Episode list

Rani Abbakka of the Chowta dynasty ruled the Tullu Nadu region which was a part of coastal Karnataka. The city of Ullal served as her secondary capital. The 16th century saw the Portuguese making many attempts to capture Ullal as it was of immense strategic importance geographically, but Rani Abbakka repulsed their every attack. She was at times, known as the first woman freedom fighter of India as she was the first Indian woman to fight colonialism.

Tilka Manjhi was a young Indian Janjati from Santhal Paragna region of Bihar.was an Indian freedom fighter and the first tribal leader from the Santhal community who took up arms against the British in 1784. He rebelled against the Britishers and their atrocities in the late 18th century.He organized the tribal communities as an under one armed group to fight against the Bristish. British exploitation and tyranny during the famine of 1770 He formed an army with the people from his community, when Santhal Paragna was hit by a famine and the British were insensitive to it.. He killed Lieutenant Augustus Cleveland and was later arrested and hanged by the Britishers.On 13th January 1784, Tilka Manjhi attacked and killed Augustus Cleeveland Cleveland who was the administrator of the the Bengal province with a 'Gulel' (slingshot). The British finally caught him in 1784 and hung him.

Peer Ali Khan was a bookseller by profession who owned a book shop in Patna. He played a leading role in the organization of the Great revolt of 1857. He secretly distributed pamphlets with coded messages to the freedom fighters through his books. He was publicly hanged by William Taylor, the then commissioner of Patna.

Mangal Pandey is often referred to as the Indian rebel who shot the first bullet during the rebellion of 1857. Employed as a Sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native infantry regiment of the British East India company Company, Mangal Pandey revolted, when the British introduced bullets smeared with cow and boar pig meat lard which was unholy to the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. He was arrested and hanged on 8th April 1857.

Kotwal Dhansingh Gujjar was a Kotwal (police chief) of Meerut, working with for the British East India Company. He and many other policemen left the police force to participate in the 1857 rebellion. He gathered several villagers from his community, and led them to the city jail in Meerut and got released 839 rebel prisoners lions released who were lodged imprisoned there.

Babu Veer Kunwar Singh was Thea TtaluqdaarTalukdar of Jagdishpur. He led the 1857 rebellion from Bihar at the age of 80, along with his brother Amar Singh and commander Hare Krishna Singh, when the British British started grabbing lands of Zzamindars and TtaluqdaarsTalukdars. He persuaded the Indian Sepoy's working with the British British Eeast India company Company to join him and Sieged Arrah, attacking the British jail, freeing the Indian rebels and then looting the granary, treasury and Armouryarmory. He severed off his wrist when his wrist it was injured by a British British bullet as he felt that it will slow him down..

Peshwa Nana Saheb and his chief strategist Tatya Tope, appointed by Peshwa Bajirao II revolted against the British when the later did not recognize Nana Saheb as the legal heir to the throne of Bithoor under the Doctrine of lapse law, as, pretext that as he was the adopted son of Bajirao II. Nana Saheb cleverly befriended the British and started plotting against them under cover. He and Tatya Ttope came up with the Roti and Kamal movement which would gather all the like minded like-minded heads of the states and Begin a revolt simultaneously all over India on 31st May 1857.

Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope's overall plan to begin the revolt simultaneously failed simultaneously failed, but people had started revolting sporadically and it was becoming a great problem for the British. The British calls asked for Nana Saheb's help as a friend, to subdue the revolt at Kanpur. Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope grabbed the opportunity to capture the Kanpur Fort. As a deal he gives safe passage to Sirto Sir Hugh Wheeler, along with other Britishers and their families, who are were attacked at Sati Chauraha Ghat by furious Indian rebels who had faced inhuman atrocities of by the Britishers. The Britishers avenge their defeat.

Manikarnika, popularly known as Rani Laxmibai or the Rani of Jhansi, was well trained in military art. She accepted the marriage proposal of Maharaj Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi, even though he was much older than her to save Jhansi from the infamous law of Doctrine of Lapse. Unfortunately, her own child died immediately after birth. Rani Laxmibai and Maharaj Gangadhar Rao adopted Damodar, the latter's brother's son. Maharaj Gangadhar Rao too died soon after. This gave the Britishers the opportunity to capture Jhansi and they sent Sir Hugh Rose to complete the task. Rani Laxmibai gave a slip to the Britishers with the help of her trusted aid Jhalkari.

A fierce battle ensued between Sir Hugh Rose and Rani Laxmi Bai. When Tatya Tope got the message of the battle, he came with his army to help Rani Laxmi Bai but the Britishers managed to fight both of them and break the fort wall. Rani Laxmibai gave a slip to the Britishers with the help of her trusted aid Jhalkari. She is ambushed en-route to Kalpi, but managed to escape. With the help of Tatya Tope, Rani Laxmibai captured the fort of Gwalior. The King of Gwalior is forced to flee by Rani and Tatya Tope. Hugh Rose attacked Gwalior and in the battle that ensued, Rani Laxmibai attained martyrdom.

Born on 31st May 1725, in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, Rani Ahilyabai Holkar took over the reigns of Indore after the death of her father in law Malhar Rae Holkar and husband Khande Rao Holkar. She was a great administrator and a skilled diplomat, who was loved and admired by her subjects. She constructed many temples and Dharamshala's throughout India and was instrumental in creating the famous Maheshwari Saree. She efficiently ruled Indore for 30 years.

Born on 3rd January 1730 at Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu), Rani Velu Nachiyar, also called as Veeramangai (brave women) was the queen of Sivagangai. She was the first Indian queen who waged a war against the British East India Company and was fluent in Urdu, English and French. Rani Velu Nachiyar was trained in many methods of combat, including war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam, Horse riding, and archery. The British had taken over her kingdom and when Rani Velu Nachiyar found the place where the EIC stored their ammunition, her commander Kuyili made a suicide attack on the ammunition depot, and destroyed it.

Born on 23rd October 1778 at Kakati village, Belgaum, Karnataka. Rani Chennamma was the queen of Kittur who led an armed resistance against the British East India company, after the death of King Mallasarja and eventually her son King Shivlinga, when the British tried to take away her kingdom. She successfully overpowered the Britishers in the first attempt, but was eventually defeated by Commissioner Chaplin and was captured in 1824. She died as a prisoner of war in 1829.

Born on 3rd January 1753, Kerela Varma was the king of Kottayam, a small kingdom in Northern Malabar (present day Kerala). He was also known as Pazhassi Raja or "Kerala Simham" (Singham). In 1792, Veer Varma, Kerela Varma's uncle connived with the British to become the king of Kottayam and started collecting exorbitant taxes from the people, imposed by the Britishers. Kerela Varma always opposed the company rule and defied the British with his guerrilla warfare. After a string of serious setbacks, the Company signed a peace treaty in 1797. In 1800, going back on their words, the Britishers sent Major General Arthur Wellesley to capture Kerela Varma who too was defeated.

Born on 26th Dec 1899, Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary who survived the Jalianwala Baugh massacre, ordered by British Lieutenant Governor Micheal O'Dwyer, in which hundreds of peaceful Indians lost their lives. Udham Singh vowed to eliminate Dwyer and after 21 years of pursuit, he fulfilled his vow.

Damodar Hari Chapekar born in 1870, Balkrishna Hari Chapekar born in 1873 and Vasudev Hari Chapekar born in 1879, popularly known as the Chaphekar brothers were born in Chinchwad, Pune. In 1897, epidemic of Plague broke out in Pune, which was very badly handled by the then Assistant Collector of Pune and Plague commission Walter Charles Rand. The Chaphekar brothers were infuriated by the way people were treated, especially the womenfolk and plotted to eliminate Walter Rand.

Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Varma, born on 4th Oct 1857 in Kutch, Gujarat was an Indian patriot, lawyer and journalist. Influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Herbert Spencer's philosophy of "Resistance to aggression is not simply justified, but imperative", he founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. India House was a meeting point for nationalists Indian students in Britain and one of the most prominent centers for revolutionary Indian nationalism outside India.

Born on 3 December 1889 at district Midnapore, West Bengal. Khudiram Bose was one of the youngest Indian revolutionaries and martyr of the Indian Independence movement. He, along with Prafulla Chaki, attempted to assassinate a British judge Kingsford, by throwing bombs on the carriage they suspected the man was in. Jugde Kingsford, however escaped the attempt and the throwing of bombs resulted in the deaths of two British women. Prafulla fatally shot himself before the arrest. Khudiram was arrested and trialed for the murder of the two women, ultimately being sentenced to death. He was one of the first Indian revolutionaries in Bengal to be executed by the British.

Born on 4th Nov 1845, Vasudev Balwant Phadke was an Indian revolutionary. Moved by the atrocities done by the Sahukars and the Britishers on farmers, he believed Swaraj to be the only solution. He lead an armed revolt against the British by raiding their armories and treasuries.

Shivappa Nayak took over the reins from his nephew Veer Bhadra, who was a debauch in 1645 on the insistence of his subjects, building for himself the status of an efficient administrator, a soldier and a monarch par excellence. He introduced the Sist Padhatti, a unique and efficient land revenue settlement policy, wherein land was divided into five categories based on fertility of soil and irrigation facilities available. He braved the Portuguese who levied heavy taxes from the locals for conducting business and drove them out of the Keladi kingdom between 1650 to 1654.

Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara Mahapatra Bhramarabar Ray was born at Rrorar Garh around 1769 and was the chief commander of the Army of the Khurda king Mukunda Dev. He was infuriated when the British took control over Khurda, Cuttack and Puri and restricted the people of the region from making salt. He started a rebellion against the Bristishers in 1817, which was known as the Paika rebellion. In order to compel Buxi to surrender, the British rulers in the year 1819, imprisoned his two wives and his minor son, but he never gave up.

Born in 1706 in Attingal, he ascended the throne of Travancore (capital Padhmanabhapuram) situated in southern Kerela in 1729, at a mere age of 23. He was a visionary who led his kingdom to prosperity. He defied the Dutch East India company when they tried to set in their foot to control the region through trade and collaboration with the neighboring kingdoms of Cochin and Kayemkulam. Raja Marthand Verma defeated the Dutch in the war of Colachel in 1941 and later in 1951 compelled the Dutch Government to sign a peace treaty.

Born on 23rd February 1881, Sardar Ajit Singh, uncle of Bhagat Singh, was a revolutionary, who organized agitations against the anti-farmers laws known as the Pubjab Colonisation Act 1906 and administrative orders increasing water rate charges. He started the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement and openly criticized the Indian colonial government. The British Government of India planned to arrest him and put him in prison. Along with Sufi Amba Parshad, he escaped to Iran in 1909 and remained in exile for 38 years. He returned to India in March 1947 and breathed his last on 15th August 1947, the very day, India got its independence.

Born in 1802 , Tirot Sing, also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, was a Khasi chief in the early 19th century. He declared war and fought against the British for attempts to take over the Khasi Hills. He ascended the throne of Nongkhlaw in 1820s. David Scott, Agent to the Governor General, North-Eastern Frontier had an intention to obtain the permission for a passage from Assam to Sylhet through the Khasi hills. He along with Lieutenant Bedingfield coaxed U Tirot Sing for the permission and succeeded. As soon as the work to build the road began, the British started with their atrocities on the locals, which enraged U Tirot sing and that was the beginning of the Anglo -Khasi war in 1829. The Britishers captured U Tirot Singh in 1833, betrayed by some of his own men.

Born on 29 December 1856, Manipur, Tikendrajit Singh also known as Lion of Manipur, was a Senapati of Manipur Kingdom who led the forces in the Anglo-Manipur War. Its safe to say he was a King maker who actually held all the power from behind the curtains. Lord Lansdowne ordered the arrest of Tikendrajit Singh, as according to the British it was, he who was responsible for all these disturbances. He ordered J.W. Quinton, the chief commissioner of Assam to arrest Tikendrajit Singh. A battle ensued and on 24th March 1891 Quinton had to surrender.

Born on 1st Sept 1715 in Nerkattumseval, district Tenkasi, formerly Tirunelveli to mother Sivagnanam and father Chitraputra. He was a Poligar who ruled Nerkattumseval and refused to pay taxes to the British Nawab alliance. He gave a tough time to Britishers. Because of his spy network, he defeated them on several occasions until the Nawab of Arcot sent Yusuf khan to aid Col. Heron. The alliance finally defeated Puli Thevar and arrested him. On his way he requested to pray to goddess Gomathi at the Sankarankovil. He was allowed to go inside all by himself, he entered the temple and mysteriously disappeared from there. His disappearance is still a mystery and there are many different theories making the rounds.