Another find from the National Archives is this announcement published by the India Independence League (IIL) upon the formation of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment in Singapore (Syonan) in July 1943.
Source: National Archives of India (PP_000002998333)
THE RANI OF JHANSI REGIMENT
A small group of 40 women, women from all walks of life and representing all religions and castes, women with fixed bayonets, presented a guard of honour to our Netaji, Srijut Subhas Chandra Bose, at a mass rally of women held at the premises of the Syonan Branch of the Indian Independence League on 12th July, 2603. That day marked the birth of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. It was perhaps for the first time in the history of a former British Colony that women were found parading with fixed bayonets. But it was by no means new in the history of India.
In spite of all that the British propagandists have been saying in the past and saying even now, to decry the courage and valour of our sisters, in spite of all that our enemies have been and are still proclaiming to the world that Indian women are generally backward in all walks of life, instances are not wanting in our history where our mothers and sisters have displayed the greatest courage and tenacity of purpose in the battle-field and in public life.
Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, after whom the Rani of Jhansi Regiment is named, had proved beyond a doubt as early as 1857 that an Indian woman in the battle-field could be as brave and courageous as any British officer.
Lakshmi Bai was born in a village near Satara in 1837. At the age of four she lost her mother, and since then until she was betrothed to Gangadher Rao, the Rajah of Jhansi, she lived under the care of her father. Even as a child Lakshmi Bai displayed great courage and tenacity of purpose. She received a good military training from her father, and as a girl had fought many a battle by his side. As the principal consort of the Ruler of Jhansi, she proved herself to be a devoted and faithful wife. She was the idol of the people of Jhansi. On many vital matters of State she advised her husband and her advice had always proved sound. She was from the very beginning an out and out enemy of the British.
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In the year 1851 a child was born to her but died at [three] months. The loss of his only heir was a great shock to Gangadher Rao, from which he could never recover. In the year 1852 he too died. Gangadher Rao, however, had left a will in which he had mentioned that his principal Consort, Lakshmi Bai, was the proper claimant to his throne, until his adopted son Damodher, still an infant, became of age.
The year 1857. The people of India were seething with revolt. They were tired of the unscrupulous and cunning British exploitation. The methods adopted by the British to keep India under subjugation and to suck her sacred soil dry were many and varied.
One of the cunning ways adopted by Lord Dalhousie to annex Indian States to the East India Company was the introduction of his so-called “Doctrine of Lapse.” Under this Doctrine, if any ruler died without a son the State would automatically become part of the Company….
[please check the archives for the full document]
But the biggest of all battles was yet to come. A large force of British soldiers attacked Gwalior in June 1858. A fierce battle raged for many days. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, attired in male dress, and with drawn sword, riding on horse back, fought on and led her men into the front line. Her courage and leadership inspired the men. But, alas, fate took a different turn. The brave Rani was fatally wounded. And thus her glorious career ended on June 18th 1858.
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But not in vain did she lose her life on the battlefield. She has left behind her a tradition of which every women in India is indeed proud. She has shown the world what Indian womanhood is capable of. She has given us the inspiration to carry on the fight which she began.
Is it then any wonder that the new Women’s Regiment of the Indian National Army is named after this illustrious daughter of India, the Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi? It is that undaunted courage and unflinching patriotism that our Netaji expects from every Indian woman and girl both inside and outside India. Let us quote Netaji’s own words to Indian women: “It was this Rani of Jhansi who on horse-back with drawn sword led her men to battle. Through her ill-luck she fell, she failed and India failed. But we have to continue and complete the work which the Great Rani undertook in 1857. Therefore in this last and final War of Independence we want NOT one Rani of Jhansi but thousands and thousands of Ranis of Jhansi. It is not merely the number of rifles you may carry or the number of shots that you may fire which is important. Equally important is the moral effect of your brave example. I have no doubt in my mind that when our countrymen on the other side of the Frontier, whether they are civilians or whether they are in the British Indian Army, when our countrymen see you marching with rifles in hand, they will certainly come over and join you and take the rifles from you and carry on the fight which you will begin. Therefore, considered from every point of view, I am convinced that the time has come for man and woman, for boy and girl, for everyone, for every single individual who calls himself or herself an Indian, to come forward and make the maximum sacrifice possible so that India may be free and as soon as possible.”
“JAI HIND.”
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