Rani Laxmi Bai, also known as the Rani of Jhansi, was a queen of the Maratha-ruled state of Jhansi in North India. She is best known for her role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and is considered a symbol of resistance against British rule in India.
Laxmi Bai was born in 1828 in Varanasi, India, to a Maratha Brahmin family. She was married at the age of 14 to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Raja Gangadhar Rao. When the Maharaja died in 1853, Laxmi Bai became the queen of Jhansi, ruling on behalf of her young son, Damodar Rao.
In 1857, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, broke out across India. The rebellion was sparked by a number of factors, including resentment against British rule, economic policies that hurt local industries, and resentment against the British practice of annexing Indian states.
Laxmi Bai played a key role in the rebellion in Jhansi. She provided financial and logistical support to the rebels and led her own troops into battle against the British. She is remembered for her bravery and leadership during this time, and is often referred to as the "Joan of Arc of India."
Despite her efforts, the rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful and Laxmi Bai was forced to flee Jhansi in 1858. She continued to fight against the British, leading her troops into battle at the Battle of Gwalior. However, she was ultimately killed in battle in 1858, at the age of 29.
Laxmi Bai's legacy lives on in India, where she is remembered as a symbol of resistance and a hero of the Indian independence movement. She has been the subject of numerous books, films, and plays, and is remembered for her bravery and leadership in the face of great adversity.
