The Jhansi Fort: A Siege to Remember
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The Jhansi Fort: A Siege to Remember
The fort of Jhansi immediately evokes Rani Lakshmibai, the warrior queen who stood up to the British. She was the focal point around which resistance gathered in the region during the Revolt of 1857, described as the First War of Independence in India. The Jhansi fort was her battleground and a magnet for people who were eager to reclaim their freedom from the notorious British.
In 1842 CE, Rani Lakshmibai married Gangadhar Rao, who became the ruler of Jhansi in 1843 CE, and the couple adopted a child of royal lineage called Anand Rao (renamed Damodar Rao). After the Raja died in 1853 CE, the British cleverly refused to recognise Damodar Rao as a legal heir to the throne and annexed the kingdom, citing the Doctrine of Lapse.
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
According to this policy, a princely state would be annexed by the British if the ruler was either “manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir.” The invalidation of her son’s right to rule and the arbitrary annexation were sufficient to provoke deep hatred of the British among Rani Lakshmibai and the people of her region.
When the revolt broke out in 1857 CE in Meerut, Lakshmi Bai was proclaimed regent of Jhansi by the revolutionaries. People from the neighbouring areas headed toward Jhansi to offer their support to the Rani. She proudly proclaimed “mein apni Jhansi nahi dungi” (I will not give my Jhansi) and, along with her supporters, took control of the fort. The siege to recapture the fort from the hands of the rebels went on for several weeks as the Company’s men surrounded it.
The Jhansi Fort
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
The writings of Vishnubhat Godse (1827-1904 CE), a poor Brahmin priest who was in Jhansi when the 1857 Revolt broke out, offer a first-hand account of events there. The source also claims that the Rani issued a proclamation “We fight for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna, we will, if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of victory; if defeated and killed on the field of battle, we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation.”
As the British soldiers arrived to secure their rule in March 1857, they found the city and the fort well guarded by heavy guns. Godse tells us, regarding the fort’s defences, that “…from the seventh day, the fort itself came under heavy bombardment. The Company people had powerful telescopes through which the entire fort and the people working in it could be seen. They discovered that there was only one water source and bombarded it with cannons.”
Rani Lakshmibai demonstrated masterful leadership in defending the fort and kept the British soldiers, led by Sir Hugh Rose, at bay for quite some time. She ensured a good supply of food, water and essential goods in the fort to sustain her defence. However, despite her determination, the British soldiers broke down the south wall of the fort and captured it. As the fort was being taken over, she managed to escape. Legend has it that she jumped from a high wall straight onto her horse Badal’s back.
Ramparts and Boundary Wall of the Fort
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
She first reached Kalpi and then Gwalior. At both places, she joined the rebels and fought against the British. However, the British forces were able to overpower them. It is believed that the badly wounded Rani died while still in battle. Even after her death, her bravery was noted in British circles. Sir Hugh Rose wrote later- “She was a man among mutineers. She used to dress like a man (with a turban) and rode like one,” noted Lord Canning, India’s first Viceroy, in his private papers.
The fort at Jhansi embodies her courage and symbolises India’s resistance to the rule and unfair policies of the British. Her palace, Rani Mahal, near the fort, has been converted into a museum showcasing the weapons used during the siege of the Jhansi Fort. This fort preserves our historical legacy, embodies India’s sovereignty and inspires its citizens even today.