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Jhansi
Ki Rani Lakshmibai Biography
Lakshmibai, The Rani Queen
of Jhansi 19 November 1835 – 17 June 1858 known as Jhansi Ki Rani,
was the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, was one of
the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance
to British rule in India. She has gone down in Indian history as a legendary
figure, as India's "Joan of Arc. she was called by the name Manikarnika.
Affectionately, her family members called her Manu. At a tender age of
four, she lost her mother. As a result, the responsibility of raising her
fell upon her father. While pursuing studies, she also took formal training
in martial arts, which included horse riding, shooting and fencing. To
know the complete life history of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, read on
Jhansi Fort
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Originally named Manikarnika
at birth nicknamed Manu , she was born on 19 November 1835 at Kashi
Varanasi to a Maharashtrian Karhade Brahmin family from Dwadashi, District
Satara. She lost her mother at the age of four. She was educated at home.
Her father Moropant Tambey worked at the court of Peshwa Baji Rao II at
Bithur and then travelled to the court of Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar,
the Maharaja of Jhansi, when Manu was thirteen years old. She was married
to Gangadhar Rao, the Raja of Jhansi, at the age of 14.
During that period, Lord
Dalhousie was the Governor General of British India. The adopted child
was named Damodar Rao. As per the Hindu tradition, he was their legal heir.
However, the British rulers refused to accept him as the legal heir. As
per the Doctrine of Lapse, Lord Dalhousie decided to seize the state of
Jhansi. Rani Lakshmibai went to a British lawyer and consulted him. Thereafter,
she filed an appeal for the hearing of her case in London. But, her plea
was rejected. The British authorities confiscated the state jewels. Also,
an order was passed asking the Rani to leave Jhansi fort and move to the
Rani Mahal in Jhansi. Laxmibai was firm about protecting the state of Jhansi |
After her marriage, she
was given the name Lakshmi Bai. Because of her father's influence at court,
Rani Lakshmi Bai had more independence than most women, who were normally
restricted to the zenana: she studied self defense, horsemanship, archery,
and even formed her own army out of her female friends at court.
Rani Lakshmi Bai gave
birth to a son in 1851, however this child died when he was about four
months old. After the death of their son, the Raja and Rani of Jhansi adopted
Damodar Rao. However, it is said that her husband the Raja never recovered
from his son's death, and he died on 21 November 1853 of a broken heart.
Because Damodar Rao was
adopted and not biologically related to the Raja, the East India Company,
under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, was able to install the Doctrine
of Lapse, rejecting Rao's rightful claim to the throne. Dalhousie then
annexed Jhansi, saying that the throne had become "lapsed" and thus put
Jhansi under his "protection". In March 1854, the Rani was given a pension
of 60,000 rupees and ordered to leave the palace at the Jhansi fort. |
Seal of Jhansi
|
(One of two large
cannon on display at Jhansi Fort. This one is the Bhavani Shankar cannon
which was operated by Moti Bai.)
Rani Jhansi was determined
not to give up Jhansi. She strengthened its defences and assembled a volunteer
army. Women were also given military training. Rani's forces were joined
by warriors including Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost Khan, Khuda Baksh, Lala Bhau
Bakshi, Moti Bai, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai, Deewan Raghunath Singh and
Deewan Jawahar Singh.
(The memorial to Gulam
Gaus Khan, Moti Bai and Khudabaks. The three are remembered together as
a symbol of unity. The Panch Mahal is in the right background along with
a satellite dish)
While this was happening
in Jhansi, on May 10, 1857 the Sepoy (soldier) Mutiny of India started
in Meerut. This would become the starting point for the rebellion against
the British. It began after rumours were put about that the new bullet
casings for their Enfield rifles were coated with pork/beef fat, pigs being
taboo to Muslims and cows sacred to Hindus and thus forbidden to eat. British
commanders insisted on their use and started to discipline anyone who disobeyed.
During this rebellion many British civilians, including women, and children
were killed by the sepoys. The British wanted to end the rebellion quickly.
Meanwhile, unrest began
to spread throughout India and in May of 1857, the First War of Indian
Independence erupted in numerous pockets across the northern subcontinent.
During this chaotic time, the British were forced to focus their attentions
elsewhere, and Lakshmi Bai was essentially left to rule Jhansi alone. During
this time, her qualities were repeatedly demonstrated as she was able swiftly
and efficiently to lead her troops against skirmishes breaking out in Jhansi.
Through this leadership Lakshmi Bai was able to keep Jhansi relatively
calm and peaceful in the midst of the Empire’s unrest.
Tantia Tope as a Prisoner
Tantya
Tope more.......
|
The letter is one of
the few remaining
artefacts from the Rani
of Jhansi's life |
The letter was written
by Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, shortly before the Indian mutiny - or first
war of independence - in 1857.
It has been found in London
in the archives of the British Library.
The Rani of Jhansi has
often been called the "Joan of Arc" of the Indian independence struggle.
Academics say the discovery
of the letter is hugely significant, because so little historical evidence
from the Rani of Jhansi's lifetime exists. |
Up to this point, she
had been hesitant to rebel against the British, and there is still some
controversy over her role in the massacre of the British HEIC officials
and their wives and children on the 8th June 1857 at Jokhan Bagh. Her hesitation
finally ended when British troops arrived under Sir Hugh Rose and laid
siege to Jhansi on 23rd March 1858. Rani Jhansi with her faithful warriors
decided not to surrender. The fighting continued for about two weeks. Shelling
on Jhansi was very fierce. In the Jhansi army women were also carrying
ammunition and were supplying food to the soldiers. Rani Lakshmi Bai was
very active. She herself was inspecting the defense of the city. She rallied
her troops around her and fought fiercely against the British. An army
of 20,000, headed by the rebel leader Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi
and to take Lakshmi Bai to freedom. However, the British, though numbering
only 1,540 in the field so as not to break the siege, were better trained
and disciplined than the “raw recruits,” and these inexperienced soldiers
turned and fled shortly after the British began to attack on the 31st March.
Lakshmi Bai’s forces could not hold out and three days later the British
were able to breach the city walls and capture the city. Yet Lakshmi Bai
escaped over the wall at night and fled from her city, surrounded by her
guards, many of whom were from her women’s military.
Along with the young Damodar
Rao, the Rani decamped to Kalpi along with her forces where she joined
other rebel forces, including those of Tatya Tope. The Rani and Tatya Tope
moved on to Gwalior, where the combined rebel forces defeated the army
of the Maharaja of Gwalior after his armies deserted to the rebel forces.
They then occupied the strategic fort at Gwalior. However on the second
day of fighting, on 18 June 1858, the Rani died.
(The so-called Jumping
Point. The Rani is claimed to have jumped her horse from this point on
the wall to the ground below and so make her escape. The figures in red
and blue give an idea of the scale. This plus the rough and sloping ground
below must surely mean that any horse would have been killed, not to mention
the rider. The Rani was a good rider, but physics is physics. It is somewhat
more likely that she left by the gate.)
She died on 18 June, 1858
during the battle for Gwalior with 8th Hussars that took place in Kotah-Ki-Serai
near Phool Bagh area of Gwalior. She donned warrior's clothes and rode
into battle to save Gwalior Fort, about 120 miles west of Lucknow in what
is now the state of Uttar Pradesh. The British captured Gwalior three days
later. In the report of the battle for Gwalior, General Sir Hugh Rose commented
that the rani "remarkable for her beauty, cleverness and perseverance"
had been "the most dangerous of all the rebel leaders".
 |
However, the lack of
a corpse to be convincingly identified as the Rani convinced Captain Rheese
of the so called "bravest" regiment that she had not actually perished
in the battle for Gwalior, stating publicly that:"[the] Queen of Jhansi
is alive!". It is believed her funeral was arranged on same day near the
spot where she was wounded. One of the her maidservants helped with the
arrangement of quick funeral.
Because of her bravery,
courage, and wisdom, and her progressive views on women's empowerment in
19th century India, and due to her sacrifices, she became an icon of Indian
independence movement. The Rani was memorialized in bronze statues at both
Jhansi and Gwalior, both of which portray her on horseback.
Her father, Moropant Tambey,
was captured and hanged a few days after the fall of Jhansi. Her adopted
son, Damodar Rao, was given a pension by the British Raj and cared for,
although he never received his inheritance.
Rani Lakshmi Bai became
a national heroine and was seen as the epitome of female bravery in India.
When the Indian National Army created its first female unit, it was named
after her.
Indian poetess Subhadra
Kumari Chauhan wrote a poem in the Veer Ras style about her, which is still
recited by children in schools of contemporary India.
In a prophetic statement
in the 1878 book The History of the Indian Mutiny, Colonel Malleson said
"...her countrymen will always believe that she was driven by ill-treatment
into rebellion; that her cause was a righteous cause; ..... To them she
will always be a heroine
Cremation Place of Rani
Lakshmi Bai |
Arun Krishnarao
G.Grandson of Jhansi
ki Rani Lakshmibai
|
Vishram Tambe G.Grandson
of uncle of Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmibai
Ganesh temple, Laxmi
Bai married here with Gangadhar Rao |
in 1766 Vishwas Rao Laxman
was made the subedar of Jhansi. His period was from 1766 to 1769. After
him Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar was appointed the subedar of Jhansi. He
was a very able administrator. He increased the revenue of the state. The
MahaLakshmi Temple and the Raghunath Temple were built by him. For his
own residence he constructed a beautiful building Rani Mahal in the city.
in 1796 Raghunath Rao passed the subedari in favour of his brother ShivRao
Hari.
After the death of Shiv
Rao his grand son Ramchandra Rao was made subedar of Jhansi. He was not
a good administrator. Ramchandra Rao died in 1835. After his death Raghunath
Rao (III) was made his successor. in 1838 Raghunath Rao (III) also died.
The British rulers then accepted Gangadhar Rao as the Raja of Jhansi. Due
to the inefficient administration during the period of Raghunath Rao (III)
the financial position of Jhansi was very critical. Raja Gangadhar Rao
was a very good administrator. He was very generous and full of sympathy.
He gave very good administration to Jhansi. During his period the local
population of Jhansi was very satisfied. |
Jhansi
Ki Rani Lakshmibai Biography
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