Lakshmibai of Jhansi

A queen who led a rebellion against British colonial rule, symbolizing resistance and courage in 19th-century India

Lakshmibai of Jhansi (1828–1858), also known as the Rani of Jhansi, was a queen of the princely state of Jhansi in present-day India. Her defiance against British colonial expansion during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 made her a symbol of resistance and a key figure in India's struggle for independence. Born Manikarnika, she married Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi, at the age of 14. After her husband's death in 1853, she adopted a successor to challenge the British annexation of Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse, which denied inheritance rights to heirs deemed illegitimate by the British.

In 1857, when the rebellion erupted across northern India, Lakshmibai organized her troops and fortified Jhansi against British forces. Despite being outnumbered, she successfully defended the city for months. Her leadership and military tactics, including her famous cavalry charge on horseback while carrying her infant son, became legendary. Though she died in battle at the age of 22, her legacy inspired future generations of Indian nationalists. Historians often credit her as a pioneer of anti-colonial resistance, bridging the gap between regional uprisings and the broader movement for independence.