Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi

Here is the revised memorial biography for Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, refined to include only well-supported facts, with verified dates, places, and identity:

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Born Manikarnika “Manu” Tambe in Varanasi around 19 November 1828, Rani Lakshmibai hailed from a Marathi Brahmin family. Her parents were Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathi Sapre; her mother passed away when she was approximately four years old. Her father subsequently joined the court of the Peshwa at Bithoor, where Manikarnika was affectionately known as "Chhabili." She received an unusually broad upbringing for a girl of her time, including home education in reading, writing, as well as training in martial arts such as shooting, horsemanship, fencing, and mallakhamba (ipfs.ssi.eecc.de).

In May 1842, she married Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar of Jhansi and, following custom, took the name Lakshmibai in honor of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi (ipfs.ssi.eecc.de). The couple had a son, Damodar Rao, who tragically died in infancy after just a few months (ipfs.ssi.eecc.de). On her husband’s death in 1853, he adopted his cousin’s son, naming him Damodar Rao; the British East India Company, invoking the Doctrine of Lapse, refused to recognize the adoption and annexed Jhansi despite Lakshmibai’s protests (nfcg.in).

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Lakshmibai emerged as a prominent leader in resisting British authority. In March 1858, British forces under Major General Sir Hugh Rose captured Jhansi. Lakshmibai escaped the siege and joined rebel forces. Together, they briefly captured Gwalior in early June. On 18 June 1858, she died in battle near Kotah‑ki‑Serai, close to Gwalior, fighting valiantly until the end (en.wikipedia.org).

Lakshmibai remains a potent symbol of resistance and national pride in India. Her life has inspired innumerable works of art, literature, and film. She is widely honored as one of the foremost figures in India’s struggle against colonial rule, her legacy enduring across generations.

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This biography now reflects a respectful and fact-checked account based strictly on reliable historical sources.