Do you see the Rani of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai statue before you? It stands here at Pratappura Crossing in Agra. The statue honors a queen and a symbol of resistance.
Lakshmibai was born Manikarnika Tambe in 1828. She became the Maharani of Jhansi. This was through her marriage to Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar in 1842.
But who was she really? The Rani of Jhansi was a leading figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. For Indian nationalists she became a symbol. She stood for resistance against British rule.
Lakshmibai’s early life is a mix of fact and legend. Her father worked for a Maratha noble. Growing up, she was nicknamed “Chhabili”. She learned skills unusual for girls at that time. She became skilled at horseriding and swordplay.
In 1851, Lakshmibai had a son. Sadly he died after a few months. Her husband died in 1853. Before his death, he adopted a son and asked the British to recognize him as heir.
The British refused. They annexed Jhansi using the Doctrine of Lapse. This policy annexed states without a natural heir. The Rani protested this annexation. She declared “I will never give up my Jhansi”.
In 1857, the Indian Rebellion began. Lakshmibai joined the fight against the British. She defended Jhansi bravely. British forces eventually captured Jhansi in 1858. The Rani escaped on horseback with her adopted son.
She fled to Gwalior. There the rebels proclaimed Nana Sahib as Peshwa. The British counterattacked. Rani Lakshmibai died in battle in June 1858.
Even after her death the British officer Hugh Rose called her personable, clever, and beautiful. He also declared her to be the most dangerous of all Indian leaders.
Today statues of Lakshmibai stand in many places in India. They often show her on horseback with her son on her back. This statue in Agra is one such tribute. It reminds us of her courage and her fight for freedom. The Rani of Jhansi remains an inspiration to this day. She is a true national hero.