India’s war of independence was won by the collective efforts and sacrifices of freedom fighters across gender and geographical lines. Tribal revolts and reform movements also played a significant role in setting the tone for freedom and exposing the exploitative nature of the British Empire. Tribal women leaders have contributed greatly to shaping the freedom struggle and defending their land against colonial power.
Following are the few among various contributors in this regard:

• Rani Gaidinliu: Rani Gaidinliu joined the freedom struggle at the young age of 13. Gaidinliu belonged to the Rongmei clan of the Zeliangrong tribe in western Manipur.
  • She asked her tribesmen to refuse to pay taxes and called out for freedom. She was arrested and tried and sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 16 by the British. She was released in 1947 after India became independent and continued to work for the upliftment of her people.
• Putali Tamang: Putali Maya Devi Tamang from Darjeeling hills participated in the freedom struggle as a schoolgirl and actively tried to do her part by constantly keeping in touch with the Congressmen and collecting information about movements around the country.
  • She worked towards women equality in the political arena. With this objective, she formed a Mahila Samiti that produced khadi clothes, which served as symbols of the national movement. She also started a Harijan Samaj (Committee) in Kurseong, inspiring Dalits to take education.
• Helen Lepcha: Helen alias Sabitri Devi from Lepcha tribe belonged to Sikkim. During the peak of the Non-Cooperation movement, she led a huge rally to Jharia coalfield in the year 1921 at the famous Mohammed Ali Park at Calcutta. She was also associated with Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and was closely involved in formulating Netaji’s escape plan to Europe.
• Phulo Murmu and Jhano Murmu: These two sisters jumped into the battle fray with their brothers, and reportedly killed 21 British troops before they were martyred. The British brutally quelled the Santhal’s movement after killing over 25,000 tribal people. The Santhal Bidroho (revolt) of 1855-56 was in all probability, the fiercest liberation movement in India next to the “Sepoy mutiny” of 1857.

Tribal women fought on the frontline in many tribal revolts such as the Pahariya mutiny in Chota Nagpur region in 1778, the Tanti mutiny in 1786, the Tamar mutiny in 1789, the Sardar mutiny in 1830.