Mother’s Day: Revisit Jhansi Ki Rani To Know The Challenges She Faced During Motherhood
From losing her first child to fighting the British with her adopted son on her back, Manikarnika braved through her motherhood. Watch it on ZEE5.
Rani Lakshmibai was the queen of the Maratha princely state of Jhansi, currently in Uttar Pradesh, India. She was a daughter, a wife, a warrior, a widow, but most importantly, a mother. The world celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May every year. So, on May 10, 2020, let us look at the challenges that the brave Lakshmibai faces, through Zee TV’s historical biographical-drama series Jhansi Ki Rani: Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahaani. As a tribute to her fearless spirit, know more about her legacy and bravery by revisiting her life and times, streaming on ZEE5 now.
Watch the gripping trailer of the serial here:
Born as Manikarnika, essayed by Ulka Gupta, Manu stays with her father Moropant Tambe, who is a pandit in the Bithoor court of Peshwa Baji Rao II. Her mother passes away when she is four years old. Under the mentorship of Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope, Manu is trained in the arts of war. She learns sword-fighting, horse riding and other vigorous sports. Educated in her home, she is able to read and write more independently than other children of her age. She contrasts many of the patriarchal cultural expectations for women in India at the time.
In May 1842, Manikarnika marries Gangadhar Rao Newalkar – the Maharaja of Jhansi. As a marriage tradition, she is given the name Lakshmibai and becomes the Rani of Jhansi, portrayed by Kratika Sengar. Hiding her true identity, she disguises as a man and takes the form of Kranti Guru on a horse, to combat the British rule in India and gain freedom. While learning the duties of a wife and a queen at a young age, she gives birth to her first child in 1851. But, the baby boy dies after four months, allegedly killed by the British Captain Nelson.
A still from Jhansi Ki Rani: Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahaani
Coping up with the loss, she and the Maharaja adopt a son named Anand Rao, from the Maharaja’s cousin. They rename him Damodar Rao, after their deceased first son. A day later, the Maharaja is killed by Ali Bahadur, a Mughal ally of the British. Lakshmibai is left widowed to single-handedly raise her son. Then, Captain Hamilton arrives to subdue Jhansi. Lakshmibai ties her son to her chest and wages a war against the East India Company, contributing to the Indian Revolt of 1857. Then, Queen Victoria gets Prince Damodar kidnapped.
A victorious Rani Lakshmibai saves her son’s life by killing Captain Hamilton, and returns to a reconquered Jhansi with him. Then, Lord Dalhousie rejects Prince Damodar’s claim to Jhansi’s throne because he is an adopted child, and not the rightful heir of Lakshmibai and Gangadhar Rao. Jhansi, with its territories, is annexed under the British Doctrine of Lapse. On hearing this, Lakshmibai cries out “Mai apni Jhansi nahi dungi!” (I will not surrender my Jhansi!). General Henry’s army attacks the Jhansi fort and Captain Gall shoots Lakshmibai.
To learn more about Lakshmibai’s bravery and legacy, watch all the episodes of Jhansi Ki Rani, streaming on ZEE5.
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