Rani Lakshmi Bai (born-19 November 1835- died 18 June 1858), also known as Jhansi Ki Rani, was the queen of Jhansi, a Maratha-ruled princely state of northern India, was one of the great nationalist heroes of the Revolt of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India.

Early life

Lakshmi Bai was born on 19 November 1835 at Kashi (Presently known as Varanasi). Her father Moropanth Tambey was a brahmin and her mother Bhagirathibai was cultured, intelligent and religious. Born Manikarnika, she was affectionately called Manu in her family. Manu lost her mother at the age of four, and responsibility of looking after the young girl fell to her father. She completed her education and martial training, which included horse riding, fencing and shooting, when she was still a child.

She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao Niwalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842, and became the queen of Jhansi. After the marriage she was given the name Lakshmi Bai. The ceremony of the marriage was performed at the Ganesh Mandir, the temple of Lord Ganesha situated in the old city of Jhansi. Rani Lakshmi Bai gave birth to a son in 1851, but this child died when he was about four months old. After this, the couple adopted Damodar Rao as their son. But Maharaja Gangadhar Rao expired on 21 November 1853, when Lakshmi Bai was 18 years old.

Annexation

At that

The war

Rani Lakshmi Bai started strengthening the defense of Jhansi and she assembled a volunteer army of patriots. Women were also recruited and given military training. Rani was accompanied by her generals Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost Khan, Khuda Baksh, Lala Bhau Bakshi, Moti Bai, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai, Deewan Raghunath Singh and Deewan Jawahar Singh. Many from the local population volunteered for service in the army ranks, with the popular support for her cause on the rise.

When the Revolt of 1857 broke out, Jhansi became a center of the rebellion. A small group of British officials took refuge in Jhansi's fort, and the Rani negotiated their evacuation. When the British left the fort, they were massacred by the rebels. Although the massacre probably occurred without the Rani's consent and she protested her innocence, she stood accused by the British.

In September and October of 1857, the Rani led the successful defense of Jhansi from the

Epilogue

The fall of Jhansi and the death of Rani Lakshmibai was the last series of the resistance to British Raj under India's First War of Independence. Its immediate effects included:

• She has often been likened to the Boudicca of India
• The Rani earned the respect of her British enemies for her bravery, and became a nationalist and feminist hero in India. When the Indian National Army created its first female unit, it was named after her.
• Her father, Moropant Tambe, was captured and hung a few days after the fall of Jhansi.
• Her adopted son, Damodar Rao, was given a pension by the British Raj, although he never received his inheritance.
• The administration of Undivided India passed on from the East India Company to the British crown.
• The Ranee was memorialized in bronze statues at both Jhansi and Gwalior, both of which portray her in equestrian style.

Timeline

Plese see - for a presentation of Timeline, from the birth Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, until her death.

See also

• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan

References

Maajha Pravas by Vishnu Bhatt Godse.Amar Balidani by Janki Sharan Verma Zila Vikas Pustika, 1996-97, JhansiMeyer, Karl E. and Shareen Blair Brysac. Tournament of Shadows. Washington D.C.: Counterpoint, 1999.

Lakshmî Bâî