Matangini Hazra (19 October 1870 [1] 29 September 1942[2]) was an Indian revolutionary who

participated in the Indian independence movement until she was shot dead by the British
Indian police in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of erstwhile Midnapore District) on 29 September
1942. She was affectionately known as Gandhi buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi.[3]

Early life and involvement in the freedom movement[edit]

Not much is known of Matangini Hazra's early life apart from that she was born in the small village of
Hogla, near Tamluk in 1869, and that because she was the daughter of a poor peasant, she did not
receive a formal education.[4]She was married early and became widowed at the age of eighteen
without bearing any offspring[3]
In 1905, she became actively interested in the Indian independence movement as a Gandhian.[4] A
notable feature of the freedom struggle in Midnapore was the participation of women. [5] In 1932, she
took part in the Civil Disobedience 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.[3] After being released, she became an active member of the Indian
National Congress and took to spinning her own Khadi. In 1933, she attended the subdivisional
Congress conference at Serampore and was injured in the ensuing baton charge by the police.[3]

Involvement in the Quit India Movement

As part of the Quit India Movement, members of the Congress planned to take over the various
police stations of Medinipore district and other government offices.[3]This was to be a step in
overthrowing the British government in the district and establishing an independent Indian state.
Hazra, who was 71 years at the time, led a procession of six thousand supporters, mostly women
volunteers, with the purpose of taking over the Tamluk police station.[4][5] When the procession
reached the outskirts of the town, they were ordered to disband under Section 144 of the Indian
Penal Code by the Crown police.[4] As she stepped forward, Hazra was shot once.[4] Apparently, she
had stepped forward and appealed to the police not to open fire at the crowd. [3]
The Biplabi newspaper of the parallel Tamluk National Government commented:
Matangini led one procession from the north of the criminal court building; even after the firing
commenced, she continued to advance with the tri-colour flag, leaving all the volunteers behind. The
police shot her three times. She continued marching despite wounds to the forehead and both
hands.[5]
As she was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram, "hail to the Motherland". She died
with the flag of the Indian National Congress held high and still flying

7. Khudiram Bose:

One of the youngest freedom fighters ever, Khudiram Bose became a martyr
at the age of 18. Most youngsters of the day at this age cant even tell the
difference between January 26 and August 15.

Under the pseudonym of Haren Sarkar, Khudiram Bose worked for the
Indian Independence Movement. He was only 16 years when he had created
mayhem by planting bombs near police stations and other Government
offices.
He is associated with the famous Muzaffarpur bombing.