Rani's Early Life

EARLY LIFE
Lakshmi bai, The Rani (Queen) of Jhansi (c.19 November 1835 – 17 June 1858) (Devanagari- झाँसी की रानी Marathi- झाशीची राणी), known as Jhansi Ki Rani, the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India. She has gone down in Indian history as a legendary figure, the firebrand who began the Indian Revolution against British Colonialism.
Originally named Manikarnika at birth ( nicknamed Manu ) , she was born on 19 November 1835 at Kashi (Varanasi) to a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family from Dhawadshi, Districaji Rao the Second was the Peshwa only in name. The British East India Company was paying him a pension of eight lakh rupees a year and had given the ‘jagir’ (the free gift) of Bethur.

Bhagirathibai was the wife of Moropanth. She was good-looking, cultured, intelligent and godly. Manubai was the daughter of this ideal couple.The child, born on the Second day of Karthika (the 19th of November 1835) was beautiful like her mother. She had a broad forehead and big eyes. Her face reflected royalty.

Manu lost her mother when she was four years old. The entire duty of bringing up the daughter fell on the father. Along with formal education she acquired skill in sword fight, horse riding and shooting with a gun.
t Satara, Maharashtra. She lost her mother at the age of four. She was educated at home. Her father Moropant Tambey worked at the court of Peshwa Baji Rao II at Bithur.