Born on November 22, 1830, Jhalkari Bai was an incredible warrior and

a prominent fighter during the rebellion of 1857.Even though she hailed

from a humble background, she rose the ranks to become an advisor to
the legendary Rani Laxmibai and they even shared an uncanny
resemblance. During the battle of the fort of Jhansi, which was attacked
with the overwhelming force of the British commanded by General
Rose, LaxmiBai was forced to flee with her son. Jhalkari sprung to action
and without thinking twice about the kind of danger she was putting
herself in, she disguised herself as the queen and went back to the
battlefield, took command of the army and walked right up to General
Rose’s camp. However, a man named DULHA JOO identified her and she
was imprisoned. Her cause of death was never confirmed.
Another notable hero of Indian independence, Matangini Hazra, born on
19 October 1870 was an Indian revolutionary who participated in the
Indian independence movement. She was affectionately known as Gandhi
buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi. In 1905, she became actively interested
in the Indian independence movement as a Gandhian .In 1932, she took
part in the Non-Cooperation Movement and was arrested for breaking the
Salt Act. She was promptly released but protested for the abolition of the
tax. Arrested again, she was incarcerated for six months at Baharampur.
After being released, she became an active member of the Indian
National Congress. In 1933, she also attended the subdivisional Congress
conference at Serampore and was injured in the ensuing baton charge by
the police. She was shot dead by the British Indian police in front of the
Tamluk Police Station on 29 September 1942.
There are many more unsung heroes whose contributions are left
ignored. With these popular faces, we have somehow forgotten the faces
of the others who have contributed to the freedom struggle. We should
even honour the contributions of the unsung heroes of our times, the
people who dedicate their entire being and serve the country in different
ways. They include our doctors, nurses, soldiers, teachers, welfare
workers, labourers and every other citizen who work tirelessly to improve
the state of our country. To all these unsung heroes we pay our homage.