Introduction
Lakshmi Bai was inspired by his her upbringing which was unusual. She grew up in the Peshwa’s court with boys. This was unusual for Brahman girl upbringing. Here when she was with her father she got training in martial arts and she finally became proficient in handling sword, fighting and riding. When she was fourteen years, she was with her father Moropant Tambe who acts as a Pandit in the court of Peshwa Baji Rao II and Nana Saheb in Bithoor. Here Tatya Tope trained her in the arts of war. This is where she gets her inspiration. As he grew up, she hates the British ruling over India country. Lakshmi Bai went to live with her father in the court after the death of her mother Bhagirathi Sapre. When she was young, she was attributed to her player full character. She was also independent in her work than other her age mates.
Devi uses historical sources, traditional sources and oral literature to present his work. These sources clearly outline the life history, work and the death of Lakshmi Bai. By use of local histories, the author is able to clearly bring out the early life of Lakshmibai.For example he clearly brings out to the readers that Lekshmibai was born In November 19th 1828 to the family of Moropant Tembe her father and Bhagirathi her mother.She was born in the town of Varanasi. Unlike local histories, oral literature brings out the work of Lakshmibai. Through oral literature, the reader is able to crasp how brave Lakshmibai was. For example, she was able to lead Indian men to rebel the British. On the other hand, traditional sources bring the early events that happened early before the demise of Lakshmibai in war. The chronological events that happened in India are clearly brought by the author with by use of traditional sources.
During her early age when she was, a child Lakshmibai showed love for war through her behavior. At her early age when she was living with her father, she became interested with horse riding, sword fighting, shooting and even fencing. When she was in school, also she was more independent at her early childhood than her fellow age mates. She studied horsemanship, archery and self-defense. The behavior showed that she was interested in war. Later on, these behaviors are depicted when she fights the British using swords by riding on the horse. For example during the war she could ride on horseback for instance in 1958, she rode on a horse by the name Badal. During her early age, also she did not like the way British treated the Indians. She creates rivalry with the British official by the name Manson who troubles with her severally.
After the death of her husband, the British started to oppose the wishes of her husband. For example, before his death Raja had ordered the British that his wife Lakshmibai should be given the government of Jhansi for the rest of her life. This could not happen to her as the British allow her to the government. The British ordered her to live the palace in 1854.The British also could not give the throne to Damodar Rao claiming that he was adopted. Raja adopted Rao in the presence of British political officer. A letter from raja to British requested Rao to be treated with kindness .This became opposite after the death of Lakshmibai’s husband.
Lakshmibai responded to the British annexation plans through rebelling. At first she requested the British for aid but the British could not.She motivated her men to fight for their independent. When the British came to fight with guns the Indians did not fear and at last they defeated the British and the throne Jhansi became theirs. During the fight against British Rani withdrew from the palace to fight with Tatya and Tope or Rao Sahib. She feels that fighting while in the palace was useless. She fought riding on the horse while her son was on her back.
In 1857, revolution was inevitable in that the British wanted to take their government. This made them to go for rebel to fight for their independence. They were motivated that the British were inferior and could be defeated. Their solidarity and need for independence made them to fight strongly.
Lakshm Bai is not positive to the issues of March as raised by the British gazette. She makes it clear that she would not allow the dissolution of the State of Jhansi. When the official declaration of dissolving Jhansi state was read out by Major Ellis, she furiously tell him “I shall not part my Jhansi” while seeking permission to move out of the meeting place. She took control of Jhansi and prepared to combat the British army who seemed to be likely to arrange to attack. When she is asked by Rose to surrender, she stood by rampart of her fort and continued to encourage her army to fight.
The issues of Jhansi became the driving force that lead to the Lakshmi Bai to embrace the revolution. The imperial actions of the British army after entering Jhansi are among the contributory issues that lead her to decide to fight the British back. The British attack and looting from the people and this was never good to Lakshmi and thus she decided to break the enemy’s bloc by joining Peshava riding towards Kalpi. She had gathered a trusted cavalry of 200 fighters who backed her on her pursuit of the British fighters. It was too unfortunate that her father who was in her company was injured and captured then hanged by the British fighters. Her father’s death motivated her to fight more.
Rani personally is administrative and a militia by skills and abilities. The author of the book addresses her to be equal or more superior to any other Indian leader or commander of other uprisings. General Rose, her conqueror says that Rani “the bravest and best of the rebels” Other Victorians in the history of India address Rani as an iconic figure of the ancient India. In 1895, Sir Owen Burne made a description of her as the “Indian Joan of Arc”. Rani revolutionary style is different to that of others because despite being a woman, she was dedicated to her people and state and she joined the battle herself. It is uncommon for a leader to go together with fighters to war. She is also different from others in that she was the youngest of all the previous Indian revolutionary leaders. She died at the age of 23 years old.
The defeat of the revolutionaries comes after the death of Lakshmi Bai. Lakshmi was the fighters’ motivator and the British know that successful killing of her leads to the end of the revolutionary. At the first instance, Rose the directives that were given to Rose were to abduct Lakshmi. Other than this, the enemies were strong in terms of weaponry and personnel. The British used advanced guns whereas leaders like Lakshmi relied more on the sword. The British received back up from other trained groups giving them support unlike the revolutionaries who fought the battle with the only natives who had volunteered from the onset of the revolutionary. The British army out of their massive numbers managed to attack Gwalior from both sides killing massive numbers of the revolutionaries. The British military strength enabled them to resist defeat for three days despite the death of their soldiers.
Lakshmi Bai is depicted as an historic figure in Indian than any other revolutionary of her time. Various leaders who rose after her address honor and acknowledgement to Lakshmi Bai praising her brevity and dedication to the freedom of Indians. The various generations of Indian nationalists refer her forerunner in the Indian movement and desire for independence. She recognized as the motivator of the Indians on their struggle to attain independence from the British tyranny. The praises and the remembrance that is accorded to Lakshmi Bai is not only limited to the addresses by leaders or groups but she is also celebrated in songs, films and literature as an Indian heroine who stood up against the British. More importantly, there are various statutes and sculptures across Indian as representation of Lakshmi Bai.
The writer’s motif of writing the biography of the Indian icon of revolutionaries is another way of recognizing and memorizing Lakshmi Bai as part of the history of the Indian independence. This detailed biography of is successful in its attempt to deliver the intended information on the Indian social life and struggle for independence. The author uses this biography to indicate the first steps that Indians used to fight against the British during their struggle for independence. Among the interesting issues in the struggle for independence is the involvement of women in the fight against British army. Lakshmi is representation of Indian women in this war for independence. Despite losing the first engagement with the British at Jhansi Lakshmi interestingly moves across Indian backing rebels against British until her death at the battle of Gwalior. Something more interesting about her is her choice to die instead of being arrested by the British army and thus she chose to fight to death.
Works Cited
Debī, Mahāśvetā. The Queen of Jhansi. Seagull Books, 2000.
