Rani Lakshmibai has always raised a fair share of curiosity and reverence among writers and also those interested in history. Not just because she was a woman but because she was an epitome of valour. Shashi Deshpande, who was present at the launch of a book on the Rani  - tilted Rani - by Jaishree Misra at ITC Windsor, raised an important question — is there enough accessible information in Indian records about the queen? `Unfortunately no’, was Jaishree’s response who was able to progress with her research on the queen mostly in the UK along with a bit in India through her travel.

But the Rani continues to live till today, shares Jaishree, among the people in Jhansi. “They all talk about her, there are paintings and murals that date back to over 30 years or maybe more. Shops and business establishments are named after her. Of course, certain bits of history, such as the false accusations by the British of Rani Lakshmibai instigating the massacre of their people, has been erased from their memory (smiles).”
It was, in a way, a sense of curiosity that got Jaishree to capture Rani Lakshmibai’s life for her book. “She was, without doubt, the choice but that obviousness was in itself a reason for me to look beyond her. But then, not intending to sound corny or cliched, there was something about the Rani that kept drawing me back to her and the more I read about her, the stronger my reason became to delve deeper into her life,” beams Jaishree.
Nupur Basu, former journalist, stepped in as the moderator and initiated Jaishree to share with the audience, her experience with the book and the influences it has had on her. “We need to know about the girl who loved her family, the woman who loved her husband, her people, her land, her lover,” insisted Nupur.

Speaking on the annexation of the state of Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse by the British after Maharaja Gangadhar Rao’s death, Jaishree said, “What I admire most about this queen was her determination to win over her land for her people without a war. She instead, wrote several letters to the British over many years arguing her case until they accepted to give her what rightfully belonged to her people. But when the rebels attacked the British women and children soon after, the Rani was wrongly accused of the massacre.”

Payback by the British was inevitable, says the author. Soon, the East India Company began waging its war and the Rani realised that they were after her and if she gave in to them, they would leave her people alone. For this, she decided to leave Jhansi.

“Her leaving Jhansi, at many times, has been mistaken for a cowardly act but we must understand that it was a way to deploy the force from Jhansi, getting them to chase her instead, thus saving her people,” argues the author.

Shifting to the controversial topic of the Rani’s affair with Robert Ellis of the East India Company, it soon came to light that Jaishree chose to tone that down in her book and she explained why. “Anything sparks off an objection these days and I didn’t want people burning my effigy (laughs). Rani Lakshmibai was undoubtedly a virtuous woman but yes there might have been an unspoken love between Ellis and her.”

Excerpts from the book, read by the author, assures one that despite her immense research and knowledge on the life of the Rani, she does not intend to force the oft read history upon readers. Fiction adds a bit of the author’s viewpoint and probably allows the reader to ponder further.

The evening wound up leaving the guests extremely inquisitive. A woman who redefined bravery — the Rani of Jhansi — was about to be immortalised once again in the minds of the readers and the large crowd gathered to get a copy of the book said it all.