Freedom fighters and their noble qualities

Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th and is a national Holiday. It is the day when India won independence from the British rule. During this national festival period, The Balvikas guru can take the opportunity to develop the feeling of patriotism in children. The best way of course is to teach them about our great freedom fighters.

Two activities have been designed for Group 2 and Group 3 children.

Values inculcated:

1. Qualities like, Courage, non-violence, love, independent thinking, kind heartedness, honesty, humility, compassion, inspiration, empathy, and determination.
2. Children also get to learn about the great sacrifices made by the freedom fighters for our country.
3. Children develop the spirit of patriotism
4. Concentration, improving memory

Materials required:

• Chart paper
• Glue stick

Get ready:

1. The Guru can discuss the following, before explaining the activity
2. Explain each and every quality mentioned in “values inculcated” to the children. Give instances/anecdotes in daily life that displays these qualities.
3. Give a short description about each freedom fighter
4. Highlight the quality that is attached to the freedom fighter. For eg: For Gandhiji, it is non-violence
5. Once the above discussion is over, the children can help in preparing the Flash cards. The photos of the freedom fighters can be cut and stuck to the chart paper and 10 flash cards will be ready.
6. Small chits can be made with a quality written in it. Ten such chits will be made.
7. The preparatory work for the activities is now ready.

Note: The Guru can do the above in one class and the activity in the next class.

Game 1: Salute The Freedom Fighters

This is an interesting game which requires some space to move around.

The Flash cards can be spread on the floor with lot of space between them. When the music is on, the children move around. When the music stops, the Guru takes out a chit and reads a quality aloud. Eg: Courage. The children should stand near the respective flash card. Here, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

The children who are near the correct flash card will continue in the game. The others will leave the game.

The flash card and the quality already read (‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’ and ‘courage’) will be withdrawn.

The game will continue in the same way with remaining flash cards until 3 children are still in the game. They would be the winners.

Game 2: Memory Game

The Flash cards are distributed to the children. The children and Gurus can sit in a circle. The children have to tell the quality of the freedom fighter whose picture is present on the flash card given to them. The children will take turns and the game can start clockwise.

If the child is unable to say the correct quality, any other child can volunteer to say. However, the children who want to answer will have to raise their hand. And the Guru will decide who will answer. This is to ensure that decorum is maintained.

Guru’s Reference :

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Courage

Subhash Chandra Bose wanted complete freedom. He dreamed of a classless society without caste barriers. His slogan “Jai Hind” is very popular even today. He was a courageous young man, who was ready to sacrifice anything to get freedom.

Mahatma Gandhiji: Non-violence

Gandhiji fought for untouchables. He gave them the name “Harijans” meaning people of God. He wanted to win independence through non-violence and was against any form of violence. He is known for his simplicity.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Love

He supported Gandhiji in the freedom struggle of India. Nehru loved children and they called Nehru affectionately as “Chacha Nehru”. His birthday November 14th is celebrated as “Children’s day” in India. He worked for the education, progress and welfare of the children.

Sardar Bhagat Singh: Independent Thinking

At the age of 12, he visited the site of Jallian Walla Bagh massacre where innocent people had been killed. At a very young age he was influenced by the struggle for freedom. He was very good in dramatics and was a good essay writer. He believed in just one cause, to get freedom for his country. He was an independent thinker and followed his own path. He was hanged at the age of 23.

Dr.Rajendra Prasad: Kind – Heartedness

He was a student who always scored First class and medals. He had a Master’s degree in Economics from University of Calcutta and a Doctorate in Law from Allahabad University. He was kind-hearted and caring and supported the peasants’ movement against the plantation of Indigo. He was greatly influenced by Gandhiji. He was every ready to help anyone in distress.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: Honesty

He was inspired by the works of Swami Vivekananda, Dr. Annie Besant and Mahatma Gandhi. He was a large hearted person and did lot of service for the public. He gave an outstanding slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”. He was a man of honesty and always spoke the truth.

Kamala Nehru: Compassion

She actively took part in Swadeshi Movement and encouraged people to burn foreign goods. She encouraged women to take part in the struggle. She was the wife of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She was a compassionate woman and started a dispensary in her house to treat wounded freedom fighters.

Kittur Rani Chennamma: Inspiration

She was Chennamma Queen of the princely state Kittur, a former princely state in Karnataka. She is very famous for having led an armed rebellion against the British East India Company. She received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery. She was an inspiration to the women of the future generation and became a folk hero.

Sarojini Naidu: Empathy

She was a spirited freedom activist. She was a great poet who wrote poems on nature, patriotism, love etc. She was called the nightingale of India. She studied in University of Madras, London and Cambridge. She took part in Salt Satyagraha with Mahatma Gandhiji. She was very empathetic and worked hard for the benefit of the poor as well as for the empowerment of women.

Jhansi Rani Laxmi Bai : Determination

She was the queen of the princely state of Jhansi in North India. Her studies included shooting, horsemanship, fencing etc. She was a fiercely independent girl even at a young age. The British army feared her undying determination and military skill. She had a unique style of dressing. She wore a sari, yet dressed up like a man. She never left her palace without her sword.