Read the following story and answer the questions that follow (15 marks)
Rani Laxmi Bai
Lisat a great daughter of India was bom
on November 1835. Her father was Morapant and
her mother was Bhagirath As a chid she was called
Manu Manu grew up with Peshwe Bajirao's son Nana
Saheb She received her tainga as a soldier along with
him She was married at age to Gangadhar
Rao the ruler of Jhans. Aner his death she started
ruing the kingdom She ruled as a brave and kind
queen or Rani She is amously known as Jhansi 3
A photo of hans
Rani La Batedopted actie boy named Damodar Rao as her son because
she had no son of her own At this time, the British had started taking over India. A
Britisher Lord Dalhousie, made a rule that the adopted son of a king could not become the
king after his death Lord Dalhousie refused to recognize Damodar Rao as the next king of
Ran was very angry at this. She loved
her country and hated the presence of the British
int Lord Dalhousie attacked her fort. She
wanted the British out of her country. Thus began
the First War of Independence in 1857 Rani of
Jhansi fought fiercely with her child on her back
She trained other women and was determined to
win the war against the British. Unfortunately,
she could not defeat the huge army She fought
hard for Jhansi without fearing for her own fe
The fearless Rani Laxmi Bai died at the age of
twenty-three but showed the world that women
were equal to men even on the battlefield
Rani Laxmi Bai fighting the British Army
with her son
Answers
Answer:
From August 1857 to January 1858 Jhansi under the Rani's rule was at peace. The British had announced that troops would be sent there to maintain control but the fact that none arrived strengthened the position of a party of her advisers who wanted independence from British rule. When the British forces finally arrived in March they found it well-defended and the fort had heavy guns which could fire over the town and nearby countryside. According to one source [32]Hugh Rose, commanding the British forces, demanded the surrender of the city; if this was refused it would be destroyed. The same source[33] claims that after due deliberation the Rani issued a proclamation: "We fight for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna, we will if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of victory, if defeated and killed on the field of battle, we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation." Other sources, for example,[34] have no mention of a demand for surrender. She defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858.
The bombardment of Jhansi began on 24 March but was met by heavy return fire and the damaged defences were repaired. The defenders sent appeals for help to Tatya Tope;[30] an army of more than 20,000, headed by Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi but they failed to do so when they fought the British on 31 March. During the battle with Tatya Tope's forces part of the British forces continued the siege and by 2 April it was decided to launch an assault by a breach in the walls. Four columns assaulted the defences at different points and those attempting to scale the walls came under heavy fire. Two other columns had already entered the city and were approaching the palace together. Determined resistance was encountered in every street and in every room of the palace. Street fighting continued into the following day and no quarter was given, even to women and children. "No maudlin clemency was to mark the fall of the city" wrote Thomas Lowe.[35] The Rani withdrew from the palace to the fort and after taking counsel decided that since resistance in the city was useless she must leave and join either Tatya Tope or Rao Sahib (Nana Sahib's nephew).[36]
The place from where Rani Lakshmibai jumped on her horse.[37]
According to tradition with Damodar Rao on her back she jumped on her horse Badal from the fort; they survived but the horse died.[38] The Rani escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.[39] The escort included the warriors Khuda Bakhsh Basharat Ali (commandant), Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost Khan, Lala Bhau Bakshi, Moti Bai, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai, Deewan Raghunath Singh and Deewan Jawahar Singh.[citation needed] She decamped to Kalpi with a few guards, where she joined additional rebel forces, including Tatya Tope.[36] They occupied the town of Kalpi and prepared to defend it. On 22 May British forces attacked Kalpi; the forces were commanded by the Rani herself and were again defeated.
Explanation: