JHANSI FORT, JHANSI

Jhansi is on the Delhi madras train route an important junction.  Since I stayed in Kanpur 1988 upto 2003, I have to pass through Jhansi station and for reservation purposes, I sometimes have to stay whole day as the trains are availabe only in the night time towards Madras. So, I visited the nearest Jhansi Fort  a few times.  There is lot to explore as the fort is the historical monument that revels the first freedom fight by the Indians against British.  The Jhalakari Bai statue just before the Fort on the road junction is another inspiring thing.  Jhalakari Bai a brave lady, who fought with British as though disguised as Rani Laxmi Bai. The temple where Laxmi Bai used to do the Pooja is inside the fort area but at the ground level.  The place where from she has jumped with the horse during fights is where the Indian Tirang / flag is flying now.  I read the history of Rani Laxmi Bai, and her Bittur childhood days, marriage at the age of seven and getting a son fighting with the British as the Maharaja died.  An young and patriotic Lady like Rani Laxmi Bai;s life is remembered by one and all Indians.
Jhalakari Bai belong to Handloom weavers community, I think it is known as Kurmi.  In UP Kurmi Skatriyas are now clubbed thier caste under scheduled caste.  The equivalent Handloom weavers in Andhra Pradesh are Sali, Padma sali, Pattusali etc. and are classfied as Backward class : B category (not creamy layer).
The British colonel Stuart  is also one of the person who has fought with the Jhansi Rani.  Gwalior Maharajas adn Jhansi Rani were having some good relations as both are Maharastrians but, at the time of final assault  the Gwalior Maharaja kept himself away from supporting the Jhansi Rani for the fear of getting the British annoyed.
Intimate study reveals that Jhansi Rani left  the fort leaving Jhalakari Bai as the Rani over there, and she reached the nearby friendly fort but, was attacked by the British who followed her up.  As the fate is imminent Ranileft his months old kid with one of the sainiks and ordered him  to burn the hut by locking herself inside.