By Shree Sauparnika V

When we think of our freedom struggle, we often imagine towering  leaders and seasoned revolutionaries. Yet, history tells another, equally powerful story of young boys and girls who, with hearts full of courage, stood up for their country. Across the world, in every movement for justice, children and youth have been the ones to carry the torch forward. Their energy, fearlessness, and unshakable belief in a better future have made them a vital part of every social and cultural change. 

India’s fight for independence was no different. In towns, villages, and cities, young people risked their lives for the dream of a free nation. They braved imprisonment, exile, and even death, often before they had lived half their lives. 

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Baji Rout of Odisha was only twelve years old when he became the youngest known martyr of India’s freedom struggle. In 1938, during the Praja Mandal Movement against the feudal rulers and the British, police forces tried to cross the Brahmani river in search of protesters. Baji, who worked as a boatman, refused to ferry them across. His defiance angered the armed officers, and they ended his life on the spot. His sacrifice at such a tender age ignited a wave of protests and became a symbol of unflinching courage among the youth of India.  

Kartar Singh Sarabha was just nineteen when he became one of the key members of the Ghadar Party, which sought to overthrow British rule through armed revolt. His speeches and writings inspired many to join the cause. Arrested for his role in the Ghadar Conspiracy, he faced his trial with unwavering resolve and was executed at the age of nineteen and was thus immortalised as one of the youngest martyrs of the Independence movement. 

Then there was Saraswathi Rajamani, who was only sixteen when she joined the Indian National Army in the 1940s under Subhas Chandra Bose. Disguising herself as a boy to evade suspicion, she worked as a spy, gathering intelligence from behind enemy lines. Even when she was captured and interrogated, she refused to betray her comrades. 

These three are but a glimpse of the many young hearts, some remembered by name, others lost to time, who laid down their lives for the nation’s freedom. Countless children marched, carried messages, and braved danger, never to witness the sunrise of the independence they had dreamed of. Their courage, whether recorded in history or passed down in whispers, remains a quiet but enduring part of India’s story. 

Even as times have changed, the spirit of young changemakers has not. Around the world today, young people continue to be at the forefront of movements like speaking up for climate action, demanding social justice, protecting cultural heritage, and standing for equality. From streets filled with peaceful protests to voices amplified through social media, the younger generation is reshaping conversations and challenging systems with the same fearlessness that once drove India’s young freedom fighters. The tools may be different, but the courage, vision, idealism and hope for a better world remain the same.  

This Independence Day, as we honour the leaders who shaped our nation, let us bow in gratitude to the young heroes who dared to dream of freedom. In their courage, we see the boundless energy and hope that only youth can bring. They are the heartbeat of every movement for change, the promise of a brighter tomorrow, and the reminder that the spirit of freedom lives on most fiercely in the hearts of the young. 

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