[GHHF] Bala Samskar Students learned about Rani of Jhansi who bravely fought with British to protect Gwalior and died
Lakshmibai, also known as the Rani of Jhansi, was a brave Indian queen and warrior. She was born on November 19, 1828, and died on June 17 or 18, 1858.
She became one of the most important leaders during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. For many Indian people, she became a powerful symbol of standing up against the rule of the British East India Company in India.
•    Who Was Rani Lakshmibai? Manikarnika was born into a Maratha family in Varanasi, India. People often called her 'Chhabili' because she was so cheerful and lively. In 1842, she married Raja Gangadhar Rao, who was the Maharaja of Jhansi. After her marriage, she became the Rani (Queen) of Jhansi and was renamed Lakshmibai. This new name honored the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
•    Her Family Life: In 1851, Rani Lakshmibai had a son named Damodar Rao. Sadly, he died when he was only about four months old. Just before her husband, Raja Gangadhar Rao, passed away in November 1853, they adopted a son. They named him Anand, but later renamed him Damodar, in memory of their first son.
•    The Raja wrote a letter to the British government in India. He asked them to recognize his wife, Lakshmibai, as the ruler of Jhansi after his death. However, after her husband died, the head of the British government, Lord Dalhousie, did not allow her adopted son to become the new Raja. Instead, the British took control of Jhansi.
•    Rani Lakshmi Bai’s Fight for Freedom: In June 1857, Indian soldiers rebelled against the British. All the British people in Jhansi were killed by these rebel troops. The Rani then took charge of Jhansi temporarily. She needed to create an army to protect her city from other invading forces, like those from Orchha and Datia. However, the British believed she was responsible for the deaths of their people.
•    The Siege of Jhansi: In March 1858, British forces arrived in Jhansi. They were led by Sir Hugh Rose and wanted to take the city back from the Rani. Rani Lakshmibai wanted Jhansi to be independent. The British surrounded Jhansi and attacked it. After a strong fight, they finally captured the city. Many people in Jhansi were killed during the fighting and even more afterwards.
•    The Final Battle: The Rani managed to escape from Jhansi and went to Kalpi. There, she joined forces with a Maratha general named Tantya Tope. Together, they captured the city of Gwalior.
On June 17 and 18, 1858, the Battle of Kotahki Serai took place. British forces, still led by Sir Hugh Rose, fought to take Gwalior back. During this fierce battle, Rani Lakshmibai bravely fought and died.
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