formed the trio of inspirational leaders, Lal-Bal-Pal. He participated in many political agitations in Punjab and opposed Bengal’s partition. Lala Lajpat Rai protested the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh, the Rowlatt Act, and supported Gandhi’s noncooperation movement in 1920. In 1928, he passed a resolution against the Simon Commission as there were no Indian members and while leading a silent protest against it, he was brutally lathi-charged. He sustained injuries, succumbed to them in 1928, and became a martyr. As one of the top Punjabi freedom fighters of India, he continued to inspire many youngsters to participate in the freedom movement.

3. Bhagat Singh

Born on 28th September 1907, Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary freedom fighter whose bravery and death at the young age of 23 left an indelible mark in the minds of people even today. He is among the top 10 famous freedom fighters from Punjab during British rule. Bhagat Singh started his journey as a freedom fighter in his teens, inspired by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the deaths of Lala Lajpat Rai and Kartar Singh and embraced revolutionary ways. He established the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) along with Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev, etc. His acts of defiance include the killing of John Saunders, who he mistook as James Scott, in 1928 for revenge against the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, and the bombing of Delhi’s central legislative assembly in 1929. He and his associates were arrested, but they used the trial for this case as a platform to promote their cause and were eventually executed on March 23, 1931. His sacrifice in the quest for freedom gave him the name Shaheed-e-Azam (Great Martyr).

4. Sardar Ajit Singh

Born on February 23, 1981, Ajit Singh was among the Punjab freedom fighters who was a revolutionary and a dissident during British rule of India. He was Sardar Kishan Singh’s brother and Bhagath Singh’s uncle, and he was an early protester who challenged the British. He organised protests against the Punjab Colonisation Act (amendment), which was anti-farmer. He, along with Lala Lajpat Rai, was exiled to Mandalay, Burma. Due to unrest in the Indian Army and public pressure, both were released in 1907. Post his release, he continued his work for independence and shifted his base many times from one country to another, forming alliance networks for the freedom struggle. He was arrested by the Allied forces in Italy in 1945. Due to his confinement in prison, his health failed, and with great diplomatic efforts, he was brought back to India, where he died on the day India gained independence. 

5. Sukhdev Thapar

Next on our top 10 list is a braveheart who sacrificed himself for India’s freedom. Born on May 15, 1907, in Naughara village, Ludhiana district of Punjab, Sukhdev Thapar deserves to be mentioned as one of the top 10 freedom fighters in Punjab. He was a member of the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) and organised many revolutionary cells across North India, including Punjab. He co-founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha in Lahore to inspire and mobilise youth for the freedom fight. He played a major role in many revolutionary activities, including the Prison Hunger Strike in 1929, protesting against the way the protestors were treated. In 1928, he, along with Shivaram Rajguru and Bhagat Singh, killed J.P. Saunders, who was a deputy superintendent, instead of killing James A Scott, who was the police chief, due to a mistaken identity. Called the Lahore conspiracy, it led to his arrest and execution on March 23, 1931, at the age of 24. This day is observed as Martyr’s Day (Shaheed Diwas) across India to commemorate the sacrifice and bravery. 

6. Saifuddin Kitchlew

Freedom fighters of Punjab and their contribution need to be always remembered. Saifuddin Kitchlew is one such hero whose legacy endures. Born on January 15, 1987, in Amritsar, Punjab, Saifuddin Kitchlew was an activist for Indian independence, a barrister, and later a politician. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and was also Amritsar’s Municipal Commissioner during the Rowlatt Act imposition by the British. However, due to his conviction, he quit his profession and became involved in the Non-cooperation Movement. He participated in the movement along with Dr. Satyapal and Mahatma Gandhi, which led to his arrest. In response, a protest rally on April 13, 1919, at Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh was arranged, which led to the infamous massacre. After this, he continued to engage in the freedom movement, got imprisoned, and was one of those who were opposed to India’s partition. His house was burned down for speaking against the partition of India. He moved to Delhi after this and worked for better relations with the then USSR. He died on October 9, 1963.  

7. Udham Singh

Born on December 26, in Sunam, Punjab, Udham Singh was a revolutionary. He was a member of the HSRA and the Ghadar Party. Udham Singh ranks among the top ten famous freedom fighters of Punjab for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer. The former lieutenant governor of Punjab was killed as revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh incident by Singh, who was a survivor of this incident. Udham Singh was then convicted of the murder and hanged in 1940. When he was in custody for the murder, he called himself Ram Mohammed Singh Azad, which symbolically represents the major Indian religions and his anti-colonialism. He was one of the famous freedom fighters of Punjab and was called Shaheed-e-Azam (the Great Martyr). 

8. Kartar Singh Sarabha

Age was never a constraint for those who longed for and strived for India’s freedom! This is evident from the story of this next freedom fighter. Kartar Singh Sarabha, born on May 24, 1895, in Sarabha, Ludhiana, is another revolutionary on our list of the top 10 freedom fighters of Punjab. Orphaned at a young age, he came from a well-to-do family and was raised by his grandfather in Orissa. He was college-educated and moved to the United States in 1912 for further studies. When he was in the USA, he experienced discrimination, and this led him to become a revolutionary. In 1913, he became a member of the Ghadar Party, which was launched to overthrow the British in India. Sarabha played an important role in their newsprint. When World War 1 broke out, the party wanted to attack the British, and they relocated to Punjab armed with weapons. But this attack was foiled by the British due to a betrayal by a spy. Sarabha was arrested in 1915, tried, and convicted in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. He was hanged to death on November 16, 1915, at the young age of 19. His sacrifice inspired many revolutionaries, like Bhagat Singh, to continue the fight for freedom. 

9. Lala Achint Ram

Born in Tarn, Taran, Punjab, in 1898, Lala Achint Ram is one of the 10 famous freedom fighters of India and an Indian National Congress party member. In 1921, he was one of the first members of the Servants of People Society, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai. He was actively involved in the freedom movement and spent many years in prison for his involvement in the Quit India movement and civil disobedience movement. After partition, he moved from Lahore to Delhi, where he was an Assembly member. He donated his land as part of Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan movement and was considered a man known to sacrifice his all for the country. 

10. Gulab Kaur

Born in 1890, in Bakshiwala, Sangrur, Punjab, Gulab Kaur was one of the top female freedom fighters from Punjab and a fearless Ghadarite. She married Mann Singh and migrated to Manila in search of a better livelihood. Mann Singh attended a Ghadar Party program and enlisted as a volunteer in the struggle for Indian independence, only to back out. But Gulab was undeterred, and she even left her husband to join the freedom struggle. She, along with other Ghadarites, sailed to India. Subsequently, she mobilised people in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala villages to join the armed struggle. Despite the failure of the Ghadar uprising, she stuck to their ideology and was even imprisoned for two years. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1941 and could not see India gain independence. Her role in India’s freedom struggle is recorded in a book called Gadar Di Dhee Gulaab Kaur. 

The Eternal Inspiration From Punjab’s Freedom Fighters

So, there you have it. These are the courageous individuals from Punjab who played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle, fearlessly dedicating themselves to shaping India’s destiny. As we enjoy our freedom today, it is important to remember all those who made great sacrifices to give us this freedom. Their struggles should inspire us to uphold the values of freedom and unity.

Let us know which of these freedom fighters inspired you the most. Mail us at [email protected] for any suggestions that you might have!

Frequently Asked Questions About The Freedom Fighters Of Punjab

1. Why is Lala Lajpat Rai called The Lion of Punjab?

Lala Lajpat Rai is called Punjab Kesari or the Lion of Punjab for his courageous activities and brave leadership in the struggle against the British.  

2. Who is known as Punjab Kesari?

Lala Lajpat Rai is called the Punjab Kesari or the Lion of Punjab.

3. Where was Bhagat Singh hanged?

Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore Jail on 23 March 1931, and this day is observed as Martyrs Day.