Rani of Jhansi

 Rani of Jhansi

The Rani of Jhansi, otherwise known as Rani Lakshimibai, was an Indian queen and the Maharani (Queen) consort of the Maratha princely state of Jhansi for 10 years from 1843 to 1853 as the wife of Maharaja (King) Gangadhar Rao. She was one of the greatest and most prominent figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, thereby becoming a symbol of opposition and inspiration against British rule in India for Indian nationalists. 

Rani Lakshmibai (or Rani Lakshmi Bai) was born on 19 November 1828 in the town of Benares (now Varanasi) into a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family. She was named Manikarnika Tambe and was nicknamed Manu. Her father was Moropant Tambe and her mother was Bhagirathi Sapre (Bhagirathi Bai). Her parents came from the Tambe village of the Guhagar Taluka, found in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

 Her father was the Commander of the war of Kalyanpranth. Her father worked for Peshwa Baji Rao II of Bithoor district in what is now Uttar Pradesh. The Peshwa called her "Chhabili '', which means "beautiful” and "lively and cheerful". She was educated at home and was taught to read and write, and was more independent in her childhood than others of her age; her studies included shooting, horsemanship, fencing and mallakhamb (an Indian traditional dance), with her childhood friends Nana Sahib and Tantia Tope. Rani Lakshmibai denied many of the traditional cultural expectations for women in India's society at this time. She was also known for her unique perspectives and her courage to fight against social rules, even in front of the whole society. Now, her palace has been transformed into a museum exhibiting artifacts from the 9th to the 12th century AD.

The queen is mainly famous for the revolt of 1857. It began on May 10, 1857, when the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. Hearing the news, the Rani asked the British political officer to use some of their soldiers for her own protection. She was unwilling to also rebel against the British. However, in June, the rebels of the 12th Bengal Native Infantry captured the Star Fort of Jhansi and killed all the British officers and their families, and afterwards looted the palace. The Rani communicated with the British forces for help, and the Major replied saying that a superintendent will arrive, and until then to maintain the district. Some time later, her forces defeated an attempt by the rebels to assert the claim to the throne of a rival prince Sadashiv Rao (nephew of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao) who was captured and imprisoned.

In October 1857, there was then an invasion of Jhansi by the forces of Company allies Orchha and Datia, but their objective however was to divide Jhansi between themselves. The Rani appealed to the British for aid but it was now believed by the governor-general that she was responsible for the massacre and no reply was received. She set up a factory to construct cannons to be used on the walls of the fort and assembled forces including some from former feudatories of Jhansi and elements of the guerillas which were able to defeat the invaders in August 1857. Her intention at this time was still to hold Jhansi on behalf of the British.

From August 1857 to January 1858, Jhansi under the Rani's rule was at peace. The British had declared that troops would be sent there to maintain control but the fact that none arrived strengthened the position of a party of her advisers who wanted independence from British rule. When the British forces finally arrived in March, they found it well-defended and that the fort had heavy guns which could fire over the town and nearby countryside against invaders. According to one source, the commander of the British forces, Hugh Rose, demanded the surrender of the city and that if the order was refused it would be destroyed. The same source claims that after much consideration, the Rani issued a proclamation: "We fight for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna, we will if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of victory, if defeated and killed on the field of battle, we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation." However, no other sources  have mentioned a demand for surrender. She defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858, where she had to escape her palace with her son and escorted by soldiers.

On June 17, 1858, the queen's army was attacked by the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars while they were leaving. Throughout the battle, the Rani fought and was wounded. There are two theories on how she died. One was that she was killed by a British soldier, when she was wounded. The other was that she refused to be captured by the British and asked a hermit to burn her. After the rebellion, Sir Hugh Rose regarded her as a clever and pleasant ruler, and as India’s most dangerous leader ever.