The Mother-The Motherland

The Mother-The Motherland

With an immensurable magnanimity she is resplendent in the minds of a large number of devotees across the country even now. Her exalted life-profile itself depicts her lofty idiology and although a century and half have elapsed amidst the eroding and evil impacts of time, it is glittering with conviction and hopes. The wondrous feat, first of its kind, dedicated to the cause of India's freedom from the clutches of the British regime in a life-span of only 22 years and 7 months is just unthinkable, specially, in those appalling days and is indeed beyond our comprehension.

Whatever the equation of reciprocity it had been amongst the various territories in our country in the early part of the nineteenth century, the rich cultural heritage and tradition blended with the spirits of nationalism, which unfortunately was waning out, received all on a sudden a tremendous boost in the right direction when a baby was born in the city of Banaras on 19/11/1835. Not merely a birth, but a celestial descent onto this terrestrial stage. A ray of hope and aspiration flashed across the gloomy air above and much against the waves of incertitude prevalent then.

She grew up embracing the sacred Ganges under the ornamented blue sky and in the minds of visionaries. Blessed and blissful! A mystical gift of God at the opportune moment!

Her childhood was remarkable for incidence of intrepidity mingled with the effulgence of traditionalism, and the glare with the efflux of time, glorified our country for having built first, a concrete foundation to India's struggle for freedom against the British rule. That was the profile of the indomitably spirited girl Manikarnika Tambey, who after marriage in 1849 became Maharani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, a name known over the globe during the first war of independence in 1857 and will be remembered down the centuries for her unfathomable spirit.

She was an educated, cultured and a very pious lady who led an extremely disciplined life. Her level of integrity is immeasurable by human standards.

A great warrior with magical faculties whether physically or strategically, a symbol of self-sacrifice, the mother of nationalism, a great philanthropist, a selfless donor, a friend of the feckless, oppressed and downtrodden, an apostle of peace and harmony, Lakshmi Bai was even admired by the British General Sir Hugh Rose and other British officials whom she fought against and by a galaxy of dignitaries far and wide for her military talents, bravery, greatness of intellect and mind and exquisite beauty. Over and above, she was an able Administrator and an efficient Justice revered and loved deeply by the people of Jhansi. Her extraordinary talents in fencing, horse-riding, shooting, archery, gymnastics, wrestling etc., spell-bounded even her expert masters in those disciplines.

After the annexation of Jhansi by the British on March 1854, she shifted to Rani Mahal in the city, but did not yield. While residing there she consolidated her forces and after a little over 3 years, the fortress of Jhansi was re-occupied by herself. Few months later on 23/03/1858 a dreadful battle outbroke. The British troops were led by the General Sir Hugh Rose. Rani Lakshmi Bai fought bravely for 11 days continuously, but considering the gravity of the circumstances emerged then, a very senior member of her court advised her to leave Jhansi. Lakshmi Bai made a daring escape at midnight by jumping over the fortress-wall on horseback with her adopted son Damodar Rao tied to her back on 04/04/1858. Surrounded by her forces and fighting gallantly, she could breach the enemy's stubborn resistance and made an exit through Bhanderi Gate in Jhansi and rode to Kalpi 102 miles away where she joined the great rebels Rao Sahab and Tantia Tope. After battling at Charkhari and Kalpi against the British troupes, she then moved to Gwalior alongwith Rao Sahab, Tantia Tope and the Nawab of Banda reinforced with the forces. Her bravery and strategy were apt enough to defeat the armed forces of the Maharaja of Gwalior who then made his way to Agra and his army joined the rebel forces. Gwalior was thus captured. In the meantime, the Britishers organized their forces and launched an onslaught. On 17/06/1858, the very first day of the battle against the British soldiers in Gwalior, Lakshmi Bai won, but on the next day i.e., 18/06/1858 by a twist and turn of fate she died fighting bravely in the battlefield by the side of Sonerekha nullah in Gwalior. While the mournful son was touching the horizon, the great soul merged with the ocean of cosmic consciousness leaving behind her immortal deeds.

To my mind, she is one of the few great personalities who came to earth for a very special purpose. She was endowed with many divine qualities and with the wisdom of introspection, realization and understanding one may contemplate her as All-pervasive. The devotional surges from within transfigure her to the physical form of Mother Goddess Durga on earth. It is a pity that such a glorious figure has not been honored to the extent, which is befitting to her greatness. Maharani Lakshmi Bai remains almost in silence and solitude in few pages of history. Her close associates Sunderbai, Munderbai, Kashibai, Motibai, Juhibai, wife of Lala Bhau Bakshi, Jhalkaribai, Gaus Khan, Khudabux, Jawahar Singh, Raghunath Singh, Sagar Singh, Puran Korin, Ramchandra Deshmukh, Gulmohammad, Lala Bhau Bakshi and others with her childhood friends Nana Sahab, Rao Sahab and the martial art Trainer, the great Tantia Tope, at Bithoor are also unforgettable for their bravery, self-sacrifice, and for an exemplary mind-frame of obedience and devotion to Bai Sahab, i.e., Lakhsmi Bai.

Many incidents, big or small, during her short span of life reveal explicitly that she had a broad-spectrum outlook, a profound insight coupled with an immaculate, infinite love for mankind justifiably emanating from the vastness of her global consciousness.

Behold her! haloed, shining brilliantly, as if "Flooding earth with beams undeemed-of", a confluence point of the three life-streams, the past-present-future, converging into her radiating lotus feet. Heartfelt salute to this majestic entity in all states of mind, whether immersed in meditation or not, in alacrity or drooping, delighted or pensive.

At times of solitude, plunging deep into the splendiferous historical scenario, the inmost voice very often reverberates and awakens my Self with a significant question, Is it not squarely relevant, idiologically and pragmatically either, to contemplate and honor this towering and supernal figure as the Mother of the Nation with the insight and mission to sanctify and accelerate the march of civilization, and who can say, the profile of intrinsic spirit displayed by this illustrious woman would not be lauded and embraced by posteriority amidst modernization and over-materialistic cultural spell in a fluxionary world advancing against the sway of dualism?'

Rajat Mallik

N.B. Posted with all humbleness and gratitude to all concerned.