Rani Lakshmi Bai, one of the greatest freedom fighters of India. Born on 19 November 1828 in the holy city of Banaras, now Varanasi into a Brahmin family, she was named Manikarnika and was nicknamed as Manu. She lost her mother at a very young age and was brought up by her father Moropant Tambe single handed, who was a court Peshwa of Bithoor district. Unlike other girls at that time, Manu was trained by her father in archery, horsemanship and self-defence along with formal education. She was taught to be independent by her father.
In the year 1842, she was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Rao, who was much elder to her. After her marriage as per rituals, she was named as Lakshmi Bai. In 1851 Maharani Lakshmi Bai gave birth to a son but her destiny was unkind and she lost her child within a few months. On the 21st of November 1853, she also lost her husband. At that time Lord Dalhousie was the Governor -General of India. Although, before the death of her husband, they adopted a boy who was his heir and successor as per the Hindu custom, but the British rulers discarded Rani's claim that Damodar Rao was their legal heir. Lord Dalhousie decided to annexe the state of Jhansi as Maharaja Gangadhar Rao had left no legal heir. British Government tried to take over Jhansi but Rani Lakshmi Bai did not let it go into the hands of the British and she said that it is impossible to take away Jhansi and she will never surrender. It did not take her long to comprehend the difficulty for the small state of Jhansi to combat against the British when even the Peshwas and Kings of Delhi had bowed down in front of them. With all the skills that she acquired in her childhood, Rani Lakshmi Bai took over the throne of Jhansi and ruled over it. She proved her capability as a ruler and fought for the rights of her state as well as to free the nation from the foreign rule. 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.
Jhansi became the central point of mutiny. Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai began to strengthen her position by seeking the support of others and she formed a volunteer army. The army not just consisted of the men folk, but the women were also actively involved. Women were also given military training to fight a mêlée. In the revolt, Rani Lakshmibai was accompanied by her generals and since Sep-Oct 1857, Rani defended Jhansi from being attacked by the armies of the neighbouring Kingdoms of Orchha and Datia. She also actively took part in the famous revolution by the military force of the British, Sepoy mutiy to free India from the rule of British Government. In January 1858, the British army headed it's away towards Jhansi and a battle took place, which lasted for two weeks. Finally, the British Government succeeded in the capturing Jhansi and Rani Laksmi Bai managed to escape along with her son, in the pretext of a man. She took refuge in Kalpi, where she met Tatya Tope, a great warrior, wherein she actively took part in the freedom movement of India. She died on 17th June in the year 1958 during the battle for Gwalior. According to the chronicle present in the history, when she was lying cataleptic in the battle field, a Brahmin found her and brought her to an ashram, where she died. For her massive effort, she is referred to as the 'Icon of the Indian Nationalist Movement'. Throughout the revolution, the aim of Rani Lakshmi Bai was to protect the throne of Jhansi for her adopted son Damodar. Her story became an inspiration for the upcoming generations of freedom fighters. She became immortal in the pages of history and became an example for every Indian woman.
Birth: 19 November 1828
Death: 17 July 1858
In the year 1842, she was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Rao, who was much elder to her. After her marriage as per rituals, she was named as Lakshmi Bai. In 1851 Maharani Lakshmi Bai gave birth to a son but her destiny was unkind and she lost her child within a few months. On the 21st of November 1853, she also lost her husband. At that time Lord Dalhousie was the Governor -General of India. Although, before the death of her husband, they adopted a boy who was his heir and successor as per the Hindu custom, but the British rulers discarded Rani's claim that Damodar Rao was their legal heir. Lord Dalhousie decided to annexe the state of Jhansi as Maharaja Gangadhar Rao had left no legal heir. British Government tried to take over Jhansi but Rani Lakshmi Bai did not let it go into the hands of the British and she said that it is impossible to take away Jhansi and she will never surrender. It did not take her long to comprehend the difficulty for the small state of Jhansi to combat against the British when even the Peshwas and Kings of Delhi had bowed down in front of them. With all the skills that she acquired in her childhood, Rani Lakshmi Bai took over the throne of Jhansi and ruled over it. She proved her capability as a ruler and fought for the rights of her state as well as to free the nation from the foreign rule. 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.
Jhansi became the central point of mutiny. Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai began to strengthen her position by seeking the support of others and she formed a volunteer army. The army not just consisted of the men folk, but the women were also actively involved. Women were also given military training to fight a mêlée. In the revolt, Rani Lakshmibai was accompanied by her generals and since Sep-Oct 1857, Rani defended Jhansi from being attacked by the armies of the neighbouring Kingdoms of Orchha and Datia. She also actively took part in the famous revolution by the military force of the British, Sepoy mutiy to free India from the rule of British Government. In January 1858, the British army headed it's away towards Jhansi and a battle took place, which lasted for two weeks. Finally, the British Government succeeded in the capturing Jhansi and Rani Laksmi Bai managed to escape along with her son, in the pretext of a man. She took refuge in Kalpi, where she met Tatya Tope, a great warrior, wherein she actively took part in the freedom movement of India. She died on 17th June in the year 1958 during the battle for Gwalior. According to the chronicle present in the history, when she was lying cataleptic in the battle field, a Brahmin found her and brought her to an ashram, where she died. For her massive effort, she is referred to as the 'Icon of the Indian Nationalist Movement'. Throughout the revolution, the aim of Rani Lakshmi Bai was to protect the throne of Jhansi for her adopted son Damodar. Her story became an inspiration for the upcoming generations of freedom fighters. She became immortal in the pages of history and became an example for every Indian woman.
Birth: 19 November 1828
Death: 17 July 1858