Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi is one of the leading figures of the First War of Indian Independence (1857), and is a symbol of the resistance to British rule in India. She has gone down in Indian history as a legendary figure, a firebrand who began the Indian Revolution against British colonialism.
She was born to a Maharashtrian family at Kashi (now Varanasi) in 1835. At a tender age of four, she lost her mother. Her father raised her in an unconventional way and supported her to learn to ride elephants and horses. She also took formal training in martial arts, which included shooting and fencing.
In 1842, she married Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Rao Niwalkar. On their wedding day, she was given the name Lakshmi Bai. In 1851, she gave birth to a son. Sadly, the child did not survive for more than four months.
Gangadhar Rao fell sick and became very weak in 1853. So, the couple adopted a son and named him Damodar. To ensure that the British did not raise an issue over the adoption, Lakshmi Bai got this adoption witnessed by the local British representatives. Soon, Gangadhar died. After his death, the then Governor General Lord Dalhousie refused to accept Damodar as heir to Gangadhar’s throne.
In March 1854 Rani of Jhansi was granted an annual pension of 60,000 and was ordered to leave the Jhansi fort. Lakshmi Bai was, however too brave a woman to be cajoled or browbeaten. She collected weapons and ammunition, and when the British invaded the fort of Jhansi, they were surprised to find the brave daughter of India, with sword in her hand, answering forcefully to the cruel strokes of a mighty enemy.
She was born to a Maharashtrian family at Kashi (now Varanasi) in 1835. At a tender age of four, she lost her mother. Her father raised her in an unconventional way and supported her to learn to ride elephants and horses. She also took formal training in martial arts, which included shooting and fencing.
( A picture depicting rani Lakshmi Bai on horse back with Damodar)
In 1842, she married Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Rao Niwalkar. On their wedding day, she was given the name Lakshmi Bai. In 1851, she gave birth to a son. Sadly, the child did not survive for more than four months.
Gangadhar Rao fell sick and became very weak in 1853. So, the couple adopted a son and named him Damodar. To ensure that the British did not raise an issue over the adoption, Lakshmi Bai got this adoption witnessed by the local British representatives. Soon, Gangadhar died. After his death, the then Governor General Lord Dalhousie refused to accept Damodar as heir to Gangadhar’s throne.
In March 1854 Rani of Jhansi was granted an annual pension of 60,000 and was ordered to leave the Jhansi fort. Lakshmi Bai was, however too brave a woman to be cajoled or browbeaten. She collected weapons and ammunition, and when the British invaded the fort of Jhansi, they were surprised to find the brave daughter of India, with sword in her hand, answering forcefully to the cruel strokes of a mighty enemy.
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