Ira Saxena is the daughter of the freedom fighter Kamala Chaudhri. She narrates the stories from her mother’s life and the life of other freedom fighters her mother and she knew. From the borders with Pakistan to the beginning of the Quit India movement, we meet various freedom fighters from the famous to others whose names have now gone away from public memory.
Written in the first person, the stories bring to life the country then—nervous, angry and fighting to free herself from colonial rule. We see the various Gandhians working to not just achieve Independence but do it through nonviolent defiance even in the face of extreme violence and suppression from the British.
India in 2026 is far removed from the early 20th century. Most of those who fought for our Independence have left us. The pain of the struggle, the humiliation, the unjust laws and the literal clamping down on people have almost been forgotten. Ira Saxena’s narration helps us see the world as it was then, and feel the staunch resolve of our heroes.
The stories range from student protests to the gory details of Partition. On one hand, we see the peaceful marches towards Swaraj, with Vande Mataram being sung everywhere. On the other, we see the violent demands for carving India into two, and the genocide which followed as 15 August 1947 approached.
In Shubhendu Banarjee we meet a person who steps up despite his own fears to sing Vande Mataram in front of the British, and being whipped almost dead for it. We meet people like Kinjan Ben who leads her village away from tax collectors. We see Kamala Chaudhri and others work extensively in the field to spread the message of Gandhi and assemble the people. India’s Independence Movement was built through the efforts of all—men and women, Hindus and Muslims–everyone. In a society which was conservative, and where people, especially women, were repressed, it took immense effort and strength to build participation and unity.
The spinning of the charkha to make khadi proved effective in this, as it could be done by all. It allowed people not just to make clothes for themselves, but also to earn money through selling their work.
The movements ended up in not just demanding that the British quit India, but in forging a national identity. India was not a single nation before the British, but it turned into one after they left and remains so till today.
The groundwork done to build the nation didn’t start with the Constitution. It started with people in far-apart places like the Rann, where Sarala Jagmohan’s family marched to break the Salt Law, to cities like Calcutta where widespread protests and marches were held.
A movement is built by leaders who, like Sharmaji, step up even at their own cost to uphold the principles of nonviolence. It also takes people in power and position like businessmen and the Indian Princes to support the cause with resources. Most of all, it requires the common people to come out and march together, shut shops in defiance and show support and belief in their leaders.
Ira Saxena’s Warriors of Non Violence brings anecdotes from freedom fighters across the country. The book shows us the spirit and soul of the nonviolence movement through its practitioners. It shows us not just where they succeeded, but also the violence and pain of Partition. It is a timely reminder in today’s cynical world of how the country was built and what it cost us. Certainly, we cannot forsake or give up what our forefathers fought for not even a century ago.