Rani Lakshmibai, famously known as Jhansi ki Rani, was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and has become a symbol of resistance against the British Raj for Indian nationalists. Born on 19 November 1828, Lakshmibai is one of the earliest noted female figures in Indian history. Generations of women have been inspired by her bravery and her will to never give in. Her mother died when she was only four years old and her father was the Commander of the war of Kalyan Pranth, who worked for the ruler Peshwa Baji Rao II. Having a close relationship with the Peshwa, she was called "Chhabili" which means "playful". Living in close quarters with the royal family, she was considerably more privileged than her friends who weren't given the opportunity to study. She was educated and was taught to read and write as well as horse riding and fencing. Rani Lakshmibai defied many Indian cultural beliefs including the practice of Sati- a ritual where the widowed wife jumps into a bonfire upon the death of her husband.
After her marriage to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, she was given the nickname Lakshmibai in honor of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. They adopted a child following the death of the couple's biological son, and the child was renamed Damodar Rao in memory of the Maharaja's death. The adoption was done in the presence of a British political officer due to the fact that the British Raj was prevailing in India at that time. The officer was given a letter from the Maharaja instructing that the child be treated with respect and that the government of Jhansi should be given to his widow in the event of his death. Alongside these events, the British East India Company had started to create new laws and boundaries, that stated that adopted heirs couldn’t inherit property, titles, or wealth. This rejected Damodar Rao's claim to the throne and annexed the state to its territories.
After being expelled from her palace, Lakshmibai was extremely clear about protecting Jhansi from British annexation. Lakshmibai secured her position and formed an army of both men and women who were given military training, specific skills needed in battle. In 1857, India’s First War of Independence broke out due to the East Indian Company supplying cartridges to Indian soldiers that were greased with pork and beef fat to keep them dry. This was a major problem because soldiers were required to bite off the end of the cartridge that contained the gunpowder to load into their rifles. Since pigs are a taboo creature in Islam and cows are sacred within Hinduism there was major discomfort over the products, as the majority of the soldiers practiced one of the two religions.
Once the war had started an army of 20,000 soldiers was sent to Jhansi by the ruler of a neighboring kingdom, Tatya Tope. During the battle, Lakshmibai realized that resistance with her army was not resulting in anything productive. Jhansi ki Rani, along with her son Damodar Rao, escaped from Jhansi and joined forces with Tatya Tope, occupying and defending the town. The British attacked the town and Lakshmibai and Tatya Tope were defeated, forcing Tatya Tope and Jhansi Ki Rani to flee to Gwalior, where they joined the Indian army guarding the city. Lakshmibai wanted to occupy the Gwalior Fort due to its strategic location, but she was unsuccessful. Instead, Lakshmibai dressed as a man in a soldier's uniform, completely armed on horseback, with her infant adopted son tied to her back, and began attacking the British troops. The British attacked back and Lakshmibai was heavily wounded. Upon her death in 1858, her body was cremated as per her wishes. Three days after the death of Lakshmibai, the British captured the Gwalior fort. Jhansi Ki Rani continues to remain an inspiration to generations of Indians and is remembered for her fearlessness and determination.
Writer: Riva Barfiwala Editor: Molly McEwen
Sources:
https://www.mapsofindia.com/on-this-day/june-18-1858-rani-lakshmibai-of-jhansi-dies-while-fighting-the-british-troops-near-gwalior
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