Rani Lakshmi Bai: A Woman of Heroic Spirit In True Sense

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi glorified the name of our country in the history of India while fighting with the Britishers. She was a woman of heroic spirit in the true sense. Her courage was indomitable. Temptations could not deter her from proceeding on the path of her duty. She never bowed before the British to protect her country. She was firm towards her goal. She was full of confidence and this was her stepping stone to success. Self-confidence was her energy and because of her inexhaustible energy, she did not lose her courage. She was very courageous and self-respecting. 

 

Rani Lakshmi Bai married Raja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi in the year 1950. At that time, the name of Rani Lakshmi was Mumbai. In 1851, she gave birth to a baby son, but after four months that child died. Gangadhar Rao also died on 21 November 1853. But he had already given his acceptance for his family's child, Damodar Rao to be his adopted son. When the British government was informed about the adoption, they rejected it.

 

This policy of the British government gave rise to a new struggle:

As soon as Rani Lakshmi Bai got the information that the British government had rejected the adoption of Dattak's son Damodar Rao under the adoption policy and announced the merger of Jhansi into the British Empire, this sentence automatically came out of the queen's mouth - 'I will not give my Jhansi'. The British government captured Jhansi on 7 March 1854. Rani Laxmi Bai turned down the pension offer and started residing in the city's palace. From this, the seeds of India's first independence revolution were sprung and a plan of revolt against the British government was started. Eventually, the flames of rebellion ignited among the people of India. The historic battle of Jhansi started on 23 March 1858. On 18 June 1858, the last battle of Gwalior took place, and finally, Rani passed on to Veeragati while fighting the British army.

Here are some facts about Rani Lakshmi Bai that we must know to be able to share with the younger generation

• Born on November 19, 1835, in the Kashi region of Kashi Banaras state, she had an unparalleled childhood as compared to the women of her time. With her selfless contribution to the Indian independence movement and resistance against British rule, she became an icon of the ideals of women's empowerment and bravery.

• At the time of birth, she was named Manikarnika Tambe and was affectionately called 'Manu'.

• During her days in the court of Baji Rao II, Manikarnika was a bubbly and cheerful child. The Peshwa also dubbed her 'Chhabili' or Chanchal. 

• Rani Lakshmi Bai grew up without a mother in her life, as her birth mother died when she was only four years old. She was raised by her father Moropant Tambe with a lot of love and affection. He worked in the court of Peshwa Baji Rao II of Bithur.  

• Her education was very different from other girls of her age. She grew up in an environment that was more independent than others. She was educated in shooting, horsemanship, and fencing.

• Our queen loved horse riding. She liked to walk between palaces on horseback, accompanied by a small escort group.

• Before being recognized as 'Joan of Arc' of India, she was married to Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the ruler of Jhansi. Rani Lakshmi Bai came to be known as Lakshmi only after she married the ruler of Jhansi.

• It is said that her name was changed to Lakshmi Bai in honor of Goddess Lakshmi. Though she was married at the age of seven to the ruler of Jhansi, their marriage did not take place until she was 14 years old. 

• In 1851, Rani Lakshmi Bai gave birth to a baby boy, named Damodar Rao who was nominated as the heir to the throne of Jhansi. But unfortunately, he died when he was just four months old.

• She became the ruler of Jhansi only at the age of 18 when she rejected the theory of lapse imposed on the state by the British authorities

• Rani Laxmi Bai shared a close friendship with Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope. These two were with her among the leaders who led the revolt of 1857 against British rule. And even took lessons together.

• It is said that even on the verge of death, her contempt for British rule was so strong that she did not want them to occupy her body. Therefore, she commanded a Sadhu to burn it, and later, she was properly cremated by a few locals.

• Just before the Battle of Jhansi, the queen, after due deliberation, issued a proclamation: "We fight for freedom. If we believe in the words of Lord Krishna, we shall be victorious and enjoy the fruits of victory. If we are defeated and killed on the battlefield, we will surely attain salvation and that will be the eternal glory."

• The queen was so pleased with Ghulam Gaus's skill of fighting that she gave him her prized silver anklet, as a reward. Ghulam Gaus was an accomplished shooter. The queen took the head of the dying Ghulam Gaus in her lap.

• After the death of Ghulam Ghaus, the queen directed that Ghulam Ghaus and Khuda Bakshya should be buried inside the fort with felicitated honors. Those mausoleums still exist in the southern corner of the palace on the platform of the fort. On March 29, people come here to salute him and offer the chadar.

• British Army Commander Hugh Rose remarked that Rani Lakshmi Bai had a "personalistic approach and was clever and charming" and that she was "the most dangerous of all Indian leaders".

• After twenty years of her death, Colonel Malleson wrote in 'History of the Indian Mutiny'; whatever her faults in British eyes may have been, her countrymen will always remember that she was driven by ill-treatment into rebellion and she lived and died for her country.

• Rani Lakshmi Bai defended Jhansi against the British troops till the end. Didn't give up at any point. Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858, but her spirit remained indomitable.

• Rani Laxmi Bai's palace has now been converted into a museum. It houses a collection of archaeological remains from the period between the 9th and 12th centuries AD.

• It is believed that the Rani of Jhansi mainly used three horses named Pawan, Badal, and Sarangi respectively. It is also said that when the queen jumped from the high wall of the palace riding on Badal, he sacrificed his life to save the queen. Afterward, Rani Lakshmi Bai started using Pawan.

• Two postage stamps of Rs.15 paisa were also issued, in 1957, to honor the birthday of the rebellion.

Rani Lakshmi Bai, who is an icon for women's empowerment, played a crucial role in the revolt of 1857 which was known as the first war of Independence.We should respect the spirit of sacrifice she instilled in the countrymen and made the biggest sacrifice for the country's independence. The fort of Jhansi still reminds us of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the warrior queen who stood up to the British. 

When only men were considered eligible for war, Rani Lakshmi Bai proved in that era that she was no less than men as a warrior. Seeing the bravery of the queen, Captain Hugh, the British, saluted her at the martyrdom site. Rani Lakshmi Bai was a capable ruler, an intelligent communicator, and a defender of the faith.

 

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