RANI OF JHANSI

Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of a small state, but the

empress of an empire beyond limits of glory. This fiery
queen of Jhansi was a symbol of resistance to British rule
in India. She was a great nationalist heroine of the Revolt
of 1857, the first war of India's Freedom.
Lakshmi Bai was born on 19 November 1835, at
Kashi (now known as Varanasi). Her father Moropanth
was a Brahmin and her mother Bhagirathibai was a
cultured and religious lady. In her childhood, Lakshmi Bai
was called Mannikarnika (Manu).
When Manu was four years old, she lost her
mother. "Manu is my responsibility now," thought her sad
father. The young girl completed her education. She was
also fond of horse riding, sword fighting and shooting.
At 1842, Manu was married to Raja Gangadhar
Rao, then Maharaja of Jhansi. Their marriage ceremony
was performed in Ganesh Mandir, the temple of Lord
Ganesha in the city of Jhansi Thus Manu became the Rani
of Jhansi. It was after marriage that she was given the
name 'Lakshmi Bai'.
Jhansi was then a Maratha-ruled princely state
of northern India, and was in the grip of the cunning
British rule. In 1851, Rani Lakshmi Bai gave birth to a son ,
but this child survived barely four months. "Let's adopt a
child," proposed Maharaja Gangadhar Rao. Rani agreed
and the couple adopted Damodar Rao as their son.
things went fine for the next couple of years. But
unfortunately in 1853, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao expired
on 21 November. Lakshmi Bai was only 18 years old at
that time. She was left alone but being a brave woman
she did not lose her courage. She always remembered
her responsibility towards her son.
As per the Hindu tradition, after the death of
Maharaja Gangadhar Rao, little Damodar Rao should
have been the heir to the throne. But the Brutish rulers
rejected Rani's claim that Damodar Rao was their legal
heir. "The Maharaja has left no heir," the British shouted.
In the guise of this misfortune of Jhansi, the British were
planning to expand their Empire.
At that time Lord Dalhousie was the Governor General
of British India. Heb decided to annex the state of Jhansi
under the Doctrine of Lapse. In March 1854, an annual
pension of Rs. 60,000 (Sixty Thousand) was announced
for Rani. But the British confiscated the state Jewels and
deducted her husband's debts from her annual pension.
In addition, she was also odered to leave the Jhansi fort.