Veeranganas: Unsung Women Warriors of India

Divya Kardile, FY MAMC

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the significance of women's veeranganas to our freedom struggle. The effort honoring the courageous women who participated in the liberation movement, which is part of the larger Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration, will signal a turning point in the writing of Indian feminist history from an Indian perspective.

Veerangana is a term meaning a courageous female who is capable of standing up for herself. A powerful woman defends not only herself but also everyone around her. Folktales, ballads, and local lore retain historical recollections of bravery and sacrifice. They show the less-celebrated side of Indian society, where women's strength was respected. The prime minister honored both well-known and lesser-known veeranganas.

Every young woman in India is familiar with Rani Lakshmi Bai, the first female combatant of the 1857 uprising. In 1857, Begum Hazrat Mahal and Lakshmi Bai entered the fight against the British, and she fought them all the way up until her death in 1879. Durgawati Devi, known as the 'Agni of India', was an armed revolutionary, an active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, and a close friend of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. She is remembered as the 'Agni of India'.

Jhalkari Bai, whose bravery-related anecdotes have been widely disseminated. Her experience illustrates the social reality in which a Dalit lady could have social and cultural value. Uda Devi was a member of the Dalit community from Awadh, an important hub for the 1857 uprising. According to reports, she organized a group of women known as 'veerangana' or 'warrior women' who were largely Dalit. The life of Asha Devi Gurjari, a Dalit who led women in an effort to restore the motherland's political self-respect, followed a similar course.

Azizan Bai, a dancing girl, was a woman who lived a double life. She was the very definition of patriotism. As befitted her occupation, Azizan gave her home to freedom fighters and revolutionaries as a gesture of affection. They used it as a gathering place and a safe haven. Later, she joined the fight for India's independence. Through a treaty, the British became the effective rulers of Punjab in 1846. Rani Jindan Kaur, the queen of the Lahore kingdom, continued to quietly resist the British in subtle ways. She was in exile in Nepal during the Revolt, from where she sent coded letters to the Maharaja of Kashmir, urging him to join the rebellion and informing him of a two-pronged attack involving him and Jung Bahadur.

These tales about the bravery of veeranganas were not specific to any one place or time, but rather fit in with the national mindset of the day. The veeranganas can change repressive views toward women in society and are a strong emblem of nationalism and patriotism. The colonial claims that women in India were suppressed throughout history are debunked by their prominence and praise in popular culture.

The Prime Minister emphasized nari shakti or women power which is present in a variety of domains including law, government, science, technology, bureaucracy, academia, and politics, following the comprehensive narrative of the veeranganas. He emphasized once more the diverse contributions made by women in both public and private settings. In order to lead the country to new heights, he also emphasized that there is still much to be done to "give opportunities and facilities to our daughters". He continued, "If the significant efforts of our nari shakti are combined to realize the dreams in the Amrit Kaal, then it will require less hard work and our time restriction will also be decreased. Our dreams will be richer, more vibrant, and more vivid.

The creation of the 'new India' that PM Modi has envisioned since entering office is a synthesis of two key elements: new ideas and policies to address new and emerging issues, and the guiding principles, beliefs, and ideals of our national ethos and independence movement.

The veeranganas are a strong representation of patriotism and nationalism. They have the power to change sexist views in society. The colonial claims that women in India were suppressed throughout history are debunked by their prominence and praise in popular culture. But it is crucial to identify, revise, and reinterpret these brave women's contributions to the liberation of the homeland. Such rewriting and reframing may also offer a means of addressing society's regressive and androcentric viewpoint.