Rani Lakshmibai

Hello. I am known to the world as Rani Lakshmibai, a queen and a warrior, but I want to tell you my story from the very beginning. I was born with the name Manikarnika Tambe on November 19th, 1828, in the holy city of Varanasi. My family and friends gave me the nickname Manu. My childhood was quite different from that of other girls in India at the time. While many girls learned household tasks, my father encouraged me to learn skills that were usually taught only to boys. I spent my days learning to ride horses, how to use a sword, and practicing archery. These lessons taught me to be strong and brave, skills that I would need very much later in my life.

As I grew older, a new chapter of my life began. In the year 1842, I was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, whose name was Raja Gangadhar Rao. It was then that I was given my new name, Lakshmibai. When I became the wife of the Maharaja, I also became the queen, or Rani, of the beautiful kingdom of Jhansi. Being the Rani was a great honor and a very important job. I had many responsibilities to my people, and I cared for them deeply. I loved my new home and promised to always protect it and the people who lived there.

My life as a queen brought me both great joy and deep sadness. I was filled with happiness when my son was born, but that joy turned to sorrow when he passed away as just a baby. To make sure our kingdom would have a future king, my husband and I adopted a wonderful boy named Damodar Rao. But more sadness followed when my dear husband, the Raja, also passed away in 1853. The British, who were ruling India at the time, saw this as an opportunity. They made a rule that an adopted son could not be the next king, and they tried to use this as an excuse to take our kingdom away from us. I knew I could not let this happen. I stood before them and made a famous promise that is still remembered today: “I shall not surrender my Jhansi.”

My promise was soon put to the test. In 1857, a great uprising against British rule began all across the country, which became known as the Indian Rebellion. I knew I had no other choice but to join the fight to defend my home and protect my people. I became a warrior queen, leading my own army into battle. Sometimes, I would tie my young son Damodar safely to my back as I rode my horse, because I had to be a mother and a leader at the same time. The British army laid siege to my fort in Jhansi in 1858, surrounding us and attacking for many days. Even when things seemed hopeless, I refused to give up. I made a brave escape from the fort to continue the fight for my kingdom’s freedom.

My fight for India's freedom continued bravely. In June of 1858, I fought my last battle near a place called Gwalior. I lived to be 29 years old. Though my life was short, my story did not end there. Today, the people of India remember me as a national hero and a symbol of great courage and love for one's country. My story is shared with children and adults to remind them to always be brave and to stand up for what is right, no matter how difficult the struggle may seem.