– Dr. Vandana Sen
On hearing the name Veerangana, the image of Rani Lakshmi Bai starts emerging in our mind. Jhansi’s Rani Lakshmibai, who made Indian Vasundhara proud with her heroic spirit, was a heroine in true sense. She left in front of Indian women by setting such an ideal in her lifetime itself, from which everyone can take inspiration. She is also a living example of women empowerment at present. It is said that no temptation can distract a true hero from his duty. Such was the life of Rani Laxmibai. He had an unifying love for his state and nation. Veerangana always had this thing in her mind that the British, the enemies of the country, should be taught a lesson. That’s why he announced that I will not give my Jhansi. History tells that after this announcement, the queen fought with the British.
The hatred that Veerangana Lakshmibai had towards the British can be known from the fact that when the last time of the queen came, then in the big school of Gangadas located on the land of Gwalior, the queen asked the saints to do something that The British should not touch my body. After this, the queen went to heaven and performed the last rites of the queen by giving a hut in the big school the form of a funeral pyre. And the British just kept watching. Although before this, the saints of Badi Shala fought a fierce war with the British in support of the queen, in which 745 saints were also sacrificed, completely like soldiers, the saints who fought with the British protected the body of the queen till death.
The great men whose mind is full of heroic spirit, their aim is social upliftment and national upliftment. He lives such an ideal character, who becomes an inspiration for the society. Along with this, he is always self-confident, dutiful, self-respecting and pious in achieving his holy purpose. Such was Queen Lakshmi Bai. He was born on 19 November 1835 in Kashi. His father Moropant Tambe was a dependent of Chiknaji Appa. His mother’s name was Bhagirathi Bai. Due to Maharani’s paternal grandfather Balwant Rao being a general in the army of Bajirao Peshwa, Moropant was also blessed by the Peshwa. Lakshmibai was known as Manu and Manikarnika in her childhood.
In 1850, at the age of 15, Manikarnika was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Maharaja of Jhansi. Only after one year, he was blessed with a son, Ratna. But after four months that child died. Raja Gangadhar Rao was so deeply shocked that he could not recover and died on 21 November 1853. Although the death of the Maharaja was unbearable for the Queen, she did not panic, she did not lose her sanity. Raja Gangadhar Rao had given information to the British government during his lifetime considering Damodar Rao, the child of his family as an adopted son. But the government of the East India Company rejected the adopted son.
On February 27, 1854, Lord Dalhousie rejected the adoption of Damodar Rao, the adopted son, under the policy of adoption and announced the integration of Jhansi into the English state. On getting this information, this sentence erupted from the mouth of the queen, I will not give my Jhansi. It was from here that the seed of India’s first independence revolution sprouted. Rani Lakshmibai valiantly defended Jhansi for seven days and bravely fought the British with her small armed force. The queen openly faced the enemy and showed her valor in battle. She alone, riding on a horse tightly holding Damodar Rao behind her back, kept fighting with the British. It was impossible for the war to go on like this for a long time. Following the request of Sardars, the queen left for Kalpi. After going there, she did not sit quietly.
He established contact with Nana Saheb and his able commander Tatya Tope and held discussions. The British accepted the bravery and courage of the queen, but they followed the queen. The queen’s horse was badly injured and eventually died, but the queen did not give up and displayed bravery. The Queen and Tatya Tope planned in Kalpi and in the end Nana Saheb, Raja of Shahgarh, Raja Mardan Singh of Wanpur etc. all supported the queen. The Rani attacked Gwalior and captured the fort there. The celebration of Vijayollas continued for many days but the queen was against it. This was not the time for victory, it was time to consolidate our power and take the next step.
Here General Smith and Major Rules followed the queen with their army with full force and finally the day also came when she took possession of the fort of Gwalior after a fierce battle. Rani Lakshmi Bai continued to show her skill even in this war. The last battle of Gwalior took place on June 18, 1858 and the Rani led her army efficiently. She was injured and eventually attained martyrdom. Rani Lakshmibai gave consciousness to the public Janardan by giving the last sacrifice of her life in the freedom war and gave the message of sacrifice for national defense.
(The writer is an independent commentator.)
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