Legacy Forgotten: What Descendants of India’s Greatest Freedom Fighters Are Doing Today
India’s freedom struggle was a vast tapestry of movements, sacrifices, ideologies, and heroes. While a few names dominate our textbooks, many of the most courageous leaders and martyrs have had their descendants fade into anonymity. This article explores what became of the families of some of India’s most iconic freedom fighters—barring the Nehru-Gandhi lineage which has been the centerpiece of post-Independence political power.
1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Known as the ‘Father of Indian Unrest’, Tilak ignited the fire of nationalism. His descendants, however, never capitalized on his legacy for political gains. His great-grandson Rohit Tilak attempted to enter politics with the Congress in Maharashtra but was later accused in a criminal case, distancing himself from public life. The family remains respected but largely low-profile.
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
The Lion of Punjab laid down his life protesting the Simon Commission. His lineage has largely stayed out of the limelight. Some of his descendants reside in Ludhiana and Delhi, involved in private professions. They continue to commemorate him annually, though without any political or institutional privileges.
3. Dadabhai Naoroji
The Grand Old Man of India was the first Indian in the British Parliament. His descendants, part of Mumbai’s elite Parsi community, have remained prominent in academia and social work. However, they are rarely featured in national discussions. No political legacy continues in his name.
4. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
Her adopted son Damodar Rao was denied pension by the British and lived in poverty. His descendants reportedly settled in Indore, living simple, modest lives. Some of them are now educators and administrators but without state recognition. Lakshmibai’s bloodline never received the status her valor warranted.
5. Tatya Tope
One of the fiercest generals of the 1857 revolt, Tatya Tope’s descendants reportedly live in Gwalior. One of his great-granddaughters, Manisha Tope, is a teacher. Despite their proud lineage, they’ve lived under strained financial conditions, with only periodic media coverage highlighting their legacy.
6. Subhas Chandra Bose
His extended family includes eminent figures. His grandnephew Sugata Bose is a historian and former TMC MP. Another relative, Chandra Kumar Bose, is associated with the BJP in West Bengal. Yet, despite Netaji’s global reputation, no major institutional role was given to his family. The debate over his death continues to obscure his real contributions.
7. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
A mentor to Gandhi and an eloquent reformer, Gokhale had no direct descendants. His extended family has remained largely outside public life. His legacy survives through institutions like the Servants of India Society, but his family has not played a public role.
8. Mahatma Gandhi
Though his immediate children remained relatively low-profile, several descendants entered public life. His grandson Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian and former MP. Another, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, served as Governor of West Bengal. They have contributed to academia and diplomacy but without political dynasties.
9. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
His son Dahyabhai Patel served briefly in Parliament. Maniben remained unmarried throughout her life and spent much of her time preserving her father’s legacy. She served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and held leadership roles in Congress’s Gujarat unit .Her legacy is preserved at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Smarak Bhavan in Ahmedabad—the house she lived in, now maintained by the Patel Memorial Trust, adorned with photographs and her personal writings The family lived humbly in Mumbai. Ironically, the man who unified India had his descendants remain fragmented from national recognition until the Statue of Unity re-emphasized his role.
10. Bhagat Singh
An eternal icon for youth, Bhagat Singh never married. His immediate family includes nephews like Abhay and Jagmohan Singh, who are active in social work and Leftist politics. Despite reverence across parties, his family receives little state support. They continue to fight for a more secular, socialist India.
11. Rajguru
A co-martyr with Bhagat Singh, Rajguru’s family lives in Pune. His great-nephew Yogesh Rajguru is a professional in the private sector. The family has repeatedly petitioned for recognition and preservation of Rajguru’s ancestral house.
12. Sukhdev
Another hero of the Lahore Conspiracy Case, Sukhdev’s family is based in Ludhiana. They are known to live simple lives, mostly outside public discourse. Occasional interviews reveal a sense of disillusionment at being forgotten.
13. Chandrashekhar Azad
Azad never married. His surviving relatives live in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, some working in agriculture or teaching. Despite Azad being a symbol of rebellion, his family has remained outside any socio-political privileges.
14. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Savarkar’s descendants have largely stayed out of politics. However, his legacy has gained renewed attention in recent years, especially by right-leaning parties. His grandnephew Ranjit Savarkar has been active in preserving his memory and runs the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial.
15. B. R. Ambedkar
A towering intellectual and social reformer, Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar is a politician and head of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi. Another descendant, Anand Teltumbde, is a noted scholar and has faced persecution for his activism. The family remains influential but also under political and legal pressure.
16. Sarojini Naidu
Her daughter Padmaja Naidu was a Governor of West Bengal. The family has largely remained in public service or civil society roles. Unlike other dynasties, they didn’t pursue political inheritance aggressively.
The Stark Contrast: Power, Legacy, and Selective Remembrance
It’s perhaps a reflection of India’s changing times—where lineage may earn respect, but only merit sustains legacy. Well, not entirely true. In reality, one family, the Nehru-Gandhis, capitalized on the martyrdom of thousands and the efforts of lakhs to establish a long-standing political dynasty.
While they rose to become multi-crore-worth political elites, descendants of most other freedom fighters live in modesty, often forgotten by the very Republic their ancestors helped build.
This raises vital questions:
- Why did only one family benefit disproportionately?
- Why does the state fail to uphold the legacies of others?
- How can India become a truly inclusive Republic if remembrance is so selective?
Conclusion: Time to Correct the Narrative
India’s freedom was not a family inheritance. It was a civilizational uprising, involving kings and peasants, reformers and revolutionaries, from every corner of the subcontinent.
To truly honor our past, we must democratize remembrance. Museums, textbooks, state honors, and political narratives must reflect the diversity of sacrifice. Only then can India be true to its roots.
The time has come not just to remember these heroes annually, but to ensure their families are respected, supported, and seen—as living legacies of a free India.
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