Why did the rani of jhansi become an enemy of the British? Describe her role in the Revolt?
Answers
Explanation:
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, who became the victim of the doctrine of lapse, became a bitter enemy of the British as her adopted son was not accepted as the heir to the throne.
The Other Indian rulers who were not adversely affected, became suspicious, lest they should meet the same fate.
Her role in the revolt:
The queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai, who died fighting the British during the 1857 revolt and became a supreme symbol of Indian nationalism, was born on November 19, 1828, in Varanasi (in present day Uttar Pradesh) in a Maharashtrian Brahmin family.
She was named Manikarnika (or Manu, informally). Her mother, Bhagirathi Sapre, died when she was four years old. Her father, Moropant Tambe, was employed with a Peshwa in Bithoor district. Lakshmibai reportedly learned how to ride a horse and archery as a child.
In 1842, Manikarnika was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao, the Maratha ruler of Jhansi, a princely state in Bundelkhand. In 1851, she gave birth to a boy but he died when he was four months old. Before he himself passed away, Gangadhar adopted his cousin son’s and renamed the child Damodar Rao, after his dead son. The raja also gave a letter to a British officer, appealing that Damodar be treated well and that the administration of Jhansi be given to Lakshmibai after Gangadhar died. But following his death in 1853, the British, citing the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’, rejected Damodar’s right to the throne and annexed Jhansi. Lakshmibai was given a pension and told to leave the palace and fort.
The Rani of Jhansi rose to prominence during India’s first war of independence in 1857. The rebellion started as a sepoy mutiny on May 10, 1857, in Meerut, and then spread to other parts of northern and central India. The revolt was a culmination of several grievances but the spark was provided when Hindu and Muslim soldiers were asked to bite off their rifle cartridges that were reportedly greased with beef and pork fat.
She joined rebel forces at Kalpi but they were forced to flee by the British. The Rani, Tatya Tope, Rao Sahib and others then camped at Gwalior. For a while they held the city, but the British attacked them on June 17.
When she was killed, the Rani was only 29 years old. In her life and death, she was often caught in historical currents beyond her control but she responded with extraordinary courage. By dying young on the battlefield during the greatest revolt against British rule the country had ever witnessed, Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, became immortal in the hearts and minds of her countrymen.
Answer:
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