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Tuesday, April 19th, 2005
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12:27 am - Introduction.
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Namaste'.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Maharani Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of a principality called Jhansi in northern India. I am most noted for having led an uprising against a takeover of my homeland by the British.As such, I became a heroine and a symbol of resistance to the British rule.
I was born in November of 1830 into a wealthy, high-caste family. My name was named Manukarnika, which is also one of the names of the holy river Ganges. As a young woman, I learned to read, write and debate. I also learned to ride horses and use weapons while playing with my adopted brothers. I wsa given the name Lakshmi Bai when I married Gangadhar Rao, the Maharajah of Jhansi and I became the Maharani of Jhansi.
My husband, Gangadhar Rao, whom I loved very much, was between forty and fifty years of age at the time of our marriage. This was his second marriage. His first wife died without producing an heir. As the Rani of Jhansi, I gave birth to a son, but he died when he was three months old. Subsequently, Damodar Rao, Gangadhar's relative, became our adopted son. Soon thereafter, In 1853, my husband died.
The Governor-General of India, the Marquess of Dalhousie, announced that since the Mahrajah, my husband, left no heir, the state of Jhansi would be annexed by the British Government. The British rejected the claim that Damodar Rao was the legal heir. According to Hindu law, little Damodar Rao was my husband's heir and successor. In the Hindu religion, a surviving son, either biological or adopted, had an obligation to perform certain sacrifices after his father's death to prevent his father from being condemned to punishment or hell. The refusal of the British to acknowledge the legitimacy of Rajah's adopted son caused a serious consternation among our people. As Maharani, I appealed my case to London, but that appeal was turned down.
Not wishing to give up my kingdom, I assembled a volunteer army of 14,000 rebels and ordered that defenses of the city itself be strengthened. Jhansi was attacked by the British in March 1858. Shelling of Jhansi was fierce and the British were determined not to allow any of the rebels to escape while I was determined not to surrender. The British noted that the Indian soldiers fighting them showed more vigor than they ever had while following British orders. Women were also seen working the batteries and carrying ammunition, food and water to the soldiers. Could I have done no less? I was determined to help in defense of the city. Jhansi, however, fell to the British forces after a two week siege. A priest from Bombay who witnessed the British victory, said that what followed were four days of fire, pillage, murder and looting without distinction. He said it was difficult to breathe due to strong smell of burning flesh. British historians, on the other hand, suggested that while four to five thousand people died in battle, the civilians were spared.
After all of this, I managed to escape on horseback under the cover of darkness and within twenty-four hours rode over one hundred miles to the fortress of Kalpi. Several other Indian rulers joined the rebel forces there. At least I was somewhat influential in convincing the others to go on the offensive and seize the fortress of Gwalior. This maneuver was successful and helped rally our rebel forces together.
I shall fight the Ingrezi with all that is within me. Mai apni Jhansi nahi doongi!
Translation:
Ingrezi - English
Mai apni Jhansi nahi doongi! - 'I will not give up my Jhansi!' Is the quote by Rani Lakshmi Bai for which she is well known.
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