Nawab’s coming to congratulate Rani was just a type of ostentation. He retuned back and told everything to Pir Ali.
“Rani by recruiting Sagar Singh and his gang members into her army had given us the proof of her preparations against the British government. At any how this news should be reached to the commissioner of Jabalpur.” Nawab Ali Bahadur said to Pir Ali.
“Surely Nawab Sahib. Rani’s men wanted to deceit with British government. I’ll go today and tell everything to commissioner.” Pir Ali said.
“You don’t go to Jabalpur Pir Ali! You send the news through the Deewan of Tikamgarh, Nathey Khan. He knows me very well and is also cooperating British government.”
After saying this Nawab sent his messenger to Tikamgarh. The messenger explained everything to Nathey Khan. Nathey Khan send the news to commissioner. Thereafter commissioner started his preparations to attack on Jhansi. Once Jhansi was a part of Orcha state. Later Orcha state was called Tikamgarh. So again capture Jhansi Nathey Khan prepared his army. He reached Orcha from Tikamgarh with his army. Orcha is eight miles away from Jhansi. Nathey Khan hoped that the Britishers will support him. Hence he wanted to have the full authority of Jhansi. He cleared his intentions to Rani. But by showing patience, Rani told to her friends—
“There is no need to worry, I will lead the army in a war against Nathey Khan.”
There was an old employee of Jhansi state, whose name was Nana Bhopatkar. Bhopatkar had a very good foresight. He told to Rani humbly—“Rani Sahiba! You possess a from like the goddess of victory. There is no doubt regarding the result of war. You will indeed emerge victorious. But I want to give you a wise suggestion that the flag (Union Jack) which had been left by Britishers here, you again put it on the fort.”
“Till how long this type of politics will go on Bhopatkar ji! Here we have to establish freedom one day or the other.” Rani said.
“Rani Sahiba! Today’s politics demands that we should hide our motives.”
On listening this Rani smiled and gave an order—“Comply with the ideas of Bhopathkar ji. She sent a message to Nathey Khan that she is managing Jhansi from Britisher’s side. Hence Nathey Khan’s attack on Jhansi is not appropriate. If he will attack on Jhansi then he has to be prepared for strong retaliation, by which the safety of Jhansi in maintained.”
Nathey Khan didn’t yielded and attacked on Jhansi. On that day Rani was busy in worshipping. The soldiers of Nathey Khan fired a grenade, which fell on one of the houses of Jhansi town. At once Rani stopped her worship. She along with her friends marched towards Orcha gate on their horses.
“The enemies are on this gate hence there should be continuous firing on them.” Rani ordered to Ghulam Ghaus Khan.
Ghaus Khan carried out the order or Rani. He started firing from eleven small cannons. Then Rani moved ahead of Orcha gate. There was a small door named Sagar window on her north. Here Rani’s gunner was appointed. Rani gave him such an impression that he completely damaged Nathey Khan’s army. By this Nathey Khan was well aware of his capacity. He ran away from the battlefield. His army was also scattered but Rani’s army chased them and captured all the remaining soldiers.
On the other had Nathey Khan took shelter in Nawab Ali Bahadur’s haveli. On feeling helpless Nawab has to give him shelter. When Rani’s soldiers know about this news, they attacked on Nawab’s haveli, but Nathey Khan also escaped from there. But there arises a mishap to come over Nawab in days to come. He took all the precious items from his haveli and along with Pir Ali, he also ran away. Children and servants also accompanied him. Pir Ali reached near the army of Rani by mistake. When the soldier ran to beat him, he shouted—“Please don’t beat me! Don’t beat me… I’m the well-wisher of Rani Sahiba and a friend of yours. I had worked under Nawab only for the sake of my livelihood but now my eyes are opened and I came here to serve you all. Light the fire on this gate. What is inside, everything will be clear within minutes.”
“Where did your Nawab gone?” Sagar Singh asked him.
“He is locked inside the gate. Burn the gate, then only we can catch him.” Pir Ali said.
Fire was lighted in the gate. After some time Pir Ali entered inside. He picked up the material and gave it to Rani’s soldiers. Nawab was not there then how could it be found? After giving the material Pir Ali won the faith of soldiers, but Motibai still had doubt on him but she didn’t spoke to anybody.
At that time there was a best commander of an army who was Britisher. He was known by the name of Maj. Gen. Sir Hugh Rose. At that time he used to live in Madhya Pradesh. He divided his army into two parts. He sent one part of the army to Mhow cantonment and marched with the other part towards Sagar. From here Jhansi is 100 miles away. At that time almost entire area of the north of Narmada were under the control of rebels. General Hugh Rose wanted to attack on Jhansi, but the rebels were creating obstructions on his way. Hence he by defeating the rebels, moved towards Jhansi. Each and every news about the day to day incidents were reaching to Rani and she started making preparations for war.
On the other side Pir Ali was also transforming day to day news about latest developments to Nawab. Whereas Nawab used to sent his suitable ideas to Britishers. On 12th March 1858 Gen. Hugh Rose reached ‘Tal-Behat’ along with his army. From here Jhansi is 32 miles away. Before attacking on Jhansi, Gen. Hugh Rose sent a letter to Rani. He had written—“You along with your Deewan, relatives and soldiers leave Jhansi otherwise you will have to pay for this.”
Rani was prepared to face any situation. She replied to General’s letter—
“I cannot leave Jhansi by your blustering attitude. First of all you gather all the Mukhias and Panchs of Jhansi. If they will say, then I’ll surely leave Jhansi.”
General Hugh Rose got the reply of Rani. He had heard about Rani’s spy Motibai and he started loving her. Rani was surprised to hear this. Rani asked the reason from Motibai, then Motibai answered—
“Rani Sahiba! If I could get him I’ll surely kill him by putting him on the mouth of cannon.’’
Suddenly, the messenger of Pir Ali came to Rani with a massage—“Rani Sahiba! Pir Ali ji wanted to go towards the British cantonment to have some secret information. For this he wants your permission.”
“Permission granted.” Rani gave him permission of seeing no objection from anybody. Rani now was started believing him but Motibai still had doubt on Pir Ali.
“When will Pir Ali return after having the secret information?” Rani asked Motibai.
“If he gets clear way without any obstruction then by tomorrow he’ll be back.” Motibai answered.
“He is very clever.”
“He is also very wicked Rani Sahiba. Sometimes I had doubt on him. But now-a-days on seeing his work I also started believing him.”
“I had heard that in British army there are Indian soldiers also.”
“Yes! Rani Sahiba but their number had not been confirmed. Their exact number will be clear only after the arrival of Pir Ali.”
On the other hand, Pir Ali reached at the cantonment of the Britishers. There he sent a petition to meet General Hugh Rose. General on being delighted called him immediately.
Pir Ali gave him each and every news about Jhansi. He also told—“Rani of Jhansi had prepared an army of women. The women of India are ready in manly dress to sacrifice their lives for their motherland. They are well-equipped with the use of arms and ammunitions and had undergone full training.”
On hearing this news, General was shocked. He asked Pir Ali, “Is it Rani who had brutally killed British women and children?”
“No General Saheb.” Pir Ali replied.
“Whatever happens but now we will not leave Jhansi.” General told Pir Ali.
How will Pir Ali help him, this he had already decided. After that Pir Ali returned back to Jhansi. Then General crossed the Betwa river along with his army and started moving towards Jhansi. Suddenly his Chief Commander gave him an order—
“The king of Charkhari had been trapped by Tatya Tope. The army of Tatya Tope surrounded him from all sides. To help the king, first attack on Charkhari.”
But General denied his order. First of all he wanted to settle Jhansi.
On the other hand Tatya snatched twenty-four cannons and Rupees three lakhs cash from Charkhari. Thereafter he moved towards Kalpi.
The news which had been send by Pir Ali to Rani was given great importance although there was no uniqueness in the news. This way he even strongly established Rani’s faith in him. Later he very cleverly also transferred the news to Nawab and made him understood regarding the whole situation.
After some days five hundred pathans fled from Rahatgarh and came under the shelter of Rani. They accepted the dependence of Rani. Rani gave them every type of facility. They were ready to fight for Jhansi till their last breath.
Now General Rose along with his army had reached Kamashin Devi Temple east of Jhansi. Ali his soldiers were hiding behind the temple on a hill . After sometime they fixed a tent there.
The Rani knew that sooner or later, the British forces led by Maj. Gen. Hugh Rose were approaching to assault Jhansi to avenge the massacre of their forty odd men which occurred on 8th June 1857 at Jokhan Bagh on the outskirts of the city. Her protestations of innocence were discounted by the government of India.
The Rani’s first step to weaken the assault was the adoption of the scorched earth policy. She got the tract of land surrounding the city laid waste so that the British forces might not have supplies of any kind. There was no corn, grass and tree to be seen anywhere in the nearby villages.
But in spite of all this, Hugh’s forces laid a siege on Jhansi on 21st March 1858. Some of the Indian princes had promised Hugh to supply grass, firewood and vegetables throughout the operation.
For the next ten days, there was exchange of shots and shells between Hugh’s forces and the Rani’s armymen.
The Rani was a great booster of soldier’s morale. She herself went round to inspire her men with zeal and resoluteness. She even presented them with ornaments and dresses. While her men were standing along the inside walls of the fort, women were seen working at the repairs. She knew that Tatya Tope would be coming to help her along with his twenty thousand men.
When Tatya appeared coming from a nearby hill to help the Rani, Hugh did not lose nerve. He withdrew his army towards the hill to meet Tatya Tope’s threat. He was able to drive him back into the jungle and came to Jhansi along with the ammunition and guns captured from Tatya Tope. On 2nd April 1858, he made a final assault on the fort.
The Rani was a fearless and dashing commander. The feeling that Jhansi was being taken away from her stirred her inner faculties. She was in a rage and declared—
“Main Apni Jhansi Nahin Doongi”. She exhibited a valour rarely found even in men. She took up her sword and with small force of a thousand men, marched down the fort. When she saw the British troops near the southern gate of the fort, she rushed for them and then swords crossed. The two armies were mixed up before one could count even fifty, swords flourished and dealt hard blows. Many Britishers were killed. The rest ran towards the town and began to fire shots from under cover. When her anger was a little appeased, she felt that she had come far from the fort. So, she went back to the fort to fight anew from inside.
But when she came to know that the brave Khudabaksh and Ghulam Ghaus Khan, the chief gunner of the artillery had both been shot down by the British soldiers, she was shocked and disheartened. Her soldiers however continued to fight amidst perfectly hellish musketry fire. Some of them slashed at the British soldiers who had already made their way into the fort with their swords. Forty riders herd out in a room near the stables. The building was on fire, still they dashed out their clothes on fire and every one of them was killed. What a specimen of loyalty, sacrifice and patriotism!
