Licence Era: Trip to Mahavirji 7: Jhansi

Photograph of Jhansi Fort taken in 1882 by Lala Deen Dayal
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1857_jhansi_fort2.jpg)

Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,
Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.

During the history class while reading about the Mutiny of 1857, the first big size Indian rebellion again the British Raj, the story of Jhansi ki Rani had captured my imagination for many many years. Finally on Nov 5, 2008, I got a chance to visit her fort, the Jhansi fort. Standing on the far side of the fort, where on one side a couple with hands held and lips locked were intimate with the present moment, I time travelled back to 1858, looking at the historic point on the other side of the fort. When the entire fort was surrounded by the enemies and it seemed evident that they would enter the fort and capture her, Rani Laxmi Bai had tied her young son behind her, rode on a horse and jumped right off the cliff on this fort, down the hill to escape to Gwalior and continue her fight from there. Also look at the picture taken by me 2 years ago. It seems the fort has very wll been kept in the same condition as it was in 1882. We didn't really get a chance to go into the Jhansi city with Mamaji being busy at the hospital, but we did travel to Khajuraoh and Orcha while we were in Jhansi. Stay tuned for details and pictures.