THE QUEEN OF JHANSI -MAHASWETA DEVI

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                                                            THE QUEEN OF JHANSI

                                                                                     -MAHASWETA DEVI

     Mahasweta Devi (14 January 1926 – 28 July 2016) was an Indian writer in Bengali and an activist. Her notable literary works include Hajar Churashir Maa, Rudali, and AranyerAdhikar.[3] She was a leftist who worked for the rights and empowerment of the tribal people (Lodha and Shabar) of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states of India.[4] She was honoured with various literary awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award (in Bengali), Jnanpith Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award along with India's civilian awards Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan Summary: In 1828, Manikarnika is born in the ghats of Varanasi. She is raised by her father, Moropanth and Peshwa Bajirao II in Bithoor. 

    She is a favourite of the Peshwa and he has brought her up with a lot of love. One day Dixit Ji of Jhansi spots her facing a ferocious tiger fearlessly. Impressed, he asks Peshwa for her hand in marriage with the Maharaja of the Maratha ruled princely state of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao. Dixit Ji is aware that the British are eyeing Jhansi and want to annexe the kingdom at any cost. He realises that her brave persona would play a crucial role in giving a tough fight to the British. The marriage takes place and as per the tradition the king gives her a new name – ‘Laxmibai’. 

    All these developments upset Gangadhar's brother Sadashiv Rao. He is friendly with the British and wants to usurp the throne by hook or by crook. Laxmibai, after a few years, gives birth to Damodar and she is unable to contain her happiness. Her joy however is short-lived as Sadashiv surreptitiously poisons Damodar. Gangadhar, at the same time, falls ill too. Knowing that his death is near, he and Laxmibai decide to adopt a son who will rule Jhansi in future. Much to Sadashiv's dismay, his son is not adopted and instead, ‘Anand Rao, the son of a courtier, is named the heir. 

    He was renamed Laxmibai instinctively and calls him Damodar Rao. Gangadhar passes away and the British attempt to annexe the throne. However, Laxmibai surprises everyone as she decides to take over the reins. She proclaims herself as the queen of Jhansi and challenges the British openly. When the British force her to vacate the palace, she walks gracefully into the village and is welcomed and greeted by a massive parade of villagers led by Jhalkaribai. She continues to live among the civilians quietly strategizing to reclaim the throne. The rebellions from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 reach Jhansi where the revolutionaries led by Sangram Singh kill General Gordon and his officers; They further attempt to kill their children and wife but their attempts are thwarted by Laxmibai. She plans to conquer the throne of Jhansi back while Sangram Singh and his men join the rebellion in Delhi. 

    The East India Company requests the British government to appoint Sir Hugh Rose to salvage the situation and remove Laxmibai from the throne permanently. Knowing very well that she will soon be attacked again, Laxmibai begins training her own army and especially women to fight. Laxmibai assembles an army of 20,000 troops and Pathans join her later in 1858.

     During the siege of Jhansi, Laxmibai valiantly steps into the battlefield to destroy the British cannons strategically placed in front of a temple. The strong fort walls keep Laxmibai and her army steady until Sadashiv Rao divulges secrets about the fort to the British who finally break the siege and manage to storm the keep, resulting in the death of ‘Gaus-Baba’. Jhalkaribai despite discovering that she is pregnant acts as a decoy pretending to be the queen due to her striking resemblance to Laxmibai. She manages to distract the British army so that Laxmibai along with Damodar could escape the castle safely. Jhalkaribai sacrifices herself in a major gunpowder explosion killing numerous British officers along with her. Laxmibai escapes to Kalpi to reunite with Tatya Tope and other allies.

     She captures the princely state of Gwalior and motivates the troops to participate in the war. With a heavy heart, Laxmibai leaves Damodar and leads an attack on the British. Laxmibai bravely sets out to attack the huge British army but then faces a certain defeat. Laxmibai gets shot by one of the British soldiers, while taking her last breath she looks at Hugh Rose and immolates herself in a fire to avoid being captured and humiliated by the British. After Laxmibai's death, Jhansi is surrendered to the British Government in 1860 on behalf of Damodar Rao. Damodar Rao survived but lived a life suffering from prolonged illness and dire poverty, dying at the age of 58 in 1903. General Hugh Rose wrote about Rani Laxmibai'sbravery and courage in his autobiography ‘‘She was the most dangerous of all rebel leaders, best and bravest of all, the only man among mutineers'

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