Impact of the highly improbable – Part 11

We saw in the previous post about Jokhan Bagh incident and how British views on Rani became coloured by prejudice post that incident. After the Jokhan Bagh incident the mutineers left Jhansi. Rani then immediately had to deal with a rival claimant to the Raja's throne, and estate. Shortly after the mutineers left Jhansi, Sadasheo Rao Narain attempted a coup, but was easily foiled, and taken prisoner. (He was found in prison by the British and hanged by them after they retook Jhansi.)

Rani then defended Jhansi against attacks by Orchha. The forces of Orchha laid siege to Jhansi between the 3rd and 22nd of October 1857 whilst claiming to be acting for the British. The British as usual ignored her pleas for help in defending Jhansi. But however Rani won these battles.

Post this Rani strengthened the army and defenses. The fort became almost impenetrable. Events were leading to her final confrontation with the British.

By the end of 1857 the British had dealt with the bigger problems of Delhi and Oudh enabling them to turn their attention on the smaller ones, like Jhansi. The Rani had received no further communications from the British

On the 6th of January, a British force under Sir Hugh Rose, accompanied by Hamilton, marched northwards towards Jhansi. Their intension was very clear with the way they behaved on their journey. They simply massacred anyone they thought to be a rebel with or without evidence. They plundered and did not stop to any warnings and objections.

According to British, Rani was 'the Jezebel of India ... the young, energetic, proud, uncompromising Rani, and upon her head rested the blood of the [British] slain, and a punishment as awful awaited her'. (For those who want to know who is Queen Jezebal refer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezebel)

Lakshmi Bai was prepared. She raised a force of 14,000 volunteers from the population and 1,500 sepoys, made contact with the rebels, strengthened the defenses and prepared for the arrival of the British. 

Intelligence Report (quoting from Paul) dated the 7th Feb 1858 from Sir Robert Hamilton says that:-

“Although the Rani proposes not to fight the British government yet she makes every hostile arrangement. Six new large guns have been manufactured; carriages for these and old guns are in the course of construction. About 200 mounds of saltpetre being purchased in the Gwalior district had been bought into the fort. Gunpowder is daily made within the fort. Eight gunners from the Moorar rebels were sent from Kalpi and have been taken into service. They superintend the manufacturing of brass balls.”

It should be noted that even without the approaching British force, the Rani had every reason to prepare Jhansi's defenses not against the British, but against Jhansi's more aggressive neighbours, Orchha in particular.

The British forces started its attack on Jhansi. For 10 days they bombarded the fort. And for every attack Rani’s forces fought back with equal vigor.

      Image of Jhansi Fort defended by Rani (Courtesy: Wikipedia)

        

       The Kadak Bijili canon used in the uprising of 1857

       

      

A rebel force under command of Tatya Tope arrived to defend Rani but they were defeated because they were disorganized.

The British bribed the gate keeper of the fort of Jhansi and entered it.

At 3am, the 3rd April 1858, British troops stormed into Jhansi. The fighting is said to have been intense. Rani led it with such a force that British were indeed surprised. She with her women army was often visible to the British. They came face to face with Rani, directing and encouraging the resistance.

Another Brave woman, Jhalkari Korin, is said to have masqueraded as the Rani and was captured as such by the British. She was unmasked only when she was bought before Rose. Her fate is uncertain. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhalkaribai)

       

Equestrian statue of Jhalkaribai in Gwalior

     

      

    

     

At some point Rani decided to escape from Jhansi to get better support and fight back. 

      The famous jumping point at Jhansi 

       From this point, Rani is said to have jumped on her horse to escape.(Source: Wikipedia)

     

Lakshmi Bai escaped to Kalpi, on horseback, with her son tied on her back, to prepare for another encounter in conjunction with Tatya Tope and Rao Sahib. She was given a warm welcome in Kalpi.

In Jhansi, the slaughter continued. The British soldiers "eagerly exceeding their orders'' (Hibbert). A Hindu priest, Vishnu Godse, who was there and wrote of his experiences, 'recalled four days of fire, pillage, murder and looting without distinction' (Fraser). Rose had instructed his troops to 'spare no one over sixteen - except women of course'. Some of those who could not escape threw themselves with their wives and children down the wells of the town.

In the words of Godse:

[After the massacre and looting had finished] In the squares of the city ... hundreds of corpses [were collected] in large heaps and covered with wood, floorboards and anything that came handy and set on fire. Now every square blazed with burning bodies and the city looked like one vast burning ground ... It became difficult to breathe as the air stank with the odour of burning human flesh and the stench of rotting animals in the streets.

What happened to Rani then?

To be continued…