| Names |
Lakshmi Bai
(Popularly known as Jhansi ki Rani, i.e. the
Queen of Jhansi) - Birthname: Manikamika
(Nickname: Manu) |
| Date of
Birth |
November 19, 1835
– Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Date of
Death |
June 18, 1858
– Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India |
|
Profession / Traits / Activities |
Indian Freedom
Fighter |
| Special
Developments / Events |
- One of the leading figures of the Indian
Rebellion of 1857.
- A symbol of resistance to British rule
in India.
- She was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja
Gangadhar Rao, in 1842, whereafter she was called
Lakshmibai.
- She was the queen of the Peshwa-ruled
princely state of Jhansi, which is situated
in the northern part of India.
- One of the most famous women freedom fighters
of India.
- She became a national heroine and is
seen as the epitome of female bravery in
India.
- After the death of the raja in November 1853, the
British authorities annexed the state to
its territories.
- In March 1854, Lakshmibai was given a pension
and was ordered to leave the palace and the fort.
- She defended Jhansi against British
troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23
March 1858.
- She struggled against the British forces to free Jhansi
from their control and finally died fighting this
long drawn battle.
- The British authorities confessed that she was
the most dangerous of all other Indian leaders.
|
|
Commemorations |
- The first female unit of Subhas Chandra Bose's
Indian National Army was named after her.
- Equestrian statues of Lakshmibai are
seen in many places of India, which show her and her son
tied to her back while fighting the British.
- Laxmibai National University of Physical
Education in Gwalior and Maharani Laxmi Bai
Medical College in Jhansi are named after her.
- The Rani Jhansi Marine National Park is
located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of
Bengal.
- In 1957 two postage stamps were issued
to commemorate the centenary of the rebellion: the 15 n.p.
stamp portrayed the Rani on horseback.
-
Indian
poetess Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (1904 :: 1948) wrote a poem titled
Jhansi Ki Rani in the Veer Ras style about her, which is still
recited by children in schools of contemporary India. Original Hindi
text:
सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंशों ने भृकुटी तानी
थी,
बूढ़े भारत में आई फिर से नयी जवानी थी,
गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी,
दूर फिरंगी को करने की सबने मन में ठानी
थी।
चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में, वह तलवार पुरानी
थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी
थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी
थी।।
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