Laxmibai, Rani of Jhansi
Recently I read two fictional biographies of Jhansi Ki Rani (queen), Laxmi Bai. They are by Vrindavan lal Verma and Mahasweta Devi respectively. The story is amazing and inspiring. She was just 22 when she died fighting. A web-based biographical account can be seen in the website http://www.copsey-family.org/~ allenc/lakshmibai/index.html Briefly, she was married to Gangadhar Rao, a king of Jhansi. Gangadhar Rao died in 1853, when Rani was 18. The kingdom was annexed by the British (Governer General Dulhausi). Coincidently, in 1857, the revolt broke out, and the mutineers killed the British soldiers and civilians. Rani took civilian control of Jhansi after writing to the British officials. Ironically, soon Jhansi was attacked by neighbouring kingdom Orchha. The attack was repulsed by the newly formed voluntary army of Jhansi. This speaks greatly of the organizational skills of young Rani. Her army included soldiers from all castes and religion, with a sizable secti