Remembering the queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai

Today is the birth anniversary of one of India’s bravest women, a heroine of our struggle for Independence, Rani Lakshmi Bai. The Rani’s story is a remarkable tale of courage, determination and leadership...Her name is found in all our school text books but her story – like other historical figures – usually gets a perfunctory treatment in the classroom.

सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंशों ने भृकुटी तानी थी
…

बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झांसी वाली रानी थी

One of the finest introductions to the story of Rani Lakshmi Bai comes from this biographical sketch by N S Ramaprasad:

It was one evening after the rainy season. Outside Bethur, along the road on the banks of Ganga, three horses were galloping. Two riders were young men and one a girl. When one of the young men overtook her, the little girl galloped her horse faster and overtook him. Was the young man to accept defeat? Of course, he tried to overtake her but his horse stumbled and he feel down.

“O Manoo, I am dead”

When she heard that sorrowful cry, the girl rode back. The young man had been hurt and wad bleeding. With difficulty she lifted him mad him sit on her horse. By that time the other rider also joined them. All the three returned to the palace.

When the horse returned without the rider, Baji Rao the Second, the Peshwa of the Mahrata Empire, was quite disturbed. Although Moropanth who was with him tried to soothe him, his mind was troubled. When his children returned he breathed a sigh of relief.

The injured youth was Baji Rao’s adopted son Nana Saheb and his companion, his younger brother Rao Saheb. The girl was Manubai, the only daughter of Moropanth, a member of the Peshwa’s council.

When they returned home Moropanth said: “Manu, how unfortunate! Nana has been seriously hurt.”

“Not so, father; he has been hurt just a little. Did not Abhimanyu continue to fight although seriously injured?”

“Those times were different, Manu.”

“What is the difference, father? It is the same sky, the same earth. The sun and the moon are also the same.”

“But Manu, the fortunes of the country have changed. This is the age of British. We are powerless before them.”

The father’s reasoning did not appeal to the daughter. The father himself had taught her the lessons of the lives and the examples of the saintly Seeta, the brave Jeejabai and the brave Tarabai.

Another incident happened in the same town of Bethur: Nana saheb and Rao Saheb went out on an elephant. Baji Rao wanted to send Manubai with them. Moropanth also wished it. But their wish was not fulfilled. Nana Saheb asked the mahout to move on. Manu was disappointed.

The father said to the daughter when they were back home: “Manu, we must move with the times. Are we chieftains or kings to ride elephants? We should not wish for something for which we are not destined.”

“No, not so, father; I am destined to own not one but several elephants,” replied Manu.

“So, be it.”

Manubai of course was none other than the future queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai. As N S Ramaprasad writes,

Jhansi Rani Lakhsmi Bai brought glory to the women of Indian, nay to the women of the world.

…She was a woman although in her tender body there was a lion’s spirit.…..when she went to war and took up arms she was the very embodiment of the War Goddess Kali…She was young in years. But her foresight and firm decisions were mature.

Her courage and leadership were praised even by the enemy..British General Sir Hugh Rose, who fought against the Rani several times, once said:

“Of the mutineers the bravest and the greatest commander was the Rani.”

One of the best pieces of historical research on Rani Lakshmi Bai is to be found in the work of Allen Copsey. I stumbled on Allen’s web-page while doing some background research. Allen’s site is easily amongst the most informative websites on the Rani of Jhansi. Here is a brief extract:

Her (Rani Lakshmi Bai’s) story first caught my attention in a book in which she only rated a couple of paragraphs. Not surprisingly since in the scope of the Rebellion in particular, or Indian history in general it is just one episode among many, a footnote. Indeed in some works on Indian history the whole episode is not mentioned.

She was cheated twice by the British. Firstly, in 1854 when they annexed Jhansi on the death of her husband, the Raja. Secondly, when they unjustly accused her of complicity in the mutiny and massacre that occurred in Jhansi 3 years later. As a result of the actions of the British, and others, she was catapulted from being a ‘housewife’ to the leader of an army and the most important leader of the Indian Rebellion in the space of less than a year. Her death on June 17th 1858, effectively ending the Indian resistance.

...Today her name is commonplace throughout India, renowned as a leader of the Rebellion, but she was more than a martial leader. In her brief time she cast aside many conventions to unite peoples of all castes and religions in her cause. She put aside purdah, which she only observed with respect to the British in any case, encouraged other women to do the same and trained them to fight and support the main army; Lakshmibai was not the only Jhansi woman to die fighting the British. She cut across the social norms of the time, refusing to accept her fate ‘as a woman’. She cared for all her people, and consulted with them at crucial times, and carried them with her.

This is, I suppose, my homage to a remarkable woman and to all the other Lakshmibai’s the world over, those women who have had to fight, whether with words or swords, to protect themselves, their families, their homes, and, sadly, still are fighting.

As the wikipedia entry on Rani Lakshmi Bai notes,

…Because of her bravery, courage, and wisdom, and her progressive views on women’s empowerment in 19th century India, and due to her sacrifices, she became an icon of Indian independence movement.

As some of you would know, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army had a women’s unit named after the Rani – the first such regiment in Asia at the time…and of course many of you would have read Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s poem on her. As Subhadra-ji wrote in her concluding lines, the Rani does not need a memorial for us to remember her…she herself will remain an indelible mark on our memories (emphasis mine):

तेरा स्मारक तू ही होगी, तू खुद अमिट निशानी थी
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झांसी वाली रानी थी

The Rani’s story is particularly apt for the times we live in…Rani Lakshmi Bai risked social norms and refused to take her “fate” lying down…This is all the more remarkable considering the circumstance and social conditions of 19th century provincial India…Her story is not just an inspiration to women everywhere, it is a reminder to every Indian of our proud heritage…something that we risk squandering away today by our indifference and inaction. On this day of her anniversary, let us remember the Rani’s sacrifice and take a pledge to make ourselves worthy of her legacy…Pl share widely with your family and friends. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

Related Posts: Reading History: The Extraordinary Story of Mata Gujri and Remembering Devi Ahilya

P.S. Here is the English translation of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s poem and a link to a biography of Rani Lakshmi Bai in Hindi (pdf file; I have not read this yet).

Image courtesy: Wikipedia