Question

what were the challenges faced by Rani Laxmibai ?

Answer 1

British policy was to grab kingdoms who don't have heirs - doctrine of lape

This resulted in annexation of Jhansi ( kingdom of Rani Lakshmi who is childless i.e., without a heir)

Rani Lakshmi didn't acknowledge British’s doctrine of lapse.

At the same time, a group of soldiers under the leadership of Mangal Pandey.. Started a revolt.. Famoulsy called as the Sepoy Mutiny or the Revolt of 1857

This spread to many parts of North India. From Jhansi, it's Rani Lakhsmi Bhai who fought against British.

Her courageous contribution to freedom struggle is the fight she waged against British during the 1857 revolt single hadedly. And she DIED during the fight.

The morale she provided to Indians needs an appaulse.

The British Army leader of Jhansi.. Hugh Rose rightly commented “ Here lay the woman who was the only man among rebels ”

Answer 2

1. Rani Lakshmibai's Childhood
2. Rani Lakshmibai was born in the holy town of Kashi. She was named Manikarnika and was nicknamed Manu.Her father was Moropant Tambe and her mother Bhagirathibai Tambe.

On May 10, 1857 the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. The rumour that the bullet casings supplied by British to its soldiers were coated with pork and beef began to spread throughout India. Lakshmibai was ruling Jhansi alone and she began leading her troops swiftly and efficiently to quell skirmishes initiated by other princes. The city was relatively calm in the midst of unrest in the region but Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai conducted Haldi Kumkum ceremony with pomp in front of all women of Jhansi to provide assurance to her subjects, and to convince them that the British are cowards and not to be afraid of them.

• Till this point, Lakshmibai was not hesitant to rebel against the British. Lakshmibai's forces did not kill any east India Company officials and their wives and children on 8 June 1857 but the Britisher malign her in Jokhan Bagh.[ She fought with British troops when the Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. An army of more 20,000, headed by Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi but they failed to do so when they fought with the British on 31st March. Hugh Rose and an Indian general betrayed Rani Lakshmibai.[ Three days later the besiegers captured the city. Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.