Lachmi Bai Rani of Jhansi The Jeanne D'Arc of India
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Michael White
Fr. Michael White is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, and cofounder of Rebuilt—an organization designed to rebuild parishes for growth and health. White is the coauthor of the best-selling book Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, The Rebuilt Field Guide, and ChurchMoney. He is also coauthor of Seriously, God?; Rebuilt Faith; and the best-selling Messages series for Advent and Lent. During White’s tenure as pastor at Church of the Nativity, the church has almost tripled in weekend attendance. More importantly, commitment to the mission of the Church has grown, demonstrated by the significant increase in giving, service in ministry, and much evidence of genuine spiritual renewal. White earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland and his graduate degrees in sacred theology and ecclesiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In 2023, White and his lay associate, Tom Corcoran, were honored by Pope Francis with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award for outstanding service to Church and Pope.
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Lachmi Bai Rani of Jhansi The Jeanne D'Arc of India - Michael White
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Title: Lachmi Bai Rani of Jhansi
The Jeanne D'Arc of India
Author: Michael White
Release Date: June 2, 2013 [EBook #42859]
Language: English
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LACHMI BAI
Lachmi Bai! Lachmi Bai! Rani of Jhansi!
they cried.—Page 31.
Lachmi Bai
Rani
of
Jhansi
The
Jeanne D'Arc
of India
By
Michael
White
New York
J. F. Taylor & Company
1901
COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY
J. F. TAYLOR AND
COMPANY, NEW YORK
Press of
Riggs Printing Company
Albany, N. Y.
To
my wife
The RANI of JHANSI
Being young, vigorous, and not afraid to show herself to the multitude, she gained a great influence over the hearts of the people. It was this influence, this force of character, added to a splendid and inspiring courage, that enabled her to offer a desperate resistance to the British.... Whatever her faults in British eyes may have been, her countrymen will ever believe that she was driven by ill-treatment into rebellion; that her cause was a righteous cause. To them she will always be a heroine.
KAYE AND MALLESON,
"History of the Indian Mutiny."
LACHMI BAI
Within no peerless Taj Mahal her body lies,
No gilded dome, nor fairy minarets against the azure skies,
Proclaim the place, where she, called by her foes, the bravest and the best,
Was laid by reverential hands to her victorious rest:
But in the eternal sanctuary of her race,
The holy river, holy Mother Ganges, that coveted embrace,
Doth hold her ashes, and for a monument to her name,
Sufficeth it, that in the people's hearts, her fame,
Doth shine immortal. For she was deeply loved, this Queen,
The beauteous, valiant Rani, India's great heroine.
CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
LACHMI BAI
Chapter I
BEFORE THE STORM
It was a day of angry, torrid heat. The June sun of Central India blazed fiercely upon an uneven plain, upon a river winding to the northward, a lake bordered by trees, and upon the walled city of Jhansi with its rock fortress rising precipitously to guard the western front. Beneath the south wall, amid groves of acacia, whose parched and dust-coated limbs seemed to implore a speedy descent of the rains then due, were discernible the white domes of temples and tombs. A little further away, surrounded by gardens, were situated the bungalows of the Foreign residents, the cantonments of their troops, and the Star Fort containing their treasure and arms.
The hour of noon approached. Over all a reposeful silence reigned. Everyone had sought the shelter of cool halls and darkened chambers. In the fort and cantonments the soldiers had been dismissed from their duties; on the roads leading to the city there was little traffic; within the gates the bazaars were deserted; not a dog even ventured upon the blistering stones of the palace courtyard. Only in the shadow of a pillar near the main entrance to that turreted structure, a blind beggar sat, every now and then raising his monotonous cry for pity and alms.
Externally, an indefinite era of peace seemed to have settled upon Jhansi. Except for the periodical anxiety concerning the rains, there appeared to be no disquieting feature disturbing its outward calm. Yet for months past in that year of 1857 a token,[1] a warning of some great impending occurrence had gone forth through the land; from whence proceeding few men knew, to what purpose the masses did not comprehend, though they watched. With indifference as to what it might portend, the Foreigners had also observed the sign.
But in one place in Jhansi that day there was no rest at the noontide hour. It was in the palace of the disinherited Rani, or Princess of the state. There, an atmosphere of suspense, an air laden with that mysterious foreboding that some mighty event was about to take place, permeated every apartment, the halls, courts, and corridors. The very walls seemed to live with sinister animation. Men, many of them with arms displayed openly, moved stealthily back and forth from room to room, gathering in groups to discuss some weighty topic with hushed accents. Even the women servants appeared to have caught the infection of the hour, pausing to glean snatches of the men's conversation, and passing on with significant looks.
In a small enclosed garden of the palace, where palms, bright-leaved crotons, and fragrant blossoms, afforded a refreshing retreat from the atmospherical furnace without, a man and woman paced side by side in earnest discourse. The man was tall, bronze-visaged, and of martial bearing; the woman slender in form, graceful in carriage, and beautiful in so far as one might gather from features partly concealed by a fold of her embroidered chuddah. The former was a Mohammedan noble, Ahmad Khan; the latter, Lachmi Bai, the disinherited Rani of Jhansi.
At a turn in their walk the Princess turned to confront her companion.
You say, my Lord,
she spoke quickly, that Bahadur Shah once more reigns supreme in Delhi; that the troops at Aligurth have marched out to join his standard; that Bareli has fallen into the hands of Khan Bahadur Khan; and yet there is no news from Bithur. When, in Heaven's name, is Dundhu Panth, the Peshwa, going to send us the signal to rise in Jhansi? For a month past my people have impatiently strained on the leash, awaiting my word to rush forth and drive the Foreigners from the State. I cannot—nay I cannot hold them in hand much longer. God knows, they have their own wrongs as well as mine to redress.
Ahmad raised a hand restrainingly.
Patience! Patience! my Lady Rani,
he exclaimed. In a little, to-day, to-morrow, surely the Peshwa's messenger will arrive. Restraint will be for the best in the end. The arm of your people will strike all the harder; their onset will be the more irresistible.
Aye, truly,
she replied, but you forget, O Ahmad, that the Foreigners will not sleep forever. The news from Delhi must have reached their ears. A single traitor might cause them to awake, defeating all our plans. I fear that the blow upon which we have staked so much, may yet fall without cleaving to the heart.
A Native officer in Foreign uniform entered the garden. He halted and saluted.
The Rani and her companion turned quickly toward him with expressions of sudden alarm.
The officer advanced to deliver a message.
Your Highness,
he began, addressing the Rani. The Commissioner and Captain Sahibs will shortly arrive at the palace to seek an audience. I have been sent forward to acquaint you of their visit.
The Rani stepped close to the officer and scrutinized his features. Then she grasped him tightly by the sleeve of his jacket.
Thou art the Jamadar Golab Das
? she interrogated.
As thou sayest, noble Rani.
Tell me, O Golab,
she besought anxiously. Have they heard? Have the eyes of the Foreigners been opened? Hath a traitor whispered in their ears
?
They sleep on, all thy people are faithful,
the officer returned significantly.
A sigh of relief escaped the Rani's lips.
It is well,
she exclaimed. Then I will see the Foreign Sahibs. Go, carry them that message.
The officer again saluted and left her presence.
As if a sudden inspiration had gained possession of the Rani's mind, she turned to Ahmad and spoke authoritatively.
"It is my will to see the Foreign Sahibs alone in the Darbar hall."
He made a gesture as if about to protest against her purpose.
Nay,
she continued, Nay, good Ahmad. It is the best plan. If they see me unattended they will be less suspicious. Go, order everyone to hide from view. Let not a face be seen or a voice heard. Let these walls be as silent as a tomb—aye even as the tomb that these Foreigners have built about my life, depriving me of what was justly mine. The palace sleeps, they will say. This woman can do no harm.
She gracefully recognized the Mohammedan noble's bow, signifying his compliance to her order, and moved quickly to a door leading to her private apartments.
At the southern gate of the city, the two Foreign Sahibs, attended by a Native orderly, were met by Golab Das, bearing the Rani's reply.
Well Jamadar,
said the military officer, What does the Rani say? Did you see her personally
?
I saw the Princess, your Excellency,
returned the Jamadar. She bade me say that she waits to learn the pleasure of your will.
Tell me, Jamadar,
continued the officer. Was there any sign of uneasiness about the palace? People gathering, or additions being made to the Rani's bodyguard
?
My eyes beheld no such gathering of people,
returned the Jamadar laconically. The Rani's servants are resting from the heat.
The officer ordered his subordinate to return to the cantonments. As they moved forward he turned a look of satisfaction toward his companion.
Well Hawksley,
said he. I doubt after all if we shall have the fun yet of cutting our way through a mass of fanatics.
The Commissioner's face maintained a thoughtful expression.
I did not anticipate that we would,
he returned.
Yes, but you are as full of gloomy forebodings as any old fortune teller,
asserted the other.
Oh! not at all,
exclaimed the Commissioner, only I think the situation more serious than the rest of us are inclined to regard it.
What in Jhansi
?
Yes, in Jhansi. Now look here, Vane,
continued the Commissioner gravely. Let us see how we stand. There is no doubt something horrible has taken place in Delhi.
Rumors only,
interposed the other, and even then an isolated case. That old rascal, Bahadur Shah, will soon be brought to his senses, and punished drop for drop of our blood.
I hope so,
remarked the Commissioner. But this morning I heard that the troops at Bareli had revolted and seized the place.
A band of marauders,
added the soldier lightly. They will be hanged when caught, every one of them. For my part, I fail to perceive how these scattered out-breaks are likely to affect us in Jhansi.
Yes, indirectly they may,
the Commissioner persisted. Now look here, Vane. Think a moment seriously, if you can do such a thing. Here we are a paltry hundred and fifty odd Europeans in the heart of India, far removed from the least chance of assistance.
We shall not need any,
remarked the soldier emphatically. If the people hereabout should create any disturbance, my men will soon deal with them. They have sworn to a unit that they will stand by their salt oath of allegiance. I have implicit confidence in them.
Granted! Granted that what you assert may be true,
rejoined the Commissioner, but to my mind the element of danger here lies in another direction.
Where pray
? demanded the other dubiously.
They had passed the gate and were traversing the almost deserted bazaars.
Where pray
? he asked again, glancing along a row of empty stalls. I confess, I fail to note any sign of it.
Perhaps not,
rejoined the Commissioner, but it is in evidence nevertheless. I refer to the Rani.
What, to that girl, the Rani,
the officer exclaimed.
Nonsense! What mischief can she do. Her talons have been well pared for any evil that she might design.
My dear Vane,
said the Commissioner sagely. Never underestimate the power and resources of a woman, if she nourishes a grievance.
A grievance
?
Yes, frankly, though unofficially, I consider that she has a grievance—even a just one against us. Now what is her position? First, we took from her the estate of her affianced husband, that by her law she was clearly entitled to hold.
But transferred, I thought, according to the provisions of a treaty made with the late Raja.
True, but still she was none the less a heavy loser by it. Well then, by way of recompense for this, what did we do? We gave her a paltry $30,000 a year.
A devilish good allowance, I call it,
flippantly interposed Vane. I only wish I had $30,000 a year, and the Rani or the deuce might do what they pleased with Jhansi. Dear old Pall Mall would soon see me on the double.
The Commissioner refused to notice his companion's light humor.
Out of that allowance,
he proceeded, small enough in all conscience for one in her position, we insisted on deducting a sinking fund to pay the late Raja's debts.
Vane struck his boot a smart rap with the end of his whip.
Oh, hang it!
he exclaimed. That was bad. It's shocking enough to be obliged to meet one's own i.o.u.'s; but to settle up for another fellow is monstrous. My sympathy there is with the Rani, though it wasn't our fault, you know.
Yes, I thought that would appeal to you,
remarked the Commissioner dryly, but if I am not mistaken that matter of killing cows, in spite of her protests, has enraged her more than the loss of either the Jhansi throne or the revenue. That, was an unnecessary insult to her religious sensibilities. Now what I maintain is this, if she has been waiting for a favorable opportunity to strike a blow for what she may regard as her lost position and injured feelings, the present is as good a one as she is likely to be afforded. Her influence with the people is, I am convinced, a quantity worth taking into account.
Vane yawned with the heat and the little interest he felt in both the subject and the visit. He was satisfied that the Commissioner's fears were groundless, that there was not the slightest danger of an outbreak in Jhansi, and only with difficulty had he been persuaded to accompany his colleague to the Rani's palace.
In any case, suppose there is something in your idea,
he asked, what can she do
?
That is exactly what we are going to try and discover,
returned the Commissioner firmly.
They had arrived before the main entrance to the palace. They dismounted and handed the reins of their horses to the native orderly.
Vane glanced contemptuously at an obsequious aged servant who had come forth to receive them, and round upon the drowsy appearance of the buildings.
Conspiracy! Uprising of the people! Nonsense
! he ejaculated. Hawksley's imagination has gone wandering. I'd wager six months' pay the girl is trembling at the bare idea of our visit.
As the request for an audience had been made upon the spur of the moment, the Commissioner regarded it as a favorable sign that the Rani consented to receive them without delay.
They were ushered through an inner courtyard surrounded by cloisters, in the shade of which a few Natives awoke to salute the Foreign Sahibs as they passed. Thence through dark halls and ante-chambers, in which the echo of their footsteps alone broke the profound silence that had descended on the palace. At last they crossed the threshold of the Darbar hall.
At the further end of the noble chamber, where for centuries it had been the custom of the Princes of Jhansi to dispense justice, she, from whom justice had been withheld, stood to receive her visitors. In the sight of the two officers as they gazed down a nave of pillars supporting the ornately decorated roof, she appeared as the statue of some divinity in the far perspective of an ancient temple—a youthful, white robed, graceful figure, brought into strong relief by a dark background of gold embroidered arras.
As if to emphasize the powerless condition to which she had been reduced, the Rani was attended by a single waiting woman, who remained throughout the interview a few paces in her rear, motionless and apparently unobservant.
The officers advanced to within a few paces of her position and saluted her respectfully.
With a slight inclination of her head, she acknowledged their greeting and waited to learn the nature of their errand.
The Commissioner had anticipated that the Rani would have hastily surrounded herself with numerous retainers to impress him with a semblance of her power. He realized that a hundred splendidly attired courtiers could not have added a shade of prestige to this girl, who stood alone.
It was not only the majestic pose, nor the beautiful contour of her face, crowned by a mass of dark hair, ornamented with a chaplet of pearls, that quickly confirmed the Commissioner's previous impression that Lachmi Bai, Rani of Jhansi, was far removed from the generally accepted type of her countrywomen. But there was a strength of character emphasized in every line of her distinctly Aryan features, a force of will, a mystical power in every flash of her lustrous eyes, in every movement, in every word, however gently spoken, warning him at the outset that he had to deal with no shrinking, simple, zanana maiden.
He had come prepared to assume a firm, if necessary a dictatorial attitude; but now in her presence he found himself slowly paving the way by conventional compliments.
Her silence at last compelled him to come to the point.
Your Highness,
he began, will doubtless have heard of the disturbances that have broken out in several districts of the Northwest Provinces.
Some reports have reached my ears,
she replied, with apparent indifference, but I give to them little credence.
I am afraid,
resumed the Commissioner gravely, that there is only too much reason to believe their authenticity. I have, therefore, sought this audience with your Highness to request that in the event of any threatened outbreak in Jhansi, you will use your influence to preserve peace. I need not add that by so doing, by demonstrating at such a crisis that your sympathy is with the British Government, you will be rendering a service to the latter that I, personally, will guarantee shall not be overlooked.
The representative of the power that had deprived her of her possessions stood before her as a supplicant for her good will.
A nature less subtle, less under such admirable control, might at the moment have been over tempted to cast prudence to the winds, and in an outburst of long gathering passion jeopardize the complete success of her plans by summoning her retainers to seize prematurely the persons of the British officers. But trained in adversity, that best of schools to curb her real feelings, by not a sign did she betray, that for months past she had been preparing for the hour when the fate of Jhansi should rest in the palm of her hand; nor the infallible knowledge she possessed, that every man in the city, aye even every woman and child, together with the whole body of native troops within the British cantonments, awaited her signal to rise in revolt.
In a voice, in which only the faintest note of irony was mingled with surprise, she answered quietly.
Surely the Foreign Sahib sets too great store upon my ability to assist him. What have I,
she continued, raising the tone slightly, and extending a hand so that the gold bangles on her wrist jingled musically. What influence hath Lachmi Bai with the people to control their actions? If they should rebel, has not the Sahib soldiers and guns to enforce his will; I, but a few poor servants to protect my person. No,
she concluded, letting her hand fall again to her side, the Sahib knows well I have no power, no authority in Jhansi.
The Commissioner twirled his moustache musingly. He knew that without doubt she had stated the literal truth; but he was now more firmly convinced than ever, that behind the dark eyes which so unflinchingly returned his gaze, there lay a power for good or evil in a possible emergency, that it would be suicidal to ignore.
Gravely he resumed the subject.
It would be a poor compliment,
he said, to the esteem in which it is well known your Highness is held by the people, to place your influence at so low a value. Should an uprising take place in Jhansi, you could do much to preserve law and order.
For a few moments neither spoke. Each regarded the other as if endeavoring to find a vulnerable point in the contest of diplomacy, when the Rani skilfully turned the subject to her own advantage. She was anxious to discover if