Avantibai

Rani Avantibai

Rani Avantibai (or Rani Avantibai Lodhi; died 20 March 1858) was a freedom fighter, who waged a war against the British to protect her kingdom.

She was the wife of 'King Vikramaditya Singh', the ruler of the Indian state of Ramgarh. She was a Lodhi queen in the area now in Madhya Pradesh.[1] she took over the reins of the kingdom when the king fell into ill-health. She is remembered for her valiant fight against the British during the 1857 uprising for Independence.[2][3]

British Interference

'Avantibai Lodhi' was the queen of 'King Vikramaditya Singh' of Ramgarh. When 'Vikramaditya Singh' became incapable of handling the affairs of the State due to ill health,[4] the British declared him as unfit to be a ruler. They also did not accept her sons Aman Singh and Sher Singh as heirs to the throne as they were minors.[2]  Avantibai Lodhi rose to the occasion and took charge of the administration, but was not recognized as the legitimate ruler by the British. 

In 1851, the British declared Ramgarh as 'Court of Wards' and appointed their own administrator. She threw the administrator out and declared war against the British.[5] Avantibai Lodhi sent messengers to the rulers of neighboring kingdoms to join her in the war, rousing a wave of revolution in the central provinces. By 1857, the entire northern region joined the armed rebellion.[2]

The Uprising of 1857

When the revolt of 1857 broke out, 'Rani Avantibai Lodhi' raised an army of four thousand and led it herself.[5][3][4] Her first battle with the British took place in the village of Kheri near Mandla, where she and her army were able to defeat the British forces. However, stung by the defeat the British came back with vengeance and launched an attack on Ramgarh.   Avantibai moved to the hills of Devharigarh for safety. The British army set fire to Ramgarh, and turned to Devhargarh to attack the queen.[4][2]

Avantibai resorted to guerilla warfare to fend of the British army.[2]  But her courage and fighting spirit was not enough to match their mighty military machine with all its brutal strength. Surrounded and faced with the prospect of defeat 'Rani Avantibai Lodhi' thought it better to sacrifice her life rather than to surrender. On 20 March 1858, she killed herself with her own sword and became a martyr.[5][4]

Legacy

After independence, Avantibai was remembered through performances and folklore.[6]  She is often compared to the Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Kittur Rani Chennamma who waged a similar war against the British to defend her kingdom.[7]

The Narmada Valley Development Authority named a dam in Jabalpur in her honour.[8] The Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Sagar is a multipurpose project with a hydro-electric power plant. Department of Posts issued the stamps in honour of Rani Avantibai.[9] Maharashtra government issued a stamp in honour of Rani Avantibai.[10] [11]

In 2011, she was added in the NCERT history textbooks as a part of the 1857 freedom struggle, after protests from BJP and BSP political parties.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Seminar: the monthly symposium. Malvika Singh on behalf of the Romeshraj Trust. 1995. p. 73. Retrieved 31 May 2011. - ... in honour of a 19th century Lodhi warrior queen of Madhya Pradesh, Avanti Bai
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Sarala, Śrīkr̥shṇa (1999). Indian Revolutionaries A Comprehensive Study, 1757-1961: A Comprehensive Study, 1757-1961. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 9788187100188.
  3. 1 2 3 "Avantibai who? Read the NCERT textbook". Mail Online. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "History of Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Lodha Lodh". lodhimahasabha.com. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  5. 1 2 3 Women and War: A Historical Encyclopedia from Antiquity to the Present, By Bernard A. Cook, p.199
  6. ↑ Narayan, Badri (2006). Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India: Culture, Identity, and Politics. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9788178296951.
  7. ↑ "वीरांगना रानी अवंतीबाई | Rani Avanti Bai History in Hindi". ज्ञानी पण्डित - ज्ञान की अनमोल धारा. 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  9. ↑ http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Pdf%5CIndian_Postage_Stamp_Catalogue_1947-2011.pdf
  10. ↑ http://www.maharashtrapost.gov.in/htmldocs/september2001.htm
  11. ↑ "Avantibai-Read-NCERT-textbook". Google.co.in. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  12. ↑ "India on Rani Avantibai 2001". Google.co.in. 2016-05-24. Archived from the original on 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
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