Girl Power! What does that mean? Women who openly display their power, knowledge, and skill, receiving public recognition and honor. But also females who manage to wield power in societies that try to limit it or decree female submission; where their leadership is stigmatized and their creativity disdained. And women who resist and overthrow oppressive traditions and regimes. Who break the rules in defiance of unjust legal and religious "authorities." Who pursue their vision in spite of the personal cost.
This description I attained from the web immediately jolted my mind towards that one lady, who best represents the theme of this years commonwealth essay writing competition, "Women of change". At the time when women were considered the weaker sex, she rose up with such great power that Britishers feared her very name. The woman of self respect and self confidence is none other than the matyr Rani Lakshmi Bai who is well known as Jhani ki Rani (Queen of Jhansi). She was one of the bravest and an important figure in the fight for Indian freedom from British colonialism.
She was born to a Maharashtrian family at Kashi, India in the year of 1828. During her childhood she was called by the name, Manikarnika. Affectionately, her family members called her Manu. At a tender age of four, she lost her mother. As a result, the responsibility of raising her fell upon her father. While pursuing studies, she also took formal training in martial arts, which included horse riding, shooting, fencing and many more. Rani Lakshmi Bai was married at the age of fourteen to the King of Jhansi, making her the Queen of Jhansi. They had a son, but to their dismay he died when he was four months old. They then adopted a son to relieve thier sorrow. However, fate had destined just a tragic life for her. The King of Jhansi soon died when Rani was the the age of eighteen. Depite the death of her son and husband, she was not weak and feeble. The tragic deaths made her more