Rani Lakshmibai, the Queen of Hindostan
So much was happening. On one hand I was getting angry at the way the ‘angrez’ were striking fear all around, even in the hearts of kings and ministers of neighbouring kingdoms and on the other hand our Queen, Rani Lakshmibai stood firm in her decision to oppose them.
Oh let me introduce myself first. I am Shanti, one of the many women who are in service in the royal palace. For my work, I get paid in silver mohurs and also receive delicious meals and clothes on festivals. What more could a girl want. I am all of thirteen. My old and poor parents wanted to get me married ever since I can remember… but here I am, still unmarried. Actually, I don’t want to get married and go to my in-laws house. I want to stay and take care of my parents. I pray to Ma Durga not to send any suitor or proposal.
Now don’t get me wrong… a few old men did come to seek my hand when I was eleven and twelve, but watching me limp, they looked me in the eye, but couldn’t make out which one to focus on, the left or right (I am squint eyed) they took leave and never returned. I am glad my Rani has no such qualms.
I run around and play with the young prince at times. His toys are beautiful, but Rani ma makes sure we get horse riding lessons, along-with combat lessons. The Subedar doesn’t laugh at me. In fact he is going to teach me how to use a sword soon.
****
I heard the royal ladies talk today in hushed whispers, that the ‘Angrez sahebs say Damodar Rao is not the prince, he is not the Rani’s son.’ But that is so strange, one Gora was there when our beloved King adopted our beloved prince. We all got one mohur that day! My parents also came to the feast, held for all the people of Jhansi.
There was much shouting and yelling today. I have never seen Rani Ma so angry. She said “I will not give my Jhansi to anyone!” She is our Queen and we all love her like our own Mother. We, the prince and I did not play much today.
The old Neem tree in the courtyard, near the Rani Mahal is my favourite place to go to when I get some time. Though the fort is huge and there are so many long corridors and hallways, perfect to play hide and seek, I like the Neem tree courtyard the best, and tere I can walk fast too, nearly run over the large flat stones. When I reach the tree, I like to sit on the low wall with the breeze blowing on my face. Somehow it is always cool even in the hot summers.
From there we can see the whole fort. Even one of the ten gates. This fort is now my home. Rani ma told my mother, “Shanti is now like my daughter, don’t worry about her.” My Baba and Ma were so surprised their mouth remained open for some time and then my mother started to weep with my father joining in. Watching them, even I started crying. But I still don’t know why. Now I have two mothers… my birth mother and Rani Lakshmibai.
****
I was rudely awakened from my sleep last night. There were angry shouts and cries of people mortally wounded. Lots of sound of running feet and galloping horses. A fierce battle seemed to be going on. I quickly picked up my odhni and limped as fast as I could to the little Prince. What if he was frightened too? The senior ladies seemed to have been awake for some time then and even had their swords tucked in their waist. The Rani was dressed for battle. That’s when I realised I had forgotten my dagger. I had been told to keep it on me at all times. Now I could understand why.
“What happened Didi?” I asked Moti bai in a hoarse whisper. “Our Rani’s plea in the Angrez country got rejected. She had been fighting against their desire to remove the prince and herself. Such double standards. When the Maharaja himself had appointed our prince heir and our Rani, the Queen of Jhansi.”
“Now what? There seems to be a fierce battle going on.”
“Yes, the rebels from the British Army have killed many Angrez, their women and children and are now here. Quick little one, get your dagger and be with the prince.” I could not make much of all she said but I ran back as fast as I could and collected my dagger. By the time I reached our little Prince, Moti Bai had woken him and was dressing him up. He was asking so many questions, but she was quiet only telling him to remain brave and “Stay with Shanti! She will give up her life- rather than let anyone even scratch you.” To this he nodded seriously and nervously ran his hand through his long dark, curly hair. (That was so endearing, reminded me of Krishna!) Moti bai’s words of praise made me feel warm and fuzzy. Such a big boost to my self esteem. I suddenly felt grown up. I realised I was responsible for our little Prince. Of course I would chop off any hand that dared to harm him, or probably even kill, those who dared.
Sweat was trickling down my back and face which I tried to wipe off, quite pointlessly. The thundering sound of gun fire, shrieks and yells by soldiers wounded or pumped with adrenalin, echoed all around. Flames of fire lit up the skies from time to time, and my heart was beating so loudly, I feared it might just jump out of my rib-cage. Two of the Afghan soldiers came into the room to escort us. The tall burly men looked strong enough to demolish an entire army, yet they were so gentle and had such kindness in their eyes. We followed them quickly, without any doubt.
“The British soldiers led by Sir Hugh Rose have treacherously breached the fort. We all have to leave quickly. Hope you are going to continue to be brave!” said one of them. I tried my best to keep up with them, ignoring the pain shooting through my leg.
At the stables our horses were already saddled. Badal, Rani Ma’s beautiful white horse was fully alert. She herself exuded such calm composure, it made me beam with pride. If I had any doubts about what lay ahead, it was erased in one fell swoop. In the presence of great people, our humility alone helps us to learn and transforms us into someone we never knew we were.
Rani soon was in her saddle and she made the prince sit behind her. The tall Afghans tied him securely to the Rani and placed a shield on his back. She waited for us to mount our horses, before she took off like the wind. We too rushed behind her. A few soldiers were waiting on horseback and indicated they would ride beside her. The battle was raging fiercely now. The Angrez were just a few steps away, but my heart was now calm and my mind was completely alert. Pain? What is that?
“Hey! There she is ! Catch her alive!” shouted a very English voice who obviously wanted to capture our brave Rani! “Not on my watch!” I said loudly and let the wind carry it to him. We kept racing towards the opposite gate, but there were more enemy soldiers who had cut us off. Rani Lakshmibai pulled her reins and turned it swiftly around, forcing the horse to turn around completely and gallop in the opposite direction, she had now forced Badal to climb up the stairs of the ramparts. There was no stopping, nor turning around. And as we watched from a considerable distance behind, we saw her urge Badal to leap off the wall. To his credit, Badal the spotless white horse with his silky mane flying in the wind, did not pause or hesitate but just obeyed his queen. The big stallion flew over the fortress walls carrying his Queen away from her pursuers. The redcoats held their breath in silence! The daring of a woman, who was barely twenty years old, forced them to salute her. We had turned our horses and took the first safe exit to catch up with our queen.
The Afghans said, “We are headed towards Kalpi. There is a surprise for us.” Seeing the assurance on their face, we too drew courage. As we drew closer to our Rani, the gap between us and our British pursuers was considerably increasing.
***
The British soldiers were hot in pursuit. They desperately whipped their mounts to gallop faster and faster. The poor horses tired and lathered in sweat, tried to do their rider’s bidding but they had been in the battle for a long time and steadily kept getting left behind.
The clouds of dust soon enveloped the brave queen and her escorts. Sir Hugh Rose was hopping mad. His face flustered, a bright red- matching his red coat, while he issued an order. “Bring that woman alive! She can not fool us for long.” There was chaos and confusion in the camp. Officers were called for a meeting to strategise and lesser officials kept out of the way, mustering their men and energy.
***
On the other hand, rebel soldiers could be seen in bands roaming the dusty terrain in search of direction and leadership. The only thing they were clear about was, ‘Bahut ho gaya: Enough’. Most found their way towards Jhansi. They had heard about its peaceful reign under the Rani of Jhansi.
But, when they were approaching their destination they saw plumes of smoke and a rain of fire. The city fort was caught in the sway of a fierce battle against the British army under Sir Hugh Rose.
Soldiers from Tantya Tope arrived to beef up the defending army of Jhansi. But the enemy was strong. They were slowly losing ground. The Rani would have to surrender or be killed in battle.
One dark night, they saw a royal entourage leave the fort and followed suit. They were pursued by the soldiers of Sir Rose, who thought they were pursuing the queen.
***
We were hot, exhausted and dusty when we reached Kalpi. I was glad we all were together and alive. Thanks to Ma Durga. The prince had fallen asleep clutching his mother,safe in the knowledge she would not let any harm befall him. We were shown to some comfortable rooms and served some fresh food… Dal, roti and curd. It tasted like a royal repast.
As I turned into my comfortable mattress, beside Motibai, I could not help but wonder what would happen now? We had left our home far behind. Enemy soldiers were baying for our blood, what next?
The face of my Rani ma emerged in my mind – fierce and confident, yet full of compassion. With her, I need not worry, I felt. I would lay down my life for her.
Many Indian kings and rulers joined Rani Lakshmibai. Bands of soldiers who had risen against the British in far away places, came to join her.
One fine day or should I say night… the enemy too reached Kalpi. A fierce battle broke out once again. The Rani was seen valiantly fighting with the little prince safely tied behind her. Her arms moved so fast brandishing the sword, if one blinked, one would miss her taking down enemy soldier after enemy soldier. I stayed close to her, putting all my skills to the best use.
The fierce battle raged non-stop, till she was urged to leave with a band of her trusted soldiers. And us.
Once again we persuaded and cajoled our horses to go as fast as they could. We climbed over rocky hillocks and galloped through thorny shrubs. It was the month of May and the sun was unforgiving. I am sure if we kept our rotis on the boulders, they would have got nicely cooked. I just chanted my prayers and followed the Rani. I had to recall every lesson I had ever received on riding, to keep up with our deft Queen and her skilled guards.
At dusk we slowed down near a grove of mangoes, laden with blooms. We had heard a few koels calling out to each other. Such poetic expressions of bliss seemed amiss under the circumstances.
On reaching Gwalior, we were welcomed and given a comfortable bed and warm food. What more could we have asked for.
A few days of rest and recuperation made me almost forget the ordeals of the past few days.
But not for long. That horrible Sir Hugh Rose reached Gwalior!
The Rani mustered us all and told us to be ready for war. It was now not just a battle for her and the prince to be reinstated in Jhansi, but she vowed to chase them out of Hindostan.
Hearing her speak reminded one of a lioness in a jungle. Her very voice was filled with courage and fire. She roused my spirits to jump into battle straight away. When I looked around I saw the same passion on the faces of every soldier and every prince and king assembled there.
It was a fierce battle that dawn. She had swords in both hands and the reins of Badal, gripped tight between her teeth. Dressed like a man, a soldier, she was unrecognisable. The prince had been sent with Motibai and her choicest soldiers to safety. We would meet them soon, I was told.
The swords struck fear in the hearts of all who came face to face with her. Badal was no less. Often he would rear up and strike with his hoofs. I watched as if hypnotised but could not keep watching her long, as I was surrounded by the enemy and had to face them.
My arms moved as if on its own accord. Hand to hand combat requires strength and grit. I lost count of the number of men I sent to death, nor the number of injuries I suffered.
I felt a bolt of lightning strike my back. A fire soaring through my shoulder blades, pierced my heart. I realised I had been struck mortally. As blood trickled down my eyes, I saw my Rani ma, screaming and coming towards me.
‘The Rani has been struck!’ shouted some. And I slumped forward, holding on to my horse. A few soldiers and the Rani led me towards the forest nearby. There was a temple and I was taken down and laid gently in its courtyard.
I could here my Rani ma whisper something to the hermit there as I beseeched her to let me touch her feet one last time.
Satisfied and with a sense of joy that I had laid down my life fighting for her, I felt my soul depart toward my Divine abode.
***
Rani Lakshmibai let the rumours prevail that she had died in battle. Then she proceeded onwards to Delhi. As she approached, more and more soldiers swelled her ranks and many local princes swore their allegiance to her.
She stormed into the Lal quila and claimed it as hers.
For days the soldiers who had rebelled came from far and near, from Barackpore to Kanpur, from Gwalior to Meerut, acknowledging her as their queen- the Queen of Hindostan.
When Sir Hugh Rose finally reached Delhi, he was a raging monster, having been put to shame by Lord Dalhousie. Anger has never helped a man to take sound judgements and that is what happened to Sir Rose too. He charged into the Lal Quila, only to be vanquished. Seeing the death of so many of his country men, Lord Dalhousie was left with not much choice but to quietly take the first ship back home. After all the East India Company was a trading company and they had been playing king maker for long as they raked in the treasures from every kingdom- big or small.
It was the tenacity and bravery of the young queen who led dissent into victory.
Author’s note
This is a story completely based on my imagination when asked to imagine if some instances in history turned out in a different way.
