Jhansi laxmi bai biography of michael jackson

How did gangadhar rao died

Independence Day Special: 5 Women Freedom Fighters Who Took Part In India’s Independence Struggle

NEW DELHI: Every year on 15th August the country celebrates freedom from the British rule. During India's freedom struggle against the British rule, women also walked shoulder to shoulder with men, which encouraged thousands of other Indians to join the national freedom.

Here are five great female leaders/freedom fighters who participated in India's freedom struggle-

Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the leading warriors of India’s first struggle for independence. A symbol of bravery, patriotism and honour, Rani Lakshmi Bai was born on 19 November 1828 at Poona. After the death of her husband the head of the British government of India, Lord Dalhousie refused to allow her adopted son to become raja and Jhansi was then ruled by the British. Rani Laxmi Bai stood up to the British when they wanted to seize her kingdom and declare ownership. It is said that during the 1858 battle against the British army, Rani Laxmi Bai lost her life The Begum of Awadh encouraged the rural folks to rebel against the East India Company and to rise against the British rule in India after her husband had been exiled to Calcutta. She finally found asylum in Nepal where she died in 1879. Sarojini Naidu, born February 13, 1879, Hyderabad was a political activist, feminist, poet, and the first Indian woman to be president of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed an Indian state governor. She was sometimes called “the Nightingale of India”. She played an active and leading role during the Civil Disobedience Movement and was jailed along with Gandhi and other leaders. In 1942, she was arrested during the “Quit India” movement. Known as the Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement, the Bharat Ratna awardee Aruna Asaf Ali was an Indian Independence activist and a freedom fighter. She was the one who hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay d

Newalkar

Maharajas of Jhansi from 1769 to 1858

Newalkar dynasty were MarathiKarhade Brahmins, who were the Maharajas of Jhansi from 1769 to 1858. Their family deity was goddess Mahalakshmi. The Newalkars were sardars under Peshwa Madhavrao I, and later became Maharajas of Jhansi in Central India as an independent member of the Maratha Confederacy until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the protectorate of British India.

The dynasty was founded with Raghunath Hari Newalkar, who joined the service of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar. The Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi are a great patron of arts and music. The name of the dynasty was associated with the title of the ruler, who was known informally as Newalkar Maharaja.

Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi

The rulers from this dynasty are as follows:

Raghunath Rao of Jhansi (a.k.a. Raghunath Hari Newalkar; 1769–1796)
Shiv Hari Rao (1796–1811)
Ramchandra Rao (1806–1835; Sakku Bai was regent at his minority, 1811–1835)
Raghunath Rao III (1835–1838)
"Maharajadhiraj Fidvi Badshah Jamjah Englishtan", i.e. "faithful servant of the glorious king of England"
Sakku Bai as regent of Krishna Rao II (November 1838-5 January 1839)
Gangadhar Rao (1843–21 November 1853)
Rani Lakshmi Bai (21 November 1853– April 1858; as regent of Damodar Rao of Jhansi from 4 June 1857–4/5 April 1858)

Queens

Some of the known Queens:

Rani Padmabai (wife of Shiv Hari Rao)
Rani Sakku Bai (wife of Krishna Rao and mother of Ramchandra Rao; Gangadhar's elder sister in law)
Rani Janki Bai (first wife of Raghunath Rao III and his Royal consort; Gangadhar's younger sister in law)
Rani Lachcho Bai (second wife of Raghunath Rao III; Gangadhar's sister in law )
Rani Rama Bai (Gangadhar Rao's first wife)
Rani Lakshmi Bai (Gangadhar Rao's second wife and mother of Damodar Rao)

Othe

The Rani of Jhansi: A Study in Female Heroism in India 9780824887414

Citation preview

The Rani of Jhansi

The Rani ofjhansi in battle. An example of contemporary poster art.

The Rani of Jhansi A Study in Female Heroism in India

JOYCE

LEBRA-CHAPMAN

University of Hawaii Press HONOLULU

© 1986 University All Rights Manufactured

of Hawaii

Press

Reserved

in the United States of

America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lebra-Chapman, Joyce, 1925The Rani of Jhansi. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Lakshmi Bai, Rani of Jhansi, d. 1858. 2. India— History—Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858. 3. Heroines— India. 4. Legends—India—History and criticism. 5. Revolutionists—India—Biography. I. Title. DS475.2.L34L43 1986 954.03'17'0924 85-20677 ISBN 0-8248-0984-X

For Gurbakhsh, Billo and Ajay, and the people of Jhansi

Contents

Preface

ix

Map of India

xiii

Map of Jhansi

xv

Introduction

1

1. Jhansi and the Rani

5

2. The Rani Appeals the Lapse

24

3. The Lapse of Jhansi

39

4. Uprising at Jhansi

47

5. The Rani's Role

61

6. The Rani and the British Make Ready

71

7. The Battle for Jhansi

84

8. The Rani's Last Battles

96

9. Genesis of the Rani Legend

104

10. Growth of the Legend

118

11. Nationalism and the Legend

142

Historiographical

157

Essay

Notes

167

Glossary

183

Bibliography

185

Index

195

Preface

T

he Rani of Jhansi is a household name in India, her story the subject of primary school readers and comic books. And yet, few Westerners other than those with a serious interest in India are aware that a little more than a century ago a young woman, the widow of the maharaja of Jhansi, fought for her state in Central India and died valorously in battle against soldiers of the East India Company. While working on a book on the Indian National Army I learned of the women's unit called the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. This unit, named by Subhas Chandra Bose, arouse

Damodar rao of jhansi

Gangadhar rao first wife