4 Foreigners Who Participated In

Indian Freedom Struggle

By Priyanka Shah on January 31, 2014
We all know how long the Indian freedom struggle was and
how much labor and humiliation our countrymen peers had
to face in order to get rid of the British. Well, do we know
that the Indians, on numerous occasions, were aided by
the support of a few foreigners as well? Yes, normally we
tend to believe that all of them were cruel and bad, but the
reality is never exceptionally black or white. So, let us
take a look at a few of those kind-hearted souls who went
against their peers and helped us with our fight for
independence
4. Annie Besant
A famous British theosophist, socialist, orator, activist and
writer, Annie Besant came to India as a part of the
Theosophical Society, and thereafter became a patron of
Indian self-rule.
Annie Besant in 1880s
She was the founder of the Central Hindu School, now
known as the Banaras Hindu University. Annie Besant was
one of the first persons to demand a self rule for India (she
did that before the end of the 1st world war!), and, in 1915,
set up the Home Rule League along with Lokmanya Tilak.
In fact, she was even arrested on the allegation of tyranny,
and it was a joint effort (protest) of the Congress and
Muslim league together that had set her free. She was one
of the few foreign members in Congress, and the first to
lead a Congress Session (in 1917, December).
Although friends and colleagues for few years, Annie
Besant couldnt come in terms with Gandhijis policy
behind the Non-cooperation movement and the boycott
movement, and finally decided to drift apart from the
ongoing political scenario.
3. Charles Freer Dinabandhu
Andrews
Dinabandhu Andrews, as he is popularly referred to, came
to India as a Missionary Philanthropist. However, touched
by the social and cultural injustice inflicted upon the
Indians by the British, he soon became a part of the social
and political movements of the day, and even championed
the causes of the laborers, railway workers and other such
downtrodden people.
In fact, his service to uplift the causes of untouchables
and the Harijans, along with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar won him
the title Dinabandhu which translates to friend of the
poor.
With his connection among influential people in England,
he also tried to arouse sound public opinion against the
atrocities inflicted upon the colonized people in India, Fiji,
South Africa and other such colonies.
He also negotiated with the then Indian Government
regarding the freedom of Gandhiji from prison.
2. Madeleine Slade
Born in an aristocratic family in London, Madeleine
Sladepreferred to live a humble and simple life after
coming in contact with Mahatma Gandhi.
Young and beautiful Madeleine Slade who dedicated
her life to the Indian cause
In fact, she was so much influenced by Gandhinian
philosophy that she left all the luxury and began leading a
simple life at the Sabarmati Ashram, and even took part in
all the Gandhi-led socio-political struggles in India and
promoted Khadi and Satyagraha.
Mirabehn with Gandhi at Darwen, Lancashire, 1931
Being from another background helped her to understand
the scenario better and, in doing justice to that, she wrote
numerous articles in The Statesman, Young India, Harijan,
etc. and even accompanied Gandhi to the Round Table
Conference in London.
Miraben, as she was fondly called by Gandhiji and his
followers, was placed under detention for her support and
participation in the Quit India Movement.
1. Satyanand Stokes
No, he aint any Indian person who converted to
Christianity; his real name was Samuel Evans Stokes Jr.
and he was the heir to a wealthy American family.
Young & wealthy Sam who decided to devote himself
to the Indian cause
Although he came to India to work in a leaper home in
Himachal Pradesh, he went on to champion the cases of
the laborers in areas adjoining Shimla and fought
relentlessly for their welfare.
While his transformation as a person can be understood
by studying his great deeds, heres a picture depicting a
change in his outer persona
He even joined the Congress and attended the Congress
Session at Nagpur in 1920, thereby being the sole
American to have done so.
He was also the sole foreigner to sign the Congress
manifesto in 1921 which called all the Indians to join the
National Independence Struggle by giving up on the
Government Jobs.
And, like all other foreign freedom fighters, he too was
jailed on the pretext of sedition, for a period of 6 months