Rani Lakshmi Bai was born on 13th November 1835. Her father’s name was Morapant and her mother’s name was Bhagirathi. The former name of Lakshmi Bai was Manu. As a child, she grew up in the company of Nana Sahib who was the son of the Peshwa Bajirao and who too, like her, later became famous for his bravery.

It was in the company of Nana that Manu got the training to become a brave and skilled soldier. She was married in her early age to Gangadhar Rai who was then the ruler of Jhansi. As Gangadhar became seriously ill, the couple adopted a son Damodar, as they had no son of their own. Gangadhar died earl. After his death, Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-General, who was following the Doctrine of Lapse, refused to admit Damodar as heir to Gangadhar’s throne.

Lakshmi Bai was brave a woman of India. She arranged weapons and ammunition and when the British attacked on the fort of Jhansi, they were surprised to find the spirited daughter of India, with the sword in her hand, answer the cruel strokes of a mighty enemy forcefully. Lakshmi Bai was indeed no match for the British power. Having lost Jhansi, she fought from the fort of Gwalior. Indeed, she could not face the British forces. But she fought until her last breath and laid down her life for the sake of freedom. She died
on 18 June 1858 at the age of 29 at Kotah ki Serai, near Gwalior, India. She was a great patriot and one of the most important freedom fighters during the First War of Independence which is ever simply called ‘Mutiny’ or the ‘Great Upheaval.’