A woman: who was the only man.( #QueenofJhansi )

बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुख हमने सुनी कहानी थी,

खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.

My heartfelt and proud tribute; to the inspirational and brave freedom fighter Jhansi Queen- #RaniLakshmibai on her Punyatithi (martyr day). Remembering her makes everyone emotional irrespective of religion, country or community despite touching her life only through stories. It has been 162 years since she took her last breath, way back when not even us but almost five generations of our ancestors were born. What would have been so special in her which made her life an eternal one? Indeed her integrity, courage and will power were so intact that made her clarion call of "I shall not give my Jhansi" loud enough to echo forever in the history. Talking about her bravery I should not refrain from mentioning our great freedom fighters who gave their blood and soul to the country, salute to them all. But, if we go and see the time of 1853 - 58 in the Indian history only one name shines the brightest and that is of none other than Jhansi queen Lakshmibai.

Amid the first few major challenges in the fight for a free nation; The revolt of 1857 is on the header, it is the same revolt in which #RaniLakshmibai made her mark to live forever. The revolt of 1857 was an unsuccessful but heroic effort to eliminate foreign rule which began from a helpless or cowardice surrender of Mughal emperor #BahadurShahZafar by handing over the imperial city of Delhi in the hands of British Company rule. Within a month of the capture of Delhi, the revolt spread to different parts of the country: Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Benares, Bareilly,.Jagdishpur and Jhansi where the rebel activities were marked by the intense anti-British feelings and the administration was invariably toppled. Though many more names as #BahadurShahZafar's were called cowards for not fighting till their last breath and surrendering to Britishers also there were many, who offered stiff resistance to Britishers, such as- Nana saheb; the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Birjis Qadir in Lucknow and Khan Bahadur from Bareilly to name a few.

The most outstanding leader of the Revolt was #RaniLakshmibai, who assumed the leadership of sepoys at Jhansi. Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General, had refused to allow her adopted son to succeed to the throne after her husband has died and had annexed the state by the application of Doctrine of Lapse. The Rani had tried everything to reverse the decision. She even offered to keep Jhansi "safe" for British if they would grant her wishes. When it was clear that nothing is going to work she joined the sepoys and in time, became the most formidable enemies the British had to contend with. Due to house piercing betrayal of Jayajirao Scindia, the #RaniofJhansi died fighting, on 18th June 1858 but kept her pride untouched. General Hugh Rose, who defeated her, paid high tribute to his enemy when he said that - "Here lay the woman who was the only man among the rebels".

The #revolt at Meerut and capture of Delhi was the precursor to the widespread mutiny by the sepoys and rebellion almost all over North India as well as central and western India where a humongous number of freedom fighters fought for their righteous values and country and among them, the name of #RaniLakshmibai is the biggest who has not been only a symbol for patriotism but also a symbol for India being a forward country in all terms be it the adoption of a child and giving him all the rights that any biological child may have, feminism the country has possessed since forever, the unity among all the cast and communities when it comes for the nation as well as not hesitating to be armed when the protection of values is in question. Long ago itself she has set an example for every woman to stand strong for right causes and today as an individual we need to look way back into her story to realize and revive our spirit towards our nation and values we should fight for.