Rani Lakshmi Bhai of Jhansi

Many heroic Indians fought against the British, so that India would be ruled by Indians. In the early days most of the well known figures were men. But Rani Lakshmi Bhai who was the queen of a small kingdom in Madhya Pradesh stands out among the women freedom fighters. She was married at a very young age. When her husband died what all she had was the kingdom and a small adopted son. The British refused to acknowledge her son as the rightful king. So she wore the dress of an ordinary soldier and fought the British along with her soldiers. She was eventually killed. Whenever any Indian, thinks of the cherished freedom that he has earned, he tearfully thinks of this great queen.