Suniti Chaudhuri and Shanti Ghosh were two teenagers from Bengal who fought with Britishers like fierce warriors.

The Indian freedom struggle resulted in the triumphant due to several heroes and heroines who fought tooth and nail with the imperial rule. Every time when we speak of the freedom fighters, our chests swell with pride. However, not everyone is etched in history. While history often remembers the prominent figures of the Indian independence movement, there were countless individuals who played crucial roles in the fight for freedom, often remaining in the shadows. Like several other unsung heroes, Suniti and Shanti, two school going girls also contributed in the Swaraj movement.

Suniti Choudhuri

A fearless freedom fighter and a dedicated social worker, Suniti Choudhuri played a significant role in the Quit India Movement. Her unwavering commitment to the cause of independence led her to actively participate in various protests and demonstrations, often facing arrest and imprisonment.

As a student of class eight in the Faizunnisa School of the town, she and her  classmate Shanti joined the revolutionary Yugantar group, primarily under the inspiration of their senior Pritilata Bramha. In 1931, they organised a girls’ group (Chhatri Samgha), with Suniti as captain, Shanti as secretary, and Pritilata as the president; and started taking part in pistol shooting and other martial arts from revolutionary Barun Bhattacharyya.

Shanti Ghosh

A fearless revolutionary and a close associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Shanti Ghosh was a pivotal figure in the Indian National Army (INA). She was actively involved in the INA’s activities, working tirelessly to mobilise support for the movement and raise funds for the cause. Her courage and dedication were evident in her role as a key organiser for the INA’s women’s wing, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.

The Story of Suniti and Shanti

On 14 December 1931, Suniti accompanied Shanti, aged 15 and 14 years respectively, to the bungalow of Magistrate Stevens with a pistol; while Shanti shot him dead at point-blank range. Spared of the death sentence due to their age; they were sentenced to life imprisonment and lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail as a third-class prisoner, subjected to all sorts of physical torture.

Both Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Choudhuri were women of immense courage and conviction. They were not afraid to stand up against the might of the British Empire, risking their lives and freedom for the sake of their nation’s independence. Their unwavering commitment to the cause, their dedication to social justice, and their tireless efforts to mobilize support for the movement make them true heroines of the Indian freedom struggle.

Their lives and work remind us that the fight for freedom is not just about grand gestures and public pronouncements, but also about the quiet acts of courage and dedication that often go unnoticed. Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Choudhuri embodied this spirit of quiet heroism, and their stories deserve to be told and celebrated.