Lakshmibai

A warrior queen who led resistance against British colonialism in India

Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi (1828–1858), was a symbol of Indian resistance against British colonial rule during the 1857 rebellion. Born Manikarnika into the Maratha Brahmin community, she became queen of Jhansi at age 18 after her husband Raja Gangadhar Rao's death. When the British sought to annex Jhansi using the Doctrine of Lapse, she organized a military force to defend her kingdom. Her innovative use of guerrilla tactics and leadership at the Battle of Jhansi (1858) inspired widespread rebellion. Despite her tragic death during the Siege of Gwalior, her legacy endures as a national icon of courage and resistance. Modern historians highlight her role in shaping India's independence movement through her defiance of British imperial policies.