Kids Who Fought: Inspiring Stories from India’s Freedom Struggle

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Meet the extraordinary children who played critical roles in India’s fight for independence

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Bishan Singh – Martyr at 12 In 1871, 12-year-old Bishan Singh was sentenced to death for refusing to denounce his Guru. Despite pleas for mercy, his loyalty cost him his life

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Baji Rout – Young Scout At just 12, Baji Rout refused to ferry British police across the river during an arrest operation, choosing death over cooperation

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Nandini Satpathy – Defiant at 8 An 8-year-old Nandini Satpathy climbed a police station roof to pull down the Union Jack during a procession—an act of bold defiance

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Khudiram Bose – Teen Revolutionary Khudiram Bose began revolutionary activity around age 15 and, by 17, hurled a bomb at a British official, becoming a youthful icon of resistance

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Saraswathy Rajamani – Teenage Spy At 16, Saraswathy Rajamani became one of the youngest spies in Netaji’s INA, disguised as a boy to gather intelligence and even daringly rescued a fellow spy

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Usha Mehta – Voice of Defiance From age 8, Usha Mehta joined protests. By 12, she had distributed underground publications; later, she helped sustain the India Radio movement during Quit India

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Parbati Giri – The Teen Crusader At 12, Parbati Giri campaigned with Congress, trained villagers in khadi, and at 16, led Quit India protests—eventually imprisoned for her activism

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