My speech about Jhansi Rani at school

“She fought a man’s war,she was Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi…” goes the lyrics of a song written in her honour.

Lakshmibai was one of the leading figures of the Indian Revolt of 1857 and a symbol of resistance to the British rule in India.She has gone down in history as India’s “Joan of Arc”.
Lakshmibai was probably born on 19th November 1828 in the holy town of Varanasi into a Kshatriya Maratha family.She was named Manikarnika. Her parents were Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathi Sapre.
She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao,the Maharaja of Jhansi. Since their child had died as a baby, they adopted a child named Damodar Rao and proclaimed him the legal heir to the throne.
When the Raja died,the British rulers refused to accept Damodar Rao as the legal heir to the throne.According to the Doctrine of Lapse, Lord Delhousie decided to capture the state of Jhansi during the Revolt of 1857.
Lakshmibai was ordered to leave the fort. But Rani Lakshmibai refused to give her rights on Jhansi.
She assembled and strengthened her army. When the British troops arrived to conquer the fort, she led her troops and fought the battle bravely. When she saw that they were losing the battle, she tied her son to her back and escaped.
On 18th November 1858,she was severely injured in the Battle of Gwalior and she died. Her body was never found by the British.It is believed that her funeral was arranged by some local people as she wished.
Rani Lakshmibai was a national heroine and was seen as an epitome of female bravery in India.
Even though,the Indians lost their first battle of Independence, Rani Lakshmibai sowed the seeds of nationalism and independence.India will never forget her name. She is immortal.
JAI HIND!