Independence Day in India celebrates the courage, resilience, and iron will of our freedom fighters. But there is another side to their strength that we want to remember today, which is their physical fitness and endurance. It is as if their bodies were also forged with iron. Chandrashekhar Azad did strength training at the akhadas.
Physical strength was a practical necessity for being prepared for the fight for freedom. This included long guerrilla marches, wrestling (kushti), and close combat. The old-school workout routine of akhadas still stands. From Gandhi Ji’s long Satyagraha walks to the physical resilience of Rani Lakshmibai, strength often meant more than muscles. It meant endurance, mobility, courage, and the ability to keep going.
For India, Independence Day 2026 denotes 80 years of freedom from the British colonial raj. Today, the old school workout routine still exists, knitted into modern gyms, fitness centres, and yoga vyamshalas.
Because true freedom is physical too. It is the freedom to move, train, and live on your own terms.
At FITPASS, we believe fitness is a part of that freedom.
This blog is in remembrance of India’s most revered freedom fighters with structured workouts.
Kushti: The Old School Workout Routine
A still of old school bodybuilding kushti session practiced in local akhadas for body builders.
Before modern gyms, there was the Akhada. The traditional mud pit. It's a place full of soft mitti and might.
Indian wrestling, or Kushti, remains the king of the old school workout routine. It’s more than just a local sport. It was a rigorous ancient Indian warrior workout which called for heavy functional strength. Kushti combines raw power, agility, and dynamic old school exercises that are still relevant today. This intense old school workout was essential for building the stamina needed for revolution. We must remember exactly why 15 August is celebrated. It is celebrated because our freedom fighters were exceptionally strong. Let's explore the old-school workout routine methods that shaped them. These ancient exercises still stand the test of time.
Chandrashekhar Azad and Strength Training
A popular colourised picture of Chandrashekhar Azad with a mudgar (wooden club) beside him.
Chandrashekhar Azad was a force of nature. His story goes from akhadas to independence. He is a prominent name among the top 10 freedom fighters of India. His fearlessness birthed some of the most famous words of the revolution era “Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge” (We will face the enemy's bullets). But did you know he possessed a good muscular build? He was fearless, and his exercise choices reflect this as well. He spent hours in akhadas perfecting the old school workout routine. Azad practised combat training and bodyweight conditioning, preparing himself for duels. Those workout routines for men featured hundreds of the following:
- Dands (Hindu push-ups)
- Baithaks (squats)
- Mudgar exercises
- Gada swings
These specific old school exercises built his legendary physical presence. This traditional physical conditioning was used by freedom fighters of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) for combat readiness.
Above is a popular colourised picture of Chandrashekhar Azad with a mudgar (wooden club) beside him. It is believed to have been taken roughly between 1928 and 1930 during his hideout in the Sitapatha Shiva temple in Khaniyadhana (Madhya Pradesh).
The Miles that Made a Nation: Gandhiji, Sarojini Naidu and Satyagraha
A still of modified image of Gandhiji and Sarojini Naidu nearing the end of Dandi March in 1930
Strength comes in many forms. The historic Dandi March of 1930 was no less than a marathon of resistance lasting 24 days. Sometimes, strength is in the endurance to walk 240 miles on foot to make a statement. Or the resilience to carry out hunger strikes. To this day, cardio exercises like jogging, skipping and walking remain effective for boosting cardiovascular health.
Gandhiji, Sarojini Naidu and Matangini Hazra were among many of the Satyagrahis who created history with the Salt March. The Dandi March started on 12th March and ended on the 6th of April. Indian women joined Gandhi’s salt satyagraha led by figures like Sarojini Naidu and Matangini Hazra. They were among the most iconic women freedom fighters of India. This resilient participation highlighted the crucial role of women freedom fighters of India. Satyagrahis like Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Jawaharlal Nehru, Brahma Datt and many others were also a part of the non-violent resistance movement.
This march was an extreme test of human endurance and required a lot of stamina. Unlike a typical old school workout, it functioned exactly like a modern-day marathon. Every Independence Day celebrates this marathon of freedom. It is a great inspiration for modern cardio workout routines for women and men.
Feeling like completing a long jog?
Check out some of the best marathons in 2026 happening this time around.
Besides, running and walking are accessible workout routines for women and men globally. Today, you can find some of the best running tracks and morning jog hikes even in densely populated cities like Delhi in India.
Top 5 Freedom Fighters of India and Their Training Style
Kushti laid the foundation for the most effective workout routines for Azad and men of that era. It relied heavily on functional ancient Indian exercises, like swinging the heavy Gada and Mudgar. These ancient exercises built full-body, functional power. Let’s revisit top 5 freedom fighters of India with other training styles.
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Freedom Fighters
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Their Choice of Training
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What It Built
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How to Try This Today
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Rani Lakshmibai
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Horse riding, wrestling, weightlifting, sword fighting and archery
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Strength, balance, coordination and core stability
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Functional strength + agility training
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Bhagat Singh
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Dands, Baithaks and high-repetition bodyweight training
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Muscular endurance and cardiovascular fitness
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Callisthenics + HIIT workouts
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Bal Gangadhar Tilak
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Lezim dance form and traditional physical conditioning
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Agility, stamina and coordination
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Dance cardio
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Jawaharlal Nehru
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Yoga, swimming and horse riding
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Mobility, flexibility, endurance and balance
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Yoga + swimming
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V. D. Savarkar
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Bodyweight exercises and endurance training
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Strength, endurance and resilience
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Bodyweight exercises + functional training
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Rani Lakshmibai Training Style
Equestrian and Weapon Martial Arts
The iconic Queen of Jhansi followed a rigorous daily workout routine before breakfast. Her training included intensive weightlifting, wrestling, advanced horse riding, and steeplechasing to prepare herself for physical combat. She had mastered Vajrayuddha-style horse riding, sword fighting and archery. Her training heavily prioritised core stability, hand-eye coordination, balance and static strength.
Bhagat Singh Training Style
Akhara & Calisthenics Conditioning
Bhagat Singh maintained a physically active lifestyle, much like Chandrashekhar Azad. His choice of training reflects Indian old school workout in akharas besides what we call today callisthenics. His conditioning included Dands (Hindu push-ups) and Baithaks (Hindu squats). These are a great strength and cardio workout when performed in high repetitions even without weights. His training was functional. Bhagat Singh focused on building a body that could endure physical hardship and sustained activity.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak Training Style
Lezim Dance for Physical Conditioning
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a strong advocate of public physical culture. Tilak actively promoted Lezim. It is a rhythmic folk activity that combines movement, coordination and physical conditioning. He encouraged traditional sports and physical activities among the youth of Maharashtra to build discipline. The Lezim dance form demands coordination, balance and sustained cardiovascular endurance.
Jawaharlal Nehru Training Style
Yoga Practice, Swimming and Equestrian Training
Nehru maintained a disciplined approach to physical fitness. His choice of training included yoga, swimming and horse riding. Sirsasana was a yoga practice he never missed. It is a headstand. He also practised other traditional yoga postures. to maintain strong focus and clarity. Besides, swimming workout helped build cardiovascular endurance, and horse riding developed balance and coordination. His routine goes heavy on mental discipline.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Training Style
Bodyweight Strength & Endurance Training
Savarkar maintained a strong focus on physical conditioning. Even during his imprisonment in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, he continued exercising. With limited access to equipment, bodyweight exercises were an important part of his physical routine for mind-body clarity. These movements helped him maintain strength and endurance despite difficult conditions.
Importance of Fitness Activities for India Today
From the very first independence day year of 1947 to the upcoming India independence day 2026, fitness has vastly evolved. Today, the battlefield is different, and modern life is highly sedentary. Our daily struggles involve desk jobs and screen time. This is exactly why the importance of modern gym fitness activities that common people must practise every day cannot be overstated. We still need reliable old school workout routines enhanced with modern sports science.
You just need the right tools to maintain health and vitality. Doing a high-intensity warrior workout or any fitness activity, you have different workout activities with the FITPASS app.
Check out the 26 best fitness app features to look for in a modern day fitness app.
No matter how many years pass, staying active is a non-negotiable duty to yourself and your loved ones.
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True Freedom Expands to Your Close Ones
The modern-day freedom for fitness extends to you as well as your loved ones. Gift FITPASS to your family and friends this Independence Day to help them prioritise their well-being with one comprehensive solution for fitness activities, nutrition and health all managed with the FITPASS app.
How to Gift FITPASS?
Choose "Gift FITPASS" in your FITPASS profile section and select either the FITPASS 360 or FITPASS 180 plan. Select the best-suited tenure and click on "Claim your special price." This is where you enter the recipient's details and complete the payment. Your loved one receives the Gift FITPASS on their FITPASS app to experience true fitness to train on their own terms.
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Train Your Way With FITPASS
Our glorious freedom fighters sacrificed everything for free India. As India celebrates Independence Day 2026, it is time to reclaim your own strength. FITPASS gives you the freedom to train your way. Get access to 12K+ gyms and fitness centres across 150+ cities. Combine ancient exercises with the modern gym and other fitness activities. Experience true freedom to workout on your schedule and training choice.
Happy 80th Independence Day!
Download the FITPASS app today and start training on your own terms.
