Laxmi Bai was one of the greatest revolutionary queens of India. She was against the British rule in India. She fought valiantly till her last breath to attain freedom from the clutches of the Britishers.
Laxmi Bai’s original name was Manu. She was born on 16 November, 1835 in Kashi. Her father Moropanth was in the service of King. Manu was only four-five years old when her mother died.
Manu’s father was very concerned about his daughter. He wanted to make the best career of his child.
The king Bajirao Peshva allowed Manu to study with his children. With them Manu learned to shoot with the pistol and defend oneself with the sword from the very childhood. She became an efficient horse-rider soon and attained vast knowledge about the worldly affairs at small age.
Manu was married to the king of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao at an early age and her name was changed to Queen Laxmi Bai.
Manu didn’t like the restricted life of the palaces. She wanted to lead an independent life, free from restrictions. Manu told the king to allow her to practice horse-riding and archery inside the premises of the palace. King gave her the permission to do so.
Days, months and years passed by. Laxmi Bai gave birth to a son. His birthday was celebrated with great pomp and show in the entire Jhansi. Unfortunately, the child died after a few months.
Thereafter, she adopted a child and christened him Damodar Rao. Unfortunately, her husband, king Gangadhar Rao died on 21 November 1853, and she became a widow at the young age of 18.
After the death of her husband the responsibility of Jhansi fell upon her shoulders. At that time the Britishers had conquered many territories of India. Now they wished to conquer Jhansi. Queen Laxmi Bai was not ready to give Jhansi to any outsider. She prompted everyone to fight against the British rule and defend their state.
In the year 1857, the Queen took Jhansi under her control. The nephew of her husband, Sadashiv Rao tried to conquer Jhansi, but was defeated by the forces of Laxmi Bai.
On 25 March 1858 the Britishers attacked Jhansi.
Queen Laxmi Bai called up her commanders of the forces and said, “We ought not to accept defeat. We have the ability to fight alone with the Britishers. I shall never accept defeat. Those who are ready to die should come with me.”
The Queen proceeded alongwith her soldiers towards Kalpi to meet Bajirao. The Britishers somehow sensed her whereabouts.
They began to surround Kalpi from all sides. The Queen came forward alongwith her soldiers and fought valiantly to defend her state from the outsiders. On 24 May 1858, the army of Kalpi got defeated by the British.
Afterwards, somehow the Queen reached Gwalior alongwith other patriotic soldiers, but the Britishers followed her there too and attacked Gwalior with huge force. The Queen decided that she would not accept defeat at any cost. She came outside the fort and trotted the horse with full speed.
She was wounded, yet she fought bravely to defend her nation from the aliens. One of the Britishers attacked with a sword on her forehead. The Queen’s head got cut into two halves and she lost one of her eyes. But one of the Queen’s faithful taken her out from the battle field. The badly wounded Queen trembled with pain and fell on the ground.
On 18 June 1858 she died a brave death.
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