ABSTRACT
Lakshmibai, the Rani (female ruler) of Jhansi, was a main leader and emblematic figure of the massive uprising against British colonial rule in South Asia in 1857. Her legacy raises two key questions that are investigated in this chapter: How and for what purposes was the legend of the Rani used by politicians and writers at the time of the Indian independence movement? How was it possible for the image of this local ruler to expand into serving as a model for all India following independence? This chapter starts with an overview of the legend's roots in Hindu mythology and folk poetry, as well as of its reception in British “mutiny novels”. Fictional works by Indian authors provide information about the legend's exploitation in Indian nationalism in the mid-20th century; Subhas Chandra Bose's “Rani of Jhansi Brigade” further illustrates its application to pressing political struggles and issues of gender inequality. The chapter argues that these transversal foci allow for a contextualization of how different images of the Rani were used to further both British-colonialist and various Indian-nationalist political agendas in multiple, contrasting ways – thus contributing to the remarkable persistence and vitality of the Rani legend. Finally, the empowered female ruler Lakshmibai still serves as a precedent and figurehead in her historic, active roles as mother, strategist and fighter. Her example showcases the agency wielded by women both in battle and as inspiration for future generations’ activism.
