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— "You ask the old man by the well and he will say, the Queen did not die." —
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MANIKARNIKA
i. maya's theme
"The new born girl to whom this chart belongs will become a Queen. She will bestow immortal fame on her husband's clan."
Did her parents have any dreams for her? They must have, but if any music played in their dreams, it would have been the raga Gaursarang for her wedding day, and the auspicious tinkling of jewellery as married Maharastrian women came and went from the ceremony. They did not imagine the clanking of sword against sword on the battlefield.
Did her parents have any dreams for her? They must have, but if any music played in their dreams, it would have been the raga Gaursarang for her wedding day, and the auspicious tinkling of jewellery as married Maharastrian women came and went from the ceremony. They did not imagine the clanking of sword against sword on the battlefield.
IT IS MY DESTINY
ii. you'll be queen one day
It is said one day, that the prominent sons of the Peshwa's Court, Nana, Rao and Bala, went out riding on the Peshwa's only elephant. Manu repeatedly insisted on riding it as well, but they did not pay mind to her. Upset at his daughter's humilation, Moropant said, 'It is not in your fate to have an elephant to ride. You're the daughter of an ordinary man!' Manu proudly replied. 'It is my destiny to have ten of them!'
JHANSI
iii. shiva's meditation
The Jhansi Fort would be for the purposes of contending with lions and elephants. There is a folk saying that when he [Virsingha Dev] had reached advanced age, he looked from Datie towards Jhansi once and could not see the fort. He then said, 'There's only a mist (jhansi) before my eyes.'
WEDDING VOWS (RAJ & RANI)
iii. albela sajan
iv. Raga Hemavati
v. come paint my breasts with sandalwood
iv. Raga Hemavati
v. come paint my breasts with sandalwood
Delighted to agree to the match, Gangadhar Rao sent a convoy to escort Manu and her father, Moropant, to Jhansi. Row upon row of mounted riders came with the royal palanquin in their midst. The wedding arrangements were complete. When they entered the city of Jhansi on the auspicious day, its streets were resplendent with light. Gangadhar's favourite elephant, dressed in golden brocade, roamed the avenues. Arabian horses galloped through the town. Street entertainers wearing turbans of many colours staged cockfights and sheep duels by the roadside. The king's favourite cannoneer fired a 100-gun salute from four canons. The Superintendent Ross, came riding on big black horses, to pay their respects and bring gifts. In the theatres, plays were performed. The neighbouring kings came as invited. The poor were given food, clothing and blankets, and the brahmin priests were given plates of sweets until they cried 'no more!'.
During the rights of binding, Manu amazed everyone present and shocked Gangadhar a little by saying to the priest: "Tie the knot carefully now." With the sacred fire as a witness, he painted the vermillion mark on Manikarnika's forehead as a sign of her status as a married woman and put the mangalsutra around her neck. The priest uttered a blessing, "From this day forward, the new bride with have the name Lakshmibai in her husband's abode. With this name, O blessed one who brings well-being to all, augment the glory of your husband's lineage."
[...]
Despite their age difference, the King and Queen developed a loving relationship. When she was praised for her charming manners, he would remark with amused affection, 'Trying to live up to your name, Lakshmi?'
During the rights of binding, Manu amazed everyone present and shocked Gangadhar a little by saying to the priest: "Tie the knot carefully now." With the sacred fire as a witness, he painted the vermillion mark on Manikarnika's forehead as a sign of her status as a married woman and put the mangalsutra around her neck. The priest uttered a blessing, "From this day forward, the new bride with have the name Lakshmibai in her husband's abode. With this name, O blessed one who brings well-being to all, augment the glory of your husband's lineage."
[...]
Despite their age difference, the King and Queen developed a loving relationship. When she was praised for her charming manners, he would remark with amused affection, 'Trying to live up to your name, Lakshmi?'
you are my joy (lakshmi's sons)
vii. All Lit Up
On the sacred lunar day of the eleventh of magh, the Queen gave birth to a boy child. Gangadhar Rao was over joyed and set off fireworks. The newborn boy was named Damodar Gangadhar Rao. His crib was hung with flowers and Lakshmi sung prayers to him every morning. He was not to live for longer than three months.
A second son, Ananda Rao, a son of one of Gangadhar's nephews, was chosen to be adopted. He was given the name Damodar. Lakshmi felt a deep grief when looking at him, even though he spent his days in play, for having taken him from his own family. But he was her only true source of happiness and would remark: 'you are my only true source of happiness [ananda] amidst sadness'.
A second son, Ananda Rao, a son of one of Gangadhar's nephews, was chosen to be adopted. He was given the name Damodar. Lakshmi felt a deep grief when looking at him, even though he spent his days in play, for having taken him from his own family. But he was her only true source of happiness and would remark: 'you are my only true source of happiness [ananda] amidst sadness'.
an empty nursery
viii. first day, first night
Rather than console his wife, Gangadhar broke down over the death of his son. He lost interest in his work, and his apetite waned. Grieving and saddened, he said, 'the knot of my life has been torn.' After a particular festival he took ill. The Queen stayed constantly with him, and from the day, doctor's came and went from the Palace.
[...] On his second last day, with all that remained of his strength, he saw to the adoption of a second son, Ananda Rao, and by the same evening, his pulse began to weaken. Lakshmi had been with him since dawn and did not move from his bedside even after the ceremony was complete. She sat still as a figure carved from stone and kept counting the gold and glass beads of her necklace, listening to the prayers for the Raj from outside. as death is certain for one who is born, birth is certain for one who is dead, so you should not grieve for what is certain. How could she not grieve? She found no comfort in the words. Sure that death had come in from an open window and was hiding where she could not see.
At one in the afternoon, on her eighteenth birthday, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalker died. With his head in his wife's lap.
[...] On his second last day, with all that remained of his strength, he saw to the adoption of a second son, Ananda Rao, and by the same evening, his pulse began to weaken. Lakshmi had been with him since dawn and did not move from his bedside even after the ceremony was complete. She sat still as a figure carved from stone and kept counting the gold and glass beads of her necklace, listening to the prayers for the Raj from outside. as death is certain for one who is born, birth is certain for one who is dead, so you should not grieve for what is certain. How could she not grieve? She found no comfort in the words. Sure that death had come in from an open window and was hiding where she could not see.
At one in the afternoon, on her eighteenth birthday, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalker died. With his head in his wife's lap.
GANGADHAR
viii. A King's Procession
Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalker of Jhansi.
Born. 1813. Died. 1853.
Born. 1813. Died. 1853.
Meri Jhansi doogni nahin
ix. They will take my island
Major Ellis arrived suddenly to pronounce the verdict of the British, that the adoption was to be rejected and Lakshmi removed from her position and stripped of her titles.
He dryly greeted the Queen sitting behind the screen and read Dalhousie's order and Malcolm's notice. Everyone was taken back and shocked. Ellis enunciated his words as surely as bolts of lightning. As soon as he stopped reading, Lakshmibai articulated four words with a voice full of strength but tinged with sadness:
'Meri Jhansi doogni nahin -- I will not give up my Jhansi.'
Yet, things had to be accepted.
He dryly greeted the Queen sitting behind the screen and read Dalhousie's order and Malcolm's notice. Everyone was taken back and shocked. Ellis enunciated his words as surely as bolts of lightning. As soon as he stopped reading, Lakshmibai articulated four words with a voice full of strength but tinged with sadness:
'Meri Jhansi doogni nahin -- I will not give up my Jhansi.'
Yet, things had to be accepted.
AN INFECTED CITY
x. Dereham Tortured
Little Bobby Paige was bored, even when just nine years old.
Staying out late one night, he came home with a nasty bite.
Staying out late one night, he came home with a nasty bite.
HELPLESSNESS ( THE BRITISH FAMILIES ARE MASSACRED )
xi. Scent of Death
The lone Queen of the small feudal state lost her husband and her kingdom, and instantly realised she had nothing left, although she had so much. Torn away from her husband's protection, she discovered her absolute helplessness.
But the English Officers and their families who had come to rule were soon to find themselves, victims of fate, just the same. The Sepoy rebellion had spread, and on the 6th of June, the 66 British families that had come to live in the palace of Jhansi were massacred.
There was nothing for Lakshmi to do, but clean up the bodies. The accusations would come later, that she was the one who had caused it.
But the English Officers and their families who had come to rule were soon to find themselves, victims of fate, just the same. The Sepoy rebellion had spread, and on the 6th of June, the 66 British families that had come to live in the palace of Jhansi were massacred.
There was nothing for Lakshmi to do, but clean up the bodies. The accusations would come later, that she was the one who had caused it.
JHANSI KI RANI ( A BID FOR INDEPENDENCE )
i. Secret Heart
The Queen who had always had a sense of fate, now began to gamble with it. Her personality had not taken full form when her husband was alive, but in the nine months she ruled Jhansi alone, she matured.
THE DURGAVASI ( DEVI'S THEME )
ii. Land of Gold
'Heed my advice, do you not know how dear you are to me? I need you to continue the cause if something happened to me.'
THE SIEGE OF JHANSI
iii.Gajanana
O Lord who wears a yellow coloured cloth, O Lord with a curved trunk, the one who destroys egos and the son of the one with three eyes, your humble servant Ramdas is waiting at home for You to come, O Lord who is worshipped by all! Please be with Your devotee in troubled times and protect him in distress, Hail the Lord!
LYCANS INSIDE THE WALLS / THE FALL OF JHANSI
iv. Battle for the Hill of the Ash
From the fort, the Queen watched men, women and children running here and there and the English slaughtering them with monsterous glee. Standing still as a statue, she looked at the hell that had been unleased inside Jhansi. As the flames leaped up into the sky, overwhelmed with heartache, loss and grief, she realised her inevitable defeat.
It overcame her, the humilation that she would suffer at the hands of the British if she was captured and thought 'Why surrender, when I can go on to fight?'
It overcame her, the humilation that she would suffer at the hands of the British if she was captured and thought 'Why surrender, when I can go on to fight?'
THE BATTLES OF KELPI & KUNCH ( LOSS AFTER LOSS )
v. Final Escape
The Queen, accompanied by five or six men, arrived, retreating from the battle of Kalpi. Her entire body was covered with dust, her face was flushed and there was a desolate look in her eyes. She dismounted and came for a drink of water from the well. Tatia's desertion from the battlefield at such a critical point had left her mortified. In her disturbed state of mind, she did not even recognise Vishnubhatta who had once attended her so wisely and asked him, 'Who are you?' Vishnubhatta folded his palms and stricken with sadness and sympathy for the Queen said, 'Please allow me, a brahman, to serve you a drink to quench your thirst?' He was about to draw water from the well.
The Queen came closer, and said 'You are a respectable brahman. Why should you serve me?' Her face was dark with disappointment. 'As a Queen, I have never followed the religious rites of a widow as I should have, and neither did I bother to ensure my merit for the hereafter. Instead, in the task I took for myself, I see no sign or hope for achieving success in my lifetime. Not that I expected fame from this, but the Lord has deprived me even of what I have earned. Of what use was all this fighting to the death, if nothing was to come of it?'
The Queen came closer, and said 'You are a respectable brahman. Why should you serve me?' Her face was dark with disappointment. 'As a Queen, I have never followed the religious rites of a widow as I should have, and neither did I bother to ensure my merit for the hereafter. Instead, in the task I took for myself, I see no sign or hope for achieving success in my lifetime. Not that I expected fame from this, but the Lord has deprived me even of what I have earned. Of what use was all this fighting to the death, if nothing was to come of it?'
THE TAKING OF GWALIOR
vi. Rather Death Than Slavery
It was the Queen's idea to take the Fortress in Gwalior, a goal far above the others, for she had the most to lose of all the other leaders. It was the largest and most important Fortress in the heart of Central India, and the others had to be convinced it was possible to take, but she encouraged them and soon they took to the idea.
When she and Tatia came onto the field against the troops of Gwalior, they cheered war cries and immediately went over to their side, and in this way, Gwalior was taken with no blood spilt. They threw open the doors of the Fortress and the leaders of the War were welcomed. For in the Queen, was the figurehead which all could rally around, and in the Queen it became more than a fight for a few Lords, but a fight for independence.
When she and Tatia came onto the field against the troops of Gwalior, they cheered war cries and immediately went over to their side, and in this way, Gwalior was taken with no blood spilt. They threw open the doors of the Fortress and the leaders of the War were welcomed. For in the Queen, was the figurehead which all could rally around, and in the Queen it became more than a fight for a few Lords, but a fight for independence.
SIR BORS DE GANIS
vii. Rise a Knight
" The good man said, and Sir Bors, ye had been a great fool and in great peril to have allowed those two flowers perish to succour the rotten tree, for had they had sinned together, they would be been damned; and for that ye rescued them both, men might call you a very knight and servant of Jesu Christ."
the battle of gwalior
viii. jai shivaji
The British assembled outside the fortress, and cannonballs fell like rain. The heat rose, one of the worst summers seen for years and as many soldiers fell to heatstroke as to wounds. From the first day, the Queen took to the field herself. In preparation, she saw to her son. She assigned the last of her most trusted guards to him, having sworn them to never leave his side and to protect him, knowing that should she fail, the British might even torture her son. She begged them, 'take all that remains to me, my jewels and money, and take him somewhere safe, for I have opposed the British, and they might torture an innocent boy.' Anand was overwhelmed and clung to his mother and she reassured him as she had for years. 'Anand, you are my joy. You must remember I will not worry if I know you are with them, so you must always stay with them.' Though her guards were torn, for if they were not there to protect her, who would?
She took her shamsher blade as her answer, and bid them remember their promise to her and sent them away with a goodbye in the hours before dawn.
She dressed in her favourite colour, blue, with the pearl necklace that had been a gift from her mother-in-law those fifteen years before and rode down to her men. She joined them, and in the heat, for the length of the day, she fought. Always in the thick of the battle with her men, wielding two swords, her horses reigns crammed between her teeth, she did not tire or retreat until the evening, when she would see to the defence of the canons on the walls.
The Battle of Gwalior would rage for five days.
She took her shamsher blade as her answer, and bid them remember their promise to her and sent them away with a goodbye in the hours before dawn.
She dressed in her favourite colour, blue, with the pearl necklace that had been a gift from her mother-in-law those fifteen years before and rode down to her men. She joined them, and in the heat, for the length of the day, she fought. Always in the thick of the battle with her men, wielding two swords, her horses reigns crammed between her teeth, she did not tire or retreat until the evening, when she would see to the defence of the canons on the walls.
The Battle of Gwalior would rage for five days.
a fatal wound ( lakshmi's choices )
ix. Time of Which We Have No Knowledge
In front of her, her lady, Mandu was fighting, and was struck down, she cried out: 'Forgive me Rani, for I must leave you'. Lakshmi raged, attacking and killing the one who had killed Mandu. She felt the sword strike her up her face to her right eye, blinded by blood, she tried to clear her vision - and was shot, a bullet piercing her left side. She fell onto her mare, Sarangi, blood staining over her pure white coat. Dizzying, as her life began to drain from her, she looked to see a path clear of the battlefield.
For the British must never have her body.
For the British must never have her body.
DRINKING THE BLACKWATER
x. The Wheat
For the blackwater does grant extended life, but it's blessing is a curse. For those that drink and live beyond their natural years, will come to see all that they love, die.
LAKSHMI
xi. Omiya
They will tell you, will sincere innate belief, the Queen isn't dead, she still lives. They will tell you that the rocks and soil of Bundelkhand have kept the Queen hidden. They say that the Queen picked up a handful of dust, and it became an army. A piece of wood would transform into an upright sword at her magic touch. She touched a rock to make it into a horse and then rode off to Gwalior. People will tell you, even now, Bai Saheba sometimes appears at midnight. She is dashing off with her young son on the mare Sarangi.
no subject
WHICH WITCH [ ♫ ]
EVELYN [ ♫ ]
DELIRIOUS [ ♫ ]
COMING DOWN [ ♫ ]
CROW [ ♫ ]
YOUR FUTURE IS NOT MINE [ ♫ ]
ARMY OF ONE [ ♫ ]
BY THE THROAT [ ♫ ]
LUCRETIA, MY REFLECTION [ ♫ ]
MY NAME [ ♫ ]