Whenever we recall the Indian freedom movement, the names of many brave men come to our mind. But among these freedom fighters were remarkably courageous women who displayed great valour and sacrificed their lives for India's freedom. One such name is of Manikarnika, better known as the Queen of Jhansi, Rani Laxmibai. She was not just one of the greatest female freedom fighters but also the first woman martyr of India. June 18 marks the day of her martyrdom.  Here are five facts about Rani Laxmibai's exceptionally inspirational life:

An Epitome of Motherhood

If you search for Rani Laxmibai's pictures, you will realise her most iconic portrait is the one depicting her on the battlefield with her son strapped to her back. The Queen of Jhansi made a remarkable decision to take her adopted son Damodar Rao to the battlefield when the British entered Jhansi. There are many tales about why she did so. Taking her son along was the only way to keep him safe. She fought with extreme courage despite her son tied to her.

Died a Warrior’s Death

There are varied versions about how the Queen of Jhansi met her end. One version says that near  Phool Bagh of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, a force led by Laxmibai fought the of 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. Over 5,000 Indian soldiers were killed. Laxmibai was wounded and unhorsed fighting back and later shot by one of the Hussars. In another version, she after being severely injured and not wishing the British to capture her body, asked a hermit to burn it. Both versions bear testimony to the brave fight she put up and her heroic death.

An Inspiration for Art

The famous Hindi poet Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, famous for her compositions in Veer Ras, penned the famous poem dedicated to the valour and greatness of Rani Laxmibai called "Jhansi Ki Rani." Chauhan herself was involved in the freedom movement and was the first woman Satyagrahi to court arrest in Nagpur and was jailed twice for her involvement in protests against the British rule. Several other compositions have been inspired by Rani Laxmibai's life.

A Regiment Named After Her

In the recent times, many women have started actively joining the armed forces. But the Queen of Jhansi had a regiment named after her way back in 1942. A women's unit of the Indian National Army was named the Rani of Jhansi Regiment in honour of the great Queen. Indian Nationalists formed Rani of Jhansi Regiment in 1942. It was one of the very few all-female combat regiments of the Second World War on any side.

A Token of Bravery

The Queen of Jhasni is honoured with several titles and recognition. In 1957, on the centenary of the Great Indian Mutiny, two postage stamps of Rani Laxmibai worth 15 paise was issued by the government. She is also given the title of India's Joan of Arc, after the French heroine during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years' War.

Huge Rose who led the British forces against the Queen of Jhansi admitted that "she was the bravest and best military leader of the rebels".  The Rani of Jhansi was invincible. Her story is still an inspiration for millions of women to fight their own battles. The story of her unmatched courage also invokes feelings of patriotism and the urge to love one's country above everything else.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 18, 2018 01:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).