Lakshmi Bai
Lakshmi Bai, 1835-58, Rani of Jhansi. Born in Varanasi on. 18 November, 1835 she was married at an early age to Gang Rao, the ruler of Jhansi. When her husband died. any issue, she was not allowed to adopt in 1853, without leaving was any successor by the British government and her State annexed. This made her an enemy of The British. When the. rebellion broke out in Jhansi she assumed the command of the rebel forces on 9 June 1857 and stoutly defended the fort against the British commander, Sir Hugh Rose, till 4 1858. Finding her position untenable, she escaped under the nose of the beseiging army to Kunch in Bundelkhand where she joined Tantia Tope and continued the fight. After the capture of ka’ 1pi by .the British on 23 May 1858, the Rani along with Tantia Tope, fled to the jungle. But they soon emerged, and captured the Gwalior fort in a daring raid on 4 June 1958, when the cowardly Maharaja fled to the British protection. Now joined’ Gwalior forces, she continued to defy the British, till she was killed (17 June 1858)in a savage battle near the Gwalior jolt. She was hurriedly cremated by her faithful followers to avoid desecration of her dead body by the British troops. She was one of the few capable Jndian leaders of the revolt of 1857, kid even her enemies called her the bravest of the brave’:
