Impact of the highly improbable – Part 9

 “Main Meri Jhansi Nahi Doongi” was all Jhansi Rani said when she heard that the British had applied the Doctrine of Lapse to her Jhansi. Anand Rao, her adopted son was denied his rights.

Lakshmi Bai did not take the sword immediately. She always wanted peace and acted calmly. The Queen had been criticized by some authors in many places. It is even said that she was merely a Prisoner of Circumstances. But according to me she was brave. Bravery is not absence of fear but it is the determination to act despite fear. And that was what the Queen did!

At first she appealed against the decision through the Local Political agent Major Ellis. And she followed up with a second appeal. These appeals were refused by the British.

Lakshmi Bai then consulted with a British counsel, John Lang, who was in India. He was known for his success against the Company in the courts. This consultation is recounted by Lang in his book "Wanderings in India". Rani uttered the famous words "Main Meri Jhansi Nahi Doongi " when she met John Lang.

Her third appeal dated April 22nd 1854 was drafted with regard to Lang's advice. There followed an appeal to the Court of Directors in London, at considerable cost, but it also failed. Rani’s persistence is said to have irritated Dalhousie.

The Rani was forced into retirement. She was granted a monthly pension of 5,000 rupees, the palace now known as the Rani Mahal, state jewels and funds.

With the annexation, Rani left the royal palace of Jhansi Fort and moved to Rani Mahal.

The Rani Mahal, the palace of Rani Lakshmi Bai, has now been converted into a museum. It houses a collection of archaeological remains of the period between 9th and 12th centuries AD. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

In his book, The Rebellious Rani, Smyth had mentioned that “Over the next three years the Rani was steadily endearing herself to her people and fanning their resentment against the British”.

As she had been Rani of Jhansi for over 10 years she was already well known to her people and as for the people to hate British she did not have to do anything.  The British worked on this for themselves.

Some of the grievances against British at that time were as follows

1.      The British allowed cow slaughter within the town, a measure guaranteed to offend Hindus and the Rani protested in a letter of Aug 21st 1854.

2.      Villages which were assigned to the temple of Mahalakshmi, the family deity of the Jhansi royal family, for the upkeep of the temples, were 'resumed', i.e. returned to a normal status. Rs.1000 was added to the Rani's pension for her to provide support for the temples.

Mahalakshmi Temple Jhansi (Source: Wikipedia)

3.      Of the lands and gardens in the Rani's possession, only some gardens were granted to her. Other gardens and lands were resumed i.e. it was taken by the British Company.

4.      The Rani had to provide 4 guarantors for Rs. 100,000 she wanted from Damodar's inheritance for his thread ceremony. The British required this in case Damodar should want it back when he was granted the trust. Rani had to take it as a Loan. Ironically the British never gave him his inheritance!

5.      It is even said that gauging public sentiments and support for her, Rani asked permission from the British to move to Varanasi to lead a simple life. It is said that she merely used this as a threat. British however refused to give permission and asked her to stay in Rani Mahal. She did use the threat of leaving Jhansi in her negotiations, an indication of her economic and political power in Jhansi and that the British viewed her presence there as a benefit to themselves. British knew that People were calmed by the presence of the Queen.

6.      The dissolution of court of Jhansi resulted in many losing their jobs. This was causing huge resentment and the British knew that only the presence of their beloved queen in Rani Mahal was acting as calming factor.

7.      There was discontent with settlements in land disputes and in the assessment of land values for tax purposes.

8.      Stamp duty was required on all petitions lodged before a court, rendering justice too expensive for many.

During the years of retirement Rani is said to have been meticulous in her religious observances. She practiced rifle and pistol shooting, horse riding and physical exercise every day.

The situation remained same until 1857. What happened then? That is what we are going to see in the next post. :)

Antonia Fraser in her Book “Warrior Queens” mentions an interesting historical link. She mentions about Turab Ali who was in Jhansi and lived till the age of 113. He died in 1943. He survived long enough to tell tales of his youth.

He had watched the Rani practicing the art of managing her horse with the reins in her teeth and two swords in her hands.

It is a popular image. An image so well known! After all why won’t it be?

It is said that she was precisely that way when she plunged into the Battle Field finally!

To be continued…