Jhansi ki Rani.....

Spent the whole day at Jhansi fort and museum. Read anything and everything about Jhansi ki Rani, Laxmibai. She was born as Manikarnika in Varanasi in 1835. She lost her mother when she was just four years old. Her father Moropant Tambe taught her literature, warfare tactics, sword fighting and horse riding. She was married to Gangadhar Rao the king of Jhansi when she was just 14. She gave birth to a male child who was named Damodar Rao but the child died at the age of four months due to illness. Gangadhar went into depression and later died. Before the king's death they had adopted a male child of their close relative and named him again as Damodar. At the time of her wedding to the king of Jhansi she was rechristened as Laxmibai. At 21 years she became a widow and started ruling Jhansi. But British had served her a notice to vacate the fort and accept annual pension of sixty thousand, which she refused. Her army of 20.000 soldiers headed by Tatya Tope fought the British but failed after three days of fierce war. Laxmibai escaped the British troops by jumping from a cliff of her fort along with her adopted son on her back while riding the horse Badal. Badal was injured by a bullet and later succumbed to the injuries. Soon Laxmibai got a helping hand from many other rebel forces and taking their help she could defeat Maharaja of Gwalior. This combined forces later had to fight a fierce battle with the cavalry regiment of British army. Rani Laxmibai fought like a brave soldier wearing an armor and fought the British fearlessly until she died. After her death British themselves praised her to be the most beautiful, fearless rebel they had ever faced.