Ever since I watched the movie “Manikarnika: the Queen
of Jhansi,” a curious desire was growing in me that I should visit Jhansi and
see for myself at first hand the famous fort there, which was the scene of a
mighty battle. It was a surprise for me that the desire was fulfilled sooner
than expected, when the group tour came my way. From the fort the young brave
warrior queen fought a fierce battle against the British forces. When victory eluded her, in a daring feat she
escaped jumping from the top of the fort on horseback with her adopted kid tied
to her back.
THE TALE OF A HISTORIC FORT
(By Subbaram Danda)
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| In front of the historic Jhansi fort |
We drove to Jhansi from Gwalior. It was evening. We wound our way up a hill to reach the
fort. Our excitement ran high, as the
fort came into our view. On the left we
could see a rugged high wall of the fort and on the right the city spreading out all over below. Ahead was the entry gate. We
got down from our cars and our trek began.
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| A park adjoining a wall of the fort |
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| The city of Jhansi spreading out below the hill-top fort |
We ambled over long ramps, moved along maze-like
walkways and trudged up steep staircases.
We went past cannons, large barren rooms, cavernous closed spaces, vacant mansions, disused garrisons and some parks. We
clicked photos and selfies, even as our tour guide waxed eloquent on the
citadel and the gallantry of the queen of Jhansi.
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| On the top terrace of the fort |
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| A park in the fort premises |
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| The fortification walls |
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| A typical bastion of the Jhansi fort |
Manikarnika was the maiden name of the queen of the princely state of Jhansi. She was popular with the people through her good deeds and earned their admiration
and support. During the Indian mutiny, also
known as the First War of Independence, she led Jhansi forces and fought the
British heroically.
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| At another spot in the fort |
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| With group members |
In due course, when the British forces were all set to overtake the fort, Rani Jhansi figured that at any cost she should avoid being
captured. Under the cover of darkness in
the night she rode over ramps to the top of the fort on her favourite horse
Badal with her adopted kid tied to her back.
On the long terrace she galloped till she reached a chosen corner. In a swift daring act she prodded the
faithful and well-trained horse to jump off the parapet wall into a ravine deep
down below. She and the kid survived the
steep fall but unfortunately the horse died.
With a heavy heart she managed to escape to the town of Kalpi helped by
some guards, where she again fought the British forces. Defeated there also, she eventually moved to
Gwalior, where she attained martyrdom. In
the Jhansi fort, the spot from where the queen jumped off on her horse back has been a site of great tourist interest. A board proclaims the valiant act of the young warrior.
This is undoubtedly a unique fort that bears witness
to acts of valour of a different kind..
(The series
will continue)
March 16, 2019
