Top 10 Important Places to Visit to Witness India's Freedom Struggle

Anecdotes of the freedom struggle covered by the dust of time might appear hazy, yet the fire in them is still afresh. As India celebrates its 75th Independence, let us recount the innate passion of the freedom fighters and the mammoth mass movement which stimulated individuals of different ideologies into action bringing down to knees a mighty colonial realm.

Here’s a rundown of some of the places related to the Indian freedom struggle that made history and played an integral part in India's freedom struggle.

Places Related To Indian Freedom Struggle -Historically Important Places In India:

• Kolkata (Calcutta)
• Amritsar, Punjab
• Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
• Bangladesh
• Champaran, Bihar
• Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh
• Kakori, Uttar Pradesh
• Dandi, Gujarat
• Lahore, Punjab (Now in Pakistan)
• Delhi
• Port Blair, Andaman Islands
• Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Kolkata (Calcutta),

Kolkata in West Bengal (called Calcutta then) served as the nucleus of Indian Nationalism all through India's struggle for freedom. The place of origin of the Indian National Association, founded by Anandamohan Bose and Surendranath Banerjee, was also the spot from where Mahatma Gandhi began the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 to curb foreign goods by relying on domestic production. 

Calcutta remained the hub of Indian leaders brainstorming strategies and political moves to break the tyranny of the British Raj. The fear of emerging jingoism in Calcutta forced the Britishers to shift the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911.

Related Article: Top Seven Places to Visit in West Bengal | West Bengal Tourist Places

Amritsar, Punjab

Amritsar in Punjab is one of those places crucial to India's independence. Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar stands proof to one of the most gruesome acts of violence in human history. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place on 13th April 1919, fuelled the fire of vengeance and antagonism across the revolutionary groups of India. Reginald Dyer, a British Army Commander, was the man behind this cruellest human slaughter as he ordered his army to open fire on the innocent crowd of non-violent protestors and Baisakhi Pilgrims that had peacefully assembled at the Jallianwala ground. Jallianwala Bagh was no less than a turning point for India’s fight for freedom and was one of the most important freedom struggle places in India. 

Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

Jhansi is the homeland of Rani Laxmi Bai, an iconic woman who changed the course of Indian history. Jhansi was the legendary battleground of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 waged against the British. Rani Laxmi Bai was a true rebel whose patriotism left a path-breaking impact on the fight for freedom. Her unflinching love for the country was so that she did not lay her weapons until her last breath. She fought valiantly like a man, and this is how she earned the title of Jhansi Ki Rani.

Bangladesh

Chittagong located in present-day Bangladesh is the place well-known for Chittagong Armoury Raid that took place in 1930. Surya Sen, a brave-hearted revolutionary and a group of young radicals, planned to lay a cordon to police armouries in Chittagong. Surya Sen and his troop took into custody the police armoury. They cut off the telegraph lines and hoisted the National Flag.

Champaran, Bihar

Champaran witnessed the first Satyagraha movement in 1917, which gained historical importance in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Initiated by Mahatma Gandhi, it was a non-violent movement against the British who forced Indian farmers to cultivate indigo used for dying clothes, not letting them grow crops necessary for survival. Champaran was the place that later became the tipping point for non-violence politics and was an important place during India's freedom struggle.

Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh

Chauri Chaura incident held in 1922 in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh also accounts for the struggle of Indians to get rid of the oppression of the British. The event took place when a large group of protestors participating in the non-cooperation movement clashed with the police in return for which the police opened fire on them. In response, the protestors demonstrated their anger by setting the police station on fire. This retaliation conveyed the message to the Britishers that the Indians in no way are going to step back.

Kakori, Uttar Pradesh

The Kakori case is one among the most talked about when it comes to the Indian Independence Movement. The objective was to plunder the train carrying money belonging to the treasury of the British government. The plan was given shape by the fearless duo Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan, who had decided to purchase weapons from the looted money. The Kakori case stood out as a base for ground-breaking activities that later took place during the freedom struggle.

Dandi, Gujarat

The most influential protest of all times, Dandi March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. The base of this movement was to revolt against the increased tax imposed on salt by the British. Dandi March changed the world scenario giving a new face to India’s freedom struggle. Dandi in Gujarat is one of the most prominent places associated with the freedom struggle.

Related Article: 18 Facts About Gujarat You Didn’t Know (But Should)

Lahore, Punjab (Now in Pakistan)

The city of Lahore was central to the Indian Independence Movement. Congress meeting of 1929 was held at Lahore for the first time. In the Lahore session, the Indian National Flag (the tricolour) was adopted as the National Flag, and 26th January was announced as Independence Day for India. Sardar Bhagat Singh, the legendary freedom fighter in India’s struggle for freedom, was hanged here.

Related Article: Must-visit Places That Were A Part Of India’s Freedom Struggle

Delhi

The historic Red Fort in Delhi became a symbol of independent India, where the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised the Indian national flag on August 15, 1947. 

On the midnight of August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his historic ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, announcing India's independence to the world. The speech resonated with hope and determination, marking the beginning of a new era for the nation.

Port Blair, Andaman Islands

The Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, was used by the British to imprison several prominent freedom fighters. It was known for its inhumane treatment of prisoners, and many brave souls endured immense hardships while incarcerated here.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

In this historic city, the Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress in 1916 witnessed an important development when the Lucknow Pact was signed between the Congress and the Muslim League, promoting Hindu-Muslim unity in the struggle for self-rule.

This Independence Day, let us remember and honour the national heroes and their struggle to free our country from the shackles of British rule. Remember, they were, hence we are.