Context:

• Recently, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Rani Lakshmibai on her birth anniversary (19th November).

About Rani Lakshmibai

• Birth and Early Life: Born as Manikarnika Tambe in 1828 in Varanasi.
• Marriage: In 1842, Lakshmibai got married to Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi, and got the name of Rani Lakshmibai

• • Adopted Anand Rao after the death of her son and husband, who was later renamed as Damodar.
  • Faced the application of the Doctrine of Lapse by the East India Company.

Doctrine of Lapse:

• Annexation Policy: Policy by Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General from 1848 to 1856.
• The policy Stated that states without legal male heirs would be annexed by the East India Company.
• Challenge to Succession:
• • Damodar Rao, adopted by Rani Lakshmibai, not accepted as the legal heir.
  • Britishers applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex Jhansi.

Role of Rani Lakshmibai in the Revolt of 1857: 

• Rani Lakshmibai rebelled against the British in 1858 when commanding officer of the British forces, Sir Hugh Rose, demanded the surrender of Jhansi.
• She was determined to not give up on the Dominion of Jhansi and hence started assembling an army of rebellions, including women. 
• She was supported by Tantia Tope and Nana Sahib.
• After a fierce war, She escaped to Kalpi and was accompanied by other rebellions. She then departed to Gwalior and a fierce battle was fought between the British and Lakshmibai’s army.
• Martyrdom: She died while fighting on June 17, 1858.
• General Hugh Rose on her death said that “here lay the woman who was the only man among the rebels”.

News Source: PIB