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DI:Personality
Jhansi Lakshmi Bai
The Spreading Fire
There was no change in the routine of the Rani. IN the midst of worship, prayer and
religious discourses preparations for the war went on.
"Your Highness, why still this training for fighting? Can you not set apart some more
time for meditation upon God?" questioned a bosom friend once.
"I am a Kshatriya woman; I am doing my duty. It is the duty of kshatriyas to protect
the country and justice. If necessary, we must be prepared to fight. I cannot surrender
to any enemy, I cannot just weep and die like a helpless widow. I shall fight for my
cause and accept death with a smile"
On 4th June the revolution burst in Kanpur. Signs of trouble were seen in Jhansi the
same day. One Havildar with a fewsoldiers entered the Star Fort, newly constructed by
the British, and seized war materials and money.
Immediately arrangement were made to shift the British women and children to the for
who were in their camp. The British officers came to request Rani’s help. "We are
quite confident of bringing the situation under control. But at this difficult time
you must also help us", they requested. "
The Rani replied: "I do not have an army or weapons. If you agree I am prepared to
get together an army to protect the People. "
The British agreed to the proposal. But, when on the very next day the soldiers shot
and killed a British officer, they were alarmed.
At once the senior officer raced to the Rani. He said, "We are men, we are not
worried about ourselves. But you must afford shelter to our women and children in
your palace.
The Rani’s friends advised her not to make any such promises. But she said firmly:
"Our war is only against the men among the English, not against women and children.
If I cannot check our solider in this matter how can I be their leader? The English
women and children will get shelter in the palace immediately. ’
So assured the Rani. And not only this; she fed and took care of them throughout the war.
The leaderless army had scored a victory over the British. The soldiers wished to
loot Jhansi. The Rani then gave her jewels and money to the soldiers and they were
satisfied. The army marched towards Delhi.
The Happy Home Of Freedom
The Rani took action at once to end the anarchy. The chieftains and commanders begged
the Rani with one voice to become the ruler of the state. The Rani consented. Once
again the flag of the state fluttered gaily on the top of the fort.
Jhansi prepared for war working day and night. New arms were manufactured. But within
a period of four or five days a new danger confronted the Rani.
Thinking that Jhansi was being ruled by a weak woman, one Sadashiva Rao rebelled in a
part of the state and proclaimed himself the King. Immediately the Maharani went there
and put down the rebellion.
Light And Shade Of Victor And Defeat
An army under the command of Sir Hugh Rose reached Jhansi. He sent word to the
Maharani to come unarmed along with her friends and meet him.
But the Rani refused. She replied that she would go to any meeting only with her army.
Within a period of ten months (June 1857 to March 1858(after Lakshmi Bai took over
the administration of Jhansi from the British, It had improved. The treasury was full.
The army was well organized. There was an army of women matching the army of men.
The Rani had name some of her guns: ‘Mighty Road’, ‘Bhavani Shankar’ and ‘lightning
Streak. ’ These guns were being fired by turns by men and women. Old weapons were
sharpened. New weapons were got ready. During those days every house in Jhansi was
busy preparing for the war. And everything was done under the guidance of the Maharani.
The army under Sir Hugh Rose declared war on 23rd March 1858.
For ten or twelve days the tiny state of Jhansi marched in the light and the shadow
of victory and defeat. The relief of one success was followed the next moment by the
shock of a defeat. Many faithful Sirdars fell. Unfortunately no help came from outside.
The Goddess Of War
When the British gained the upper hand and Hugh Rose’s army entered Jhansi City,
the Rani herself took up arms. She put on the cloths of a man and she fought like
the Goddess of War. Whenever she fought the British army bowed down. Her organization
of her forces and her fight – worthy of a man – surprised Hugh Rose.
When the situation went out of control the Maharani called the courtiers who yet
remained and place her suggestion before them: "Our commanders and our heroic soldiers
and artillery men are not with us now. OF the four thousand soldiers’ in the fort not
even four hundred are left now. The fort is not strong. Therefore we must leave this
place as early as possible. We must organize an army and then attack again. " The
noblemen agreed.
Accompanied by some warriors, the Rani
forced her way through the enemy lines and departed from Jhansi.
A British officer, Boker by name, followed her with an army. He was himself injured
during the fighting and retreated. The Rani’s horse died. Even then she did not loss
hear but went to Kalpi and joined Tatia Tope and Rao Saheb.
Before The Light Went Out
Even in Kapli the Rani was busy getting together an army. Hugh Rose laid siege to
Kalpi. When defeat was certain, Rao Saheb, Tatia and others fled with the Rani towards
Gwalior.
They reached Gopalpur and took rest in a grove. During the night Rao Saheb, Tatia and
the next morning met the Rani. They had lost the will to fight.
The Rani said, " We have so far stayed inside the fort and faced the British. That
is what we should continue to do. Gwalior Fort is near here. It is true that the Raja
there is inclined towards the British. But I know that the army and the people are
against British. In addition, there is already a huge stock of guns and ammunition
there."
The Rani’s suggestion was acceptable to the noblemen. When Tatia Tope reached Gwalior
with an army in Gwalior cooperated. The Raja of Gwalior ran away and sought the
protection of the British at Agra.
But what happened thereafter was a repetition of the earlier foolishness.
Expect the Rani and her friends, the leaders indulged in merry-making. The timely
warning of the Rani wafted away on the air.
The Rani who was away from such reverlry undertook inspection of the vulnerable parts
of the Gwalior Fort. She prepared a stronghold. But the other leaders did not lend
their ears to the advice of this lady.
The End Of The War
Hugh Rose played a trick. He brought to Gwalior, Maharaja Jayaji Rao Sindhia who had
run away from Gwalior and was living in Agra under the protection of the British.
"The British are fighting to enable Maharaja Jayaji Rao to get back the throne.
Therefore, all soldiers who return will be pardoned. " Proclaimed Rose.
Now some wisdom dawned on the Peshwas. They were ashamed to face Rani Lakshmi Bai.
Finally they sent Tatia Tope. When they begged for pardon, the Rani place before them
her plan of war. Tatia Tope accepted it.
Although the Rani’s forces were small in numbers, the extraordinary courage of the
Sirdars and the war strategy and courage of the Rani inflicted defeat on the British
army. The day’s victory was due to the Rani.
Next day (18th) before sunrise the British war bugle sounded. The pardon proclaimed
by Maharaja Jayaji Rao had tempted some soldiers and they had joined the British.
Information was also received that two brigades which were under the Rao Saheb had
again transferred their allegiance to the British.
Rani Lakhsmi Bai sent for Ramachandra Rao Deshmukh and said: "today appears to be the
last day of the war. If I die, consider my son Damodar more precious than my life and
take care of him. One word more: if I die, make sure that my body does not fall into
the hands of those who do not belong to my religion. "
As expected, that day Rose had the upper hand. A large part of the army of
revolutionaries fell. Their guns fell into the hands of the British. The British
army entered the fort swift as a flood.
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