The difference is, the Maratha or Rajput kingdoms didn't really fight for the freedom of India, they fought to save their kingdoms, they were brave, they fought well, but not selflessly for the country called India. Similarly Siraz-Ud-Daulah is not considered a freedom fighter.
Maratha Kingdom was initially envisioned itself as a hindu kingdom fighting a war of reconquista, though later they turned into a typical power hungry empire.
Your assertion about Rajputs is borne out of your ignorance of History.
Yes there were Rajput kingdoms who just fought for their survival, there were even some who aligned with likes of ghori to defeat their neighbour; but such examples are outshone by ones where they fought as one to safeguard Aryavrata from mellechas.
The combined forces of Gujara-Pratihara ( rajput confedracy ) and Chalukyan empires ( mind you these two were at constant war and it would have been politically suitable for Chalukyans to see Pratiharas fail ) along with some marginal small kings defeated forces of Ummayad khalifate which kept India safe from Islamic invasion for 300 years.It was only after the exhausion of three competing empires ( Gujara-Pratihara, Pala , and Rashtrakutas ) due to infighting during Kannauk triangle era that Islam got a toehold in India.
You are probably also unaware of the fact that Rajput fought as one to protect Kabulshahi dynasty ( yes, contrary to perceptions East Afghanistan has historically been a Hindu/Buddhist zone; a part of India ) against Ghaznavi in Battle of Chach. It was only after Ghaznavi shattered combined Rajput army after a heavily contested battle, that he was able to plunder North-West India; and this too occured only because Chola Empire, which has strongest army in subcontinent refused help.
And you are certainly unaware of the fact that Ghaznavi's raid was not standalone event. India was repeatedly attecked by his family, first by sebuktigin ( ghaznavi's father ) which did not materialized due to presence of Kabulshahi dynasty ( though it wrested Kabul from Dharampal ,then by Ghaznavi , then by his nephew Masud Ghazni.
Ever wondered why those raids ended or why there was no Delhi sultunate in 1030?
That is because Masud Ghazni was defeated by a hindu confedracy led by Raja Sukhdev ( Raja Sukhdev + Rai Raib, Rai Saib, Rai Arjun, Rai Bheekhan, Rai Kanak, Rai Kalyan, Rai Makaru, Rai Savaru, Rai aran, Rai Birbal, Rai Jaypal, Rai Shreepal, Rai Harpal, Rai Hakru, Rai Prabhu, Rai Deo Narayan, Rai Narsinha Bais Rajputs,Arkawanshikshatriyas, Kalhans Rajputs, Raikwars and bhar warriors) in battle of Bahraich.
Hindu laws prohibit slaughter of civilians and/or defeated/routed enemy, but the memory of Ghaznavi was so searing that not a single muslim ( including camp followers ) was spared in that battle. Masud Ghazni died in that battle and India was not attacked again until 1192.( that idiot prithviraj chauhan should have learned to finish his enemies to last from this battle ).
But the tragicomedy of this battle has just began. Muslims during delhi sultanate time proclaimed Masud was a Ghazi and elevated his status to a pir. Every year an Urs is organized in his memory ,at the site of battle, which even some superstitious traitor hindus attend so that pir baba could fulfill some of their guttral wish ( did you know that @
Indrani @
SanjeevaniButi @
SarthakGanguly @
wolfschanzze ).
So your assertion that Hindu Kings never fought for Independence or idea of India against Muslims is wrong and borne out of your ignorance.