Rani of Jhansi

1

Early Life

As a consequence of centuries of slavery, woman in Indian society began to be called abala (weak). Her role was limited to harem or four walls of home. When this inhibition further firmed up, the very birth of a girl in the family was considered a bad omen; callous people murdered her as soon as she was born; girls, completely oblivious of worldliness, were passed off in marriage. If these innocuous girls lost their husbands, then they were forced either to commit sati (burning alive with husband on pyre) or live the cursed life of a widow all through. Whereas the history of medieval period is replete with the courageous activities of the brave men, it has generally ignored brave activities of womankind. There one observes all around a tendency to enslave woman mentally. The existence of her husband was considered her existence. Janhar vratas (women in group walking into mass of fire for self-immolation) are liberally praised in the history of Mewar or other states of Rajputana. It seems that the woman in that period had grown so weak that she could not even think of taking up arms against the enemy. She considered it more graceful to burn herself in fire than to face the enemy.

I think it will be called a happy surprise that Maharani Lakshmibai demonstrably exploded this slave mentality of Indian women. She performed this wonderful feat at a time when most of Indian kings had lost their glow. Or it can be put this way that they had grown lustreless before the lustrous sun of the British empire. Maharani Lakshmibai exposed the myth of woman’s weakness, which had gone deep in Indian psyche over the centuries. She proved that the Indian woman was not weak, she had been rendered mentally weak. If occasion demands, she can not only be strong, she can act as the highly courageous woman as well. She awakened the sleeping Indian woman from the slumber of long period of slavery and wrote a completely new and graceful chapter in history. Undoubtedly, Maharani Lakshmibai is not only the pride of womankind, she is a historic personality to be remembered and worshipped every morning.

Ancestry

The Krishna river flows by Satara (Maharashtra). There is a village known as Wai on the banks of Krishna river. The heirs of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire, proved incompetent and the empire was taken over by Peshwas. During the Peshwa rule, a Brahmin named Krishna Rao Tambe of Wai village worked on some high government post. He had a son named Balwant who was very brave and chivalrous. Peshwas posted him on some high and respectable post in the army, in appreciation of his bravery. So, the father and the son both got high posts and were kindly looked upon by the Peshwas. Obviously both of them discharged their duties competently, other-wise it would not have been possible for them to continue to enjoy this traditional favour. Balwant had two sons, Moropant and Sadashiva. As already stated, this family had been enjoying the favour of the Peshwas for two generations. This tradition continued with the third generation also. Chimaji Apa Saheb, the brother of Peshwa Baji Rao II, and Moropant were very close friends. When in 1818 Peshwa Baji Rao resigned his post after accepting rupees eight lakh annual pension from the Britishers, then Chimaji Apa Saheb was offered the post of Peshwa, but he refused, because he considered the post of Peshwa meaningless in the absence of any rights under the British government. After this he went to Benaras and lived there. Moropant Tambe also followed him to Benaras. He acted as a secretary to Chimaji Apa Saheb, for which he was paid fifty rupees per month as salary.

Parents of Maharani Lakshmibai

Moropant Tambe is the person who had the good fortune of being the father of the brave Maharani Lakshmibai. His wife’s name was Bhagirathibai, who was a very beautiful, good natured and practical woman totally devoted to her husband. The husband and wife loved each other dearly. Shri Dattatreya Balwant in his book Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmibai writes on their love:

Husband and wife always had deep and abiding love among themselves. There is nothing more sacred than love in the world, if it emanates from an honest and sincere heart. Even the most difficult job is performed very conveniently by two persons who are committed to each other’s love. Some poet has rightly said that if two hearts combine, they can break the mountains as well. If husband and wife have sincere love for one another, then it needs no saying how they can sail through life’s journey in the best way. Such was the sincere love of Moropant and his wife.

Birth and Childhood

Moropant’s wife, Bhagirathibai, delivered a girl child on 16th November, 1835. This girl later on became famous in history as Maharani Lakshmibai. Moropant and his wife Bhagirathibai were highly pleased on the birth of this girl. Their relatives and acquaintances congratulated them an being blessed with the gem of a girl. They blessed the infant girl with long life, and desired that the girl became highly chivalrous and well-known. This naturally bestowed blessing turned out to be true over a period of time. It is said that the astrologers predicted on her birth that the girl would enjoy stately grandeur and possess matchless valour. At that time nobody after seeing the quiet, benign and guileless face of the innocent girl could say that the girl would write a golden chapter in history through her love of independence and defence of state. Parents named the girl Manubai and started rearing her with love.

Moropant Goes to Baji Rao Seeking Shelter

Baby Manubai grew up slowly like the cycles of the moon. In the meanwhile Moropant suffered a serious setback. Chimaji Apa Saheb, his most benign benefactor, passed away. Moropant became shelterless on the death of a sincere and cordial senior. No source of livelihood was left with him. A serious problem cropped up before him. He was at a loss to understand what to do. The ex-Peshwa Baji Rao, by offering him shelter in this hour of crisis, again demonstrated his family tradition of charity, though he himself was leading the life like that of an exile in north India, after leaving Maharashtra. Moropant was overawed by this graceful gesture of Baji Rao and started living in his shelter. This helped him through his family responsibilities.

Loss of Mother

The girl Manubai left Benaras along with her parents and came under the shelter of Baji Rao. She passed her childhood here, but she had to face a deadly tragedy when she was just four years old. Her mother Bhagirathibai passed away. This was a terrible blow both to the father and the daughter. Even though child Manubai did not understand the meaning of death, her infant heart must have been struck hard by mother’s absence. For Moropant, too, the separation from life-partner was a terrible misfortune but he did not lose the balance of mind. He controlled his feelings and got busy in discharging his duties with full determination. He saw to it that his daughter did not suffer due to lack of her mother, and he himself started looking after her. Now he was to her both mother as well as father. Thus the little girl, Manubai began to grow under the shelter of her father. Moropant took her along with him wherever he went. Mostly he sat in the company of men. And Manubai was with him. Child Manubai was very beautiful and naughty right from her childhood. She usually went to Baji Rao along with her father. Peshwa Baji Rao, too, loved her profoundly. He called Manubai by the name of Chhabili.

With Nana Saheb

Peshwa Baji Rao II did not have any son. So on 7th June, 1827 he adopted a two-and-a-half-year-old child. This child was later recognised as Nana Saheb Peshwa, an unparalleled commander of India’s first fight for freedom. Venugram is a village in the valleys of the Matheran mountain ranges in Maharashtra. A high family Brahmin, Madhav Rao Narayan Bhatt, lived in this village. Nana Saheb was born to his wife Gangabai in the end of 1824. Baji Rao had adopted another son Rao Saheb also along with Nana Saheb.

Child Manubai got a good company of friends in Nana Saheb and Rao Saheb. The three children played different games. According to the practice at that time, good teaching arrangement for Manubai was made at home. Child Manubai was a spirited child; she was the only child of her parents, and now motherless also. So whatever she saw Nana Saheb doing, she demanded the same thing from her father. Father Moropant did not want to crush her desires. If Nana Saheb went on a horse ride, then Manubai also went on a horse ride with him. After all, Nana Saheb was the son of an ex-Peshwa, whereas Manubai was the daughter of one who sought shelter from Peshwa. Manubai did not realise these things. All that she knew was to insist upon what she wanted. It is said that once Nana Saheb was enjoying an elephant ride. When Manubai saw him sitting on an elephant, she also insisted upon sitting on an elephant. Seeing her insistence Peshwa Baji Rao indicated to Nana Saheb to take Manubai on the elephant with him. But Nana Saheb, too, was a child and wanted to assert his superior position on Manubai. So he ignored his father’s indication and went away. And on this side, Manubai was not prepared to give up her insistence. She was continuously pestering her father for an elephant ride. Being disgusted, Moropant snapped back, O, why do you insist unnecessarily? See your fate. Is an elephant ride written in your destiny?

On hearing the words of her father child Manubai immediately replied, Yes, Yes. It’s written here. My fate says I’ll ride not one but ten elephants. The whole issue was forgotten, but who knew at that time how much truth was hidden in those words.

Manubai s physical education and instructions in warfare continued along with those of Nana Saheb. Though she was the daughter of a Brahmin, she took special interest in the art of warfare. Doughty Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his book 1857 Ka Swatantrya Samar writes in this context:

"Was there any lucky person whose eyes did not light up and soak with immense happiness when he saw Nana Saheb and Chhabili practising the movement of asilta (a weapon) in the armoury? Sometimes Nana on horseback waited for Lakshmi, and sometimes Lakshmi arrived there riding on horseback, with sword tied to her back, and arranging her light hair ruffled by the wind. When Nana Saheb tried to control his fast horse he was just eighteen years old, and when Lakshmi brought the wild horse in control she was just seven years old."

What I mean to say is that Manubai got more opportunities of sitting in men’s company in her childhood. Her education, too, was like that of men. As a result, she developed more qualities of men. May be these were the factors which forged the brave Maharani Lakshmibai to challenge and face the Englishmen.

Marriage

Well, it may sound ludicrous today, but the reality is that Manubai was married at the tender age of seven years. The cycle of events leading to this marriage is no less interesting in itself. Though girls are married after eighteen years of age in cities these days, and it is constitutionally also required, one quite often hears and reads news of child marriages as well. At that time child marriage was very common. Manubai was still an innocuous girl when her father, as per the social practice those days, started worrying about her marriage. Many things combined. It was a tradition-ridden society. It was the first half of the nineteenth century, and Moropant was a Maratha Brahmin. The turn of events had forced him to live under the shelter of ex-Peshwa Baji Rao at Brahmavarta. No suitable groom in line with his family was in sight there. So, it was but natural that he got worried.

It was during this time that the Rajpurohit (the chief priest) of Jhansi state, Pandit Tatya Dikshit, came to see Peshwa Baji Rao. Pandit Tatya Dikshit was a highly experienced astrologer.

Moropant was highly delighted to see him. He met Pandit Dikshit, and stating his problem to him said, Maharaj! She is my only daughter. Her mother has died. Now I am her father and mother both. Kindly keep in mind if you come across a groom suitable for her. I want to free myself from worry on getting her married.

Pandit Tatya Dikshit saw her horoscope. After seriously considering the position of the planets said, "Bhaiya, the horoscope of this girl has rajayoga (possibility of administration, rule). She will not be married in an ordinary family. You don’t worry, at all. See the game of time. One day a king himself will come to you. You or I can do nothing for her. Well, yes, you are her father. It’s your duty to try. I will also try. Our efforts will be only for doing. Nobody knows the will of God."

Moropant was extremely happy to hear the forecast of the astrologer. The astrologer went back after this. Gangadhar Rao, the king of Jhansi, was advancing towards middle age, but had no son. He wanted to marry again to get a son. He expressed this desire before his councillors. When Pandit Tatya Dikshit informed him about Manubai in detail, Gangadhar Rao grew impatient to marry her. The Raja forgot his advancing age, when the royal astrologer told him about beauty and horoscope, and other things about Manubai. He thought, possibly through this jewel of a woman his family might grow further. So the marriage of Manubai and Gangadhar Rao was fixed.

A few days after the fixing of marriage, the seven-year-old Manubai was married to the middle aged Gangadhar Rao in 1842. What meaning could a seven-year-old innocuous madonna assign to marriage? Though the marriage ceremony was performed with great pomp and show, to Manubai it was no more than a game of dolls. The mentality of child Manubai, who was dressed like a bride, can be gauged from the following incident: It is said that when the marriage ceremony was in progress and the bride and groom had to go round the fire, the purohit tied a knot in the dupatta of the bride and the groom. On this Manubai said to the purohit. Purohitji Maharaj. Kindly tie the knot tightly."

On hearing this sentence, all the persons present there burst into a loud laughter. The words spoken so genuinely and effortlessly were meant for laughter. But nobody knew how they would turn out to be in future. Oh! If somebody knew the meaning of these words! Well, even if one knew, nothing could be done. The meaning inherent in the words came out just eleven years hereafter in its most gruesome form. Gangadhar Rao left for his heavenly abode as soon as Manubai (who was Lakshmibai now) stepped into her youth. This was a very common cruel outcome of this kind of mis-matches. It was very common because such mis-matched marriages were bound to result in something of this sort, and cruel in the sense that many hapless girls had to carry life-long the cruelest widowhood because of the foolishness of their