The Goddess of India who never surrender to the British.

- February 16, 2023

Thursday, 16th of February 2023

Maharani Lakshmi Bhaii

The Goddess of India who never surrender to the British.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Queen Lakshmi Bhai was born on 19th November 1828 in the kingdom of Varanasi into a Marati Karhade Brahmin Royal Family. She was named Manikarnika Thambe and her father was Morhopanthi Thambe. Her mother Bhagirathi Bhai.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Her mother died when she was 4 years old. Her father was the commander of the war of Kalyana Pranth. Her father worked for King Peshwa Bhaji Rao. She was educated at home and was taught to read and write, and was more independent in her childhood than others of her age, her also studies included shooting, horsemanship and Fencing.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Lakshmi Bhai contrasted many of the patriarchal cultural expectations for women in India's society at this time. And she was known for her unique perspectives and her courage to fight against social norms even in front of the whole society.

Maharani Lakshmi Bhai

🔥⚔🔱🐎 At the age 14, she was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi Uththam Gangadhar Rao in 1842. After her Marrage she was called Maharani Lakshmi Bhai Rao. Her son Damodhar Rao was born in 1851.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 There was then an invasion of Jhansi by the forces of company allies Ochcha and Dhatia. their intention however was to divide Jhansi between themselves. The Rani appealed to the British for aid but it was now believed by the governor general that she was responsible for the massacre and no reply was received.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 She set up a foundry to cast cannon to be used on the walls of the fort and assembled forces including some from former feudatories of Jhansi and elements of the mutineers which were able to defeat the invaders in 1857. Her intention at this time was still to hold Jhansi on behalf of the British.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 The King Gangadhar Rao was died in 1853 and the British under governor general Lord Dalhousie applied the doctrine of lapse, stating that they would not recognized the adopted child as the legal heir of the Raja and would hence annex Jhansi to British territory.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Rani Lakshmi Bhai of Jhansi wanted the East Indian company to recognized her adopted son Damodar Rao's coronation.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Ultimately, she would lead thousands of infantry and cavalry troops into battle against the British, reportedly fighting with a sword in each hand and her horse's reins between her teeth. History and myth are inseparable in her story.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 The leaders fled more named Tathya, Nawab Bandha, Sahib Rao. They came to Gwalior and joined the Indian forces who now held the city. Maharaja Shikandiya having fled to Agra from the battlefield at Morar. They moved on to Gwalior intending to occupy the strategic Gwalior fort and the rebel forces occupied the city without opposition.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 The rebels proclaimed Nana Sahib Rao as Peshwa of a revived Marata dominion with Sahib Rao as his governor Subedar in Gwalior. The Rani was unsuccessful in trying to persuade the rebal leaders to perpare to defend Gwalior against a British attack which she expected would come soon.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Lakshmi Bhai is remembered for her velour during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. During a siege of the fort of Jhansi. Queen offered stiff resistance to the invading forces and did not surrender even after troops were over whelmed.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 In 1858, when British field marshal attacked Jhansi, Lakshmi Bhai took on the British forces from her fort with a 40,000 strong army. However she was betrayed by one of her commanders and was defeated.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 On the advice of her generals. Lakshmi Bhai quietly slipped away from Jhansi on a horseback.

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Rani Lakshmi Bhai died while fighting in Gwalior on 18th June 1858, aged 23. She was dresses as a soldier when she died. Gwalior was captured by British 3 days later. According to huge rose, the Rani of Jhansi Lakshmi Bhai " The most dangerous of all Indian leaders."

🔥⚔🔱🐎 Statues of Queen Lakshmi Bhai are seen in many places of India. Which show her and her son tied to her back. Lakshmi Bhai National University in Gwalior, Lakshmi Bhai National College in Thiruvananthapuram, and Maharani Lakshmi Bhai Medical College in Jhansi. Rani Lakshmi Bhai Central Agricultural University was founded in 2013.