Maharani_Laxmibai

An Assignment On Practical Application With Reference To Strategic Perspective A Study on “Maharani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi Ki Rani)” Submitted To: Submitted By: Prof. Kalpesh Ganotra MBA-HR (SEM-III) Jitendra Maru (Roll No. 20) Reena Kathrecha (Roll No. 22) Priyanka Christian (Roll No. 6) Ketul Soni (Roll No. 30) Pooja Roy (Roll No. 7) Introduction Queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai Born : 19 November 1835, Kashi, Varanasi, India Died : 17 June, 1858, Gwalior, India Nationality : Indian Other names : Manu, Chhabili, Bai-Saheb, laxmibai Occupation : Queen, General Known for : Her role in the Indian rebellion of 1857, Siege of Gwalior Title : Maharani, Rani Predecessor : Rani Rama Bai Successor : British Rule in Jhansi Spouse : Gangadhar Rao Newalkar Children : Damodar Rao, Anand Rao Parents : Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathibai Tambe. Early Life Originally named Manikarnika and nicknamed Manu, she was born on 19 November 1835 at Kashi (Varanasi) to Maharashtrian Karhade Brahmin family, the daughter of Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathibai Tambe. She lost her mother at the age of four. Her father, Moropant Tambe, worked at the court of Peshwa at Bithur, who brought her up like his own daughter, and called her "Chhabili" for her light-heartedness. She was educated at home. Because of her father's influence at court, Rani Lakshmi Bai had more independence than most women, who were normally restricted to the zenana. She studied self defence, horsemanship, archery, and even formed her own army out of her female friends at court. Tatya Tope who was considered as a nightmare by the British during the 'Great Revolt of 1857' was Lakshmi Bai's tutor. She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842, and became the queen of Jhansi. After their marriage, she was given the name Lakshmi Bai.The Raja was very affectionate to her. She gave birth to a son Damodar Rao in 1851. However, the child died when he was about four months old. After the death of their son, the Raja and Rani of Jhansi adopted Anand Rao. Anand Rao was the son of Gangadhar Rao's cousin. He was later renamed as Damodar Rao. However, it is said that the Raja of Jhansi never recovered from his son's death, and he died on 21 November 1853. Because Anand Rao was adopted, the East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, had an excuse to apply the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting Rao's claim to the throne. Dalhousie then annexed Jhansi, saying that the throne had "lapsed" and claimed the right to put Jhansi under his protection. In March 1854, she was given a pension of 60,000 rupees and ordered to leave the palace and the Jhansi fort but it was denied by her. The 1857 Revolution On May 10, 1857 the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. This began after rumours that the new bullet casings for the Lee Enfield rifles were coated with pork and beef fat; British commanders insisted on their use and started to discipline anyone who disobeyed. During this rebellion sepoys killed many British soldiers and officers of the East India Company. Unrest began to spread throughout India. During this chaotic time, the British were forced to focus their attentions elsewhere, and Lakshmi Bai was essentially left to rule Jhansi alone. During this time, she was able to lead her troops swiftly and efficiently to quell skirmishes breaking out in Jhansi. Through this leadership Lakshmi Bai was able to keep Jhansi relatively calm and peaceful in the midst of the Empire’s unrest. For example, she conducted the haldi-kumkum ceremony with great pomp and ceremony before all the women of Jhansi to provide assurance to her subjects and to convince them that Jhansi was under no threat of an attack. Up to this point, she had been hesitant to rebel against the British, and there is still some controversy over her role in the massacre of the British HEIC officials and their wives and children on the 8th June 1857 at Jokhan Bagh. Her hesitation finally ended when British troops arrived under Sir Hugh Rose and laid siege to Jhansi on 23 March 1858. She rallied her troops around her and fought fiercely. An army of 20,000, headed by the rebel leader Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi and to take Lakshmi Bai to freedom. However, the British, though numbering only 1,540 in the field so as not to break the siege, were better trained and disciplined than the raw recruits, and these inexperienced soldiers turned and fled shortly after the British began to attack on 31st March. Lakshmi Bai’s forces could not hold out and three days later the British were able to breach the city walls and capture the city. Lakshmi Bai escaped by jumping from the wall at night with her son and fled from her city, surrounded by her guards, many of them women. Statue of Rani Laxmi Bai in Agra Along with the young Anand Rao, the Rani decamped to Kalpi along with her forces where she joined other rebel forces, including those of Tatya Tope. The Rani and Tatya Tope moved on to Gwalior, where the combined rebel forces defeated the army of the Maharaja of Gwalior after his armies deserted the rebel forces. They then occupied a strategic fort at Gwalior. However, on the 17th of June 1858, while battling in full warrior regalia against the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars in Kotah-ki Serai near the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior, she died. The British captured Gwalior three days later. In the British report of the battle, General Hugh Rose commented that the Rani, "remarkable for her beauty, cleverness and perseverance", had been "the most dangerous of all the rebel leaders". However, the lack of a corpse to be convincingly identified as that of Lakshmibai convinced Captain Rheese that she had not actually perished in the battle for Gwalior, stating publicly that: "[the] Queen of Jhansi is alive!". It is believed her funeral was arranged on the same day near the spot where she was wounded. Rani was memorialized in bronze statues at Jhansi and Gwalior, both of which portray her on horseback. Another equestrian statue can be seen in Agra, UP. Her father, Moropant Tambey, was captured and hanged a few days after the fall of Jhansi. Her adopted son, Damodar Rao (formerly known as Anand Rao), fled with his mother's aides. Rao was later given a pension by the British Raj and cared for, although he never received his inheritance. Damodar Rao settled down in the city of Indore (Madhya Pradesh). He spent most of his life trying convince the British to restore some of his rights. He and his descendants took on the last name Jhansiwale. He died on May 28, 1906, at the age of 58. Legacy Rani Lakshmi Bai became a national heroine and was seen as the epitome of female bravery in India. She was a great woman who showed excellent bravery and valour and love for her motherland. She had that determination to keep the cruel Britishers away from not only Jhansi but also the rest of India. She always felt that India belonged to the Indians and the British had no gifted rights over the people of India. When Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army created its first female unit, it was named after her to mark her significant role in the Rebellion of 1857. Indian poetess Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (1904–1948) wrote a poem titled Jhansi Ki Rani in the Veer Ras style about her. Original Hindi text: The thrones shook and royalties scowled Old India was re-invigorated with new youth People realised the value of lost freedom Everybody was determined to throw the foreigners out The old sword glistened again in 1857 This story we heard from the mouths of Bundel bards Like a man she fought, she was the Queen of Jhansi सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंशों ने भृकुटी तानी थी, बूढ़े भारत में आई फिर से नयी जवानी थी, गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी, दूर फिरंगी को करने की सबने मन में ठानी थी। चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में, वह तलवार पुरानी थी, बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी, खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी।। SWOT Analysis Strengths: Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi whose heroism and superb leadership laid an outstanding example for all future generations of women freedom fighters. Married to Gangadhar Rao head of the state of Jhansi. She was not allowed to adopt a successor after his death by the British, and Jhansi was annexed. With the outbreak of the Revolt she became determined to fight back. She used to go into the battlefield dressed as a man. Holding the reins of there horse in her mouth she used the sword with both hands. Under her leadership the Rani's troops showed undaunted courage and returned shot for shot. Considered by the British as the best and bravest military leader of rebels this sparkling epitome of courage died a hero's death in the battlefield. As a child, she was very athletic and loved to compete with boys. She also had a great love for learning. When Mani became an adult and reached the age of marriage, a proposal arrived from the Maharaj of Jhansi asking for her hand in marriage. She was then married a year later in 1842 and was named Rani Lakshmibhai after the goddess of wealth and victory. After 9 years, Lakshmibai gave birth to a son, but sadly, he died just after three months. Lakshmibai and the Maharaj were very unhappy. He was unwell and was worried that no one could continue his reign. He knew that the British would jump at the opportunity of a kingdom without a ruler. So he and Lakshmibai quietly arranged to adopt a son in November 1853. However, the Maharaj died the following day, 21st of November 1853, when the Prince was very young. So Lakshmibai decided to run the kingdom until their adopted son was mature enough to take over. It was not easy for her, but Lakshmibai mastered in martial arts and encouraged her fellow women of Jhansi to join the army and defend the country. The British were determined to take over her kingdom of Jhansi so they objected to her adoption. Then, Lakshmibai wrote a petition to the Governor General to plead her case, but this was rejected. By now, the cities of India began to be seized by the British. Most of the people surrendered to them apart from three brave people. These were Rani Lakshmibai, Tatia Tope and Rao Sahib Peswa. They swore that they would fight the British until their last breath. Lakshmibai warned her people that the British would come back, but they all supported her and helped as much as they could. On 25th March 1858, the British attacked Jhansi with huge weapons and powerful cannons. With the help of traitors, they entered her fort at night in huge numbers and attacked innocent Hindus. But luckily Lakshmibai escaped underground, leaving the British disappointed when they came looking for her. They were so angry they burned the excellent state library, ransacked the whole place and shot Lakshmibai’s followers. Fortunately she escaped to Rao Shahib Peshwa’s camp at Kalpi. But the British heard of this and prepared to attack that area. By now Lakshmibai was worried about Rao Sahib Peshwa and asked him to change his battle plans, but he thought that no woman could teach him how to fight in war. But as a result, Kalpi fell into the hands of the British on 24th May, 1858. “She was a woman of about middle size, rather stout, but not short. Her face must have been handsome when she was younger and even now it has many charms…The eyes were particularly fine…nose very delicately shaped. She was not very fair, though she was far from black”. Rani Lakshmibai was very simple. It was strange because she wore no other jewellery except gold earrings. She used to dress in plain white clothes wrapped tightly around her so her remarkably fine figure could be seen. During the wars she dressed in a small turban with rubies laced into it and a pair of loose trousers. A belt embroidered with gold was worn tightly around her waist with two swords stuck in on each side. Rani Lakshmibai followed a strict daily schedule. She used to get up early in the morning and exercise and horse riding from 7am to 8am. She would sleep for half an hour and after taking a bath, she would offer herself to religious meditation and worship. After a meal, she used to distribute alms to the poor. At 3 o’clock she would come to court and have discussions with her followers and superiors. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she visited the MahaLakshmi Mandir with her adopted son. Rani Lakshmibai was a very pious and generous lady and no person in need of her help returned disappointed from her door.The British then moved on to attack the beautiful city of Gwalior. It was the fiercest, bloody battle every fought of the soil of Bharatmata. Rani Lakshmibai’s courage, strength and ability as she fought the British Army forces are still remembered today. But sadly, she died in this battle as she led the Indian Mutiny. Rani Lakshmibai was captured and killed, Tatia Tope was hanged sadly, but Rao Sahib Peshwa escaped. Then Bharat finally became free in August, 1947 after a long struggle of nearly 100 years. Rani Lakshmibai had many positive and encouraging features as one of the great leaders of Bharat. She was one of the bravest women in the history of the world, who sacrificed her life for her Mother India. Today she is described as a fair and beautiful that has a place in her heart for everyone. John Lang, who is a British Council Observer, describes Rani Lakshmibai in the following way. “Despite all the sadness she had been through, her mother dying at a young age, her three month son and her husband, she still remained sacrificial to Bharat. She knew that as a leader, she has to defend and stand up for her country”. Weaknesses: There were no any major weaknesses of Rani Laxmi bai. But still as no one is perfect in this world, there were some minor weaknesses about her. Though she was a lady but fighted like a man. Opportunities: 'Meri Jhansi Nahin Doongi' On 7th March 1854, the British issued a gazette dissolving the State of Jhansi. Rani Lakshmibai was enraged due to the injustice when an English officer, Major Ellis came to meet Lakshmibai. He read out the official declaration dissolving the State. The furious Rani Lakshmibai told Ellis ‘‘Meri Jhansi Nahin Doongi (I shall not part with my Jhansi)’ when he sought her permission to leave. Ellis heard her and left. Battle of 1857 The battle for freedom that started from January 1857 engulfed even Meerut on 10th May. Along with Meerut, Delhi and Bareilly, Jhansi also was freed from the British rule. Three years after Jhansi was freed, Rani Lakshmibai took over the control of Jhansi and she made preparations to defend Jhansi from the likely attack by the British. Sir Hugh Rose was appointed by the British to capture Rani Lakshmibai, alive. On 20th March 1858, Sir Huge encamped with his army 3 miles away from Jhansi and sent a message to her that she should surrender; but rather than surrendering, she stood on the rampart of her fort motivating her army to fight with the British. The battle started. Jhansi canons started routing the British. Even after 3 days of continuous firing, the fort of Jhansi could not be attacked; therefore, Sir Hugh decided to adopt the path of treachery. Finally, on 3rd April, the army of Sir Hugh Rose entered Jhansi. The soldiers started looting people. Rani Lakshmibai decided to join Peshava by breaking the bloc of the enemy. In the night, with her troupe of trusted 200 cavalry, she tied her 12 year old son Damodar to her back and raising the slogan of ‘Jai Shankar’ left her fort. She penetrated the British bloc and rode towards Kalpi. Her father Moropant was with her. While breaking the faction of the British army, her father got injured, was captured by the British and was hanged. Fight of Kalpi After riding continuously for 24 hours covering a distance of 102 miles, the Rani reached Kalpi. Peshava judged the situation and decided to help her. He provided his squads of army to her as per her requested requirement. On 22nd May, Sir Hugh Rose attacked Kalpi. Rani Lakshmibai rushed to the front like lightening whilst holding her sword. Her forceful attack resulted in a setback for the British army. Sir Hugh Rose disturbed with this setback brought his reserved camel troops onto the battlefield. The fresh reinforcement of the army affected the ardour of the revolutionaries and Kalpi was taken over by the British on 24th May. Defeated Raosaheb Peshave, Nawab of Banda, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and all the chieftains gathered at Gopalpur. Laksmibai suggested taking over Gwalior. Shinde, the Ruler of Gwalior, was pro-British. Rani Lakshmibai won over Gwalior and handed it over to Peshava. Sacrifice of life on the altar of freedom Sir Hugh Rose had heard about the defeat of Gwalior by Rani Lakshmibai. He realized that the situation could go out of control if time was wasted; therefore, he marched towards Gwalior. Lakshmibai and Peshva decided to fight the British as Sir Hugh Rose touched Gwalior. Lakshmibai took it upon herself to safeguard the East side of Gwalior. The unprecedented valour of Laksmibai inspired her army; even her maids attired in men’s uniform took to the battlefield. The bravery of Lakshmibai, resulted in the retreat of the British army. On 18th June, the British attacked Gwalior from all sides. She decided to break the enemy front and go out rather than surrendering. While breaking the military front, she came across a garden. She was not riding her ‘Rajratan’ horse. The new horse started going round and round near a canal instead of jumping and crossing it. Rani Lakshmibai realized the consequences and turned back to attack the British army. She got injured, started bleeding and fell from her horse. Being in a man’s costume, the soldiers did not recognize her and left her there. The faithful servants of Rani took her to a nearby Gangadas Mutt and gave her Gangajal. She expressed her last wish that her body should not be touched by any British men and embraced a brave death. The revolutionaries all over the world, the organization of Sardar Bhagat Singh and in the end even the army of Netaji Subhashchandra Bose were inspired by the valour shown by Rani Lakshmibai. The Queen of Jhansi breathed her last at the young age of 23 years. She inspired many generations of Hindustani’s, thus becoming immortal in the freedom fight. We bow before such a brave warrior, the Queen of Jhansi Lakshmibai. The life history of the Rani of Jhansi Lakshmibai, who preferred to sacrifice her life at the young age of 23 years in battle, is very inspiring. She surprised the British by showing extraordinary fighting spirit and valour in battles fought at Jhansi, then Kalpi and lastly at Gwalior. The British Major Sir Hugh Rose had to come down to treachery so as to be able to win over the fort of Jhansi. Such an extraordinary lady, who tied her son on her back while fighting the battle, will not be found in the history of the world. The valour and brave death she chose, which gave inspiration to the patriots belonging to the ‘Gadar’ party in the First World War, the organization of Shahid Bhagat Singh and to all revolutionaries from Swatatntryaveer Savarkar to Subhashchandra, is magnificent. Lot of literature has been written on the life history of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Heroic poems have been composed in her honor. Threats: Dalhousie and the Doctrine of Lapse Dalhousie was perhaps the most ambitious of the governor generals in India. He was the first to destroy the power of the Punjab, and annex it. He ordered fresh enlistment in the army for expeditions into Burma. His final stroke was the annexation of Oudh, reasons being gross mismanagement by the Nawab. But his most audacious gamble was to proclaim the doctrine of lapse, which in Major Bell’s words “a disastrous and rapacious policy.” According to this promulgation, the British government would directly annex any state whose king left no natural heirs, although traditional Hindu law allowed kings to adopt sons, to continue their rule and lineage. Surprisingly, the so called British fairplay was nowhere in sight, as not even a single question was raised in the British parliament against this move of Dalhousie. Blinded by greed, and the 4 million pounds in excess revenue generated in its wake, the queen and the British public left no stone unturned in eulogizing Dalhousie and deluging him with congratulatory texts. Indeed, at that moment, Britain for all its intellectual traditions, betrayed its real worth as a parochial nation of shopkeepers. Satara, a kingdom in Maharashtra became the first victim of this farcical policy. It was soon followed by Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849. The next in line was the kingdom of Jhansi. The Fate of Jhansi Gangadhar Rao’s condition progressively worsened, and sensing the approaching danger, and to prevent the state from lapsing into British hands, he decided to adopt Damodar Rao, a child of around five, from the same family tree of the Nevalkar family. The deed was done in the presence of the principal nobles of his court and Major Ellis, political agent of Jhansi and Captain Martin, officer commanding Jhansi contingents [7] the king asked the British to remember his fidelity towards them, and treat the child and the widow to whom he had vested administrative rights with utmost kindness. Gangadhar Rao died in November, 1853, and rendered Lakshmi Bai, widow and queen possibly under the illusion that ‘native fidelity would be rewarded’ by the British masters. Strategic Management “Strategy means making clear-cut choices about how to compete.” Thinking Strategically: The Three Big Strategic Questions: 1. What’s the company’s present situation' 2. Where does the company need to go from here' * Business(es) to be in and market positions to stake out * Buyer needs and groups to serve * Direction to head 3. How should it get there' * A company’s answer to “how will we get there'” is its strategy What Do We Mean By “Strategy”' * Consists of competitive moves and business approaches used by managers to run the company * Management’s “action plan” to * Grow the business * Attract and please customers * Compete successfully * Conduct operations * Achieve target levels of organizational performance Strategy is HOW to . . . * How to grow the business * How to please customers * How to outcompete rivals * How to manage each functional piece of the business (R&D, production, marketing, HR, finance, and so on) * How to respond to changing market conditions * How to achieve targeted levels of performance So, when a manager manages these strategies in the organization successfully, then it’s called Strategic Management. Strategy is the thing which resides in every one’s life because no one can live and work without a strategy. So Strategy is very important in every one’s life to get the desired results. Strategies used by Maharani Laxmibai 1. The battle for Jhansi (1858 AD) The British government had decreed that all independent kingdoms which did not have a male successor had to merge with the Empire. An adopted son was not considered a successor. This caused problems for Rani Lakshmibai whose adopted son, Damodar Rao, would not have been able to ascend the throne after her husband, Raja Gangadhar Rao, died. She told the British envoy she would not part with her kingdom, Jhansi, despite knowing she could land into trouble. She had consulted her subjects, who had enthusiastically supported her in taking up the issue with British legally, if not militarily. Residents of Jhansi were made aware of this new situation. If the legal battle didn't go in her favour, she would have to take to arms. Lesson: Involve the team in any major decision-making process. When one has the buy-in, it yields far better results. 2. One fateful day, Dulhaju, as per the plot hatched with the British, went to open one of the doors of Jhansi. One of Lakshmibai's gunners had seen him and tried to stop him. But his efforts were in vain and the British troops crashed through the open gate, pillaged Jhansi, destroyed buildings, and killed numerous people. Rani Lakshmibai was depressed and decided to commit suicide, but her advisor prevailed upon her to escape to Kalpi and join Tatya Tope's forces. Lakshmibai discussed it with her other confidants and then her small troops fought their way through to Kalpi. There she met Rao Saheb and Tatya Tope with their armies. She inspected their armies and found them disorganised. Following Lakshmibai, the British army reached Kalpi. But Rao Saheb had not paid heed to Lakshmibai's advice on reorganisation of the armies, and thus lost the war. Lakshmibai then suggested that they capture the Gwalior fort, as evading the British would not provide any long-term solutions. Tatya Tope and Rao Saheb agreed. But the Gwalior fort was with Scindia, who had joined hands with the British. But as Lakshmibai had suspected, most of the Scindia's soldiers revolted against their king and joined hands with Rani Lakshmibai to help in capturing Gwalior. The army led by General Rose proceeded towards Gwalior. Here again, Lakshmibai advised Rao Saheb and Tatya Tope on the approach they should adopt to take on the British, but again they disagreed. Lakshmibai fought valiantly and died. Gwalior was recaptured by the British. Lakshmibai remained an icon of bravery and determination not only for Indians, but for the British too. Lesson: A good leader can learn from Lakshmibai's conviction, commitment, skill, flexibility and can-do attitude. An organisation can also learn from her life: it can learn to be prepared for a topsy-turvy ride in the long run. There could be multiple roadblocks and hiccups. But the important lesson is to learn from the losses and consolidate the wins; this will help in turning an organisation into an institution, which could be respected by all. Practical Implementation What we can learn from her life and her strategies is written in below paragraph and it shows that we must implement in our life also: When she went to War and took up arms she was the very embodiment of the War Goddess Kali. She was beautiful and frail. But her radiance made men diffident. She was young in years, but her decisions were mature. Such a confident and dominant women! A lesson is to be learnt for us all from her experiences! The words of the British General Sir Hugh Rose who fought against the Maharani several times and was defeated time and time again stated: "Of the mutineers the bravest and the greatest commander was the Rani". In any situation in life, whether it is our personal or professional life, we should have enough confident in us like Rani Laxmi Bai and we should keep patience too when it’s needed according to time. Bibliography Websites: 1. www.citeHR.com 2. www.Opapers.com 3. www.wikipedia.com