A Begum & A Rani

by Rudrangshu Mukherjee

Exploring the lives of two remarkable women who chose to enter a field of activity which, in the middle of the nineteenth century, was seen a male domain, this book brings to light how unusual circumstances catapulted Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi into the rebellion of 1857. Both of them sacrificed their lives trying to overthrow the British rule, which they considered to be alien and oppressive. Their resistance and their deaths are heroic and poignant. The book captures the different trajectories of their lives and their struggles. In different but adjacent geographies these two women, both married into royal houses, decided to uphold traditions of ruling and culture that their husbands had established. These traditions had been subverted by the policies of Lord Dalhousie who had annexed both Awadh and Jhansi. While noting these similarities, it should be highlighted that Awadh was a large and sprawling kingdom with a long history whereas Jhansi was a small principality. The rani and the begum never met, even though they were embroiled in the same struggle. It is the rebellion of 1857-58 that provides the context, which makes these two outstanding women feature in the same narrative. This book tells the story of two women in a rebellion. The afterlives of the begum and the rani took on very different hues. The rani was made a nationalist icon: a woman on horseback with a raised sword, who died in battle. The begum was a relatively forgotten figure who did not get her due place in the roll call of honour. Revisiting the revolt of 1857 from a unique perspective and looking at their afterlives, the myths, this book attempts to set the record straight. Looking at the revolt of 1857 from a different perspective, A Begum & A Rani is an act of retrieval

Genres: History

221 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2021

Reviews

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death deifies; flight is an amnesiac."

Quite a poignant read which prompts the question of how heroes are actually made -
"The quest for heroes in history creates its own problems of choice and discrimination."

The book explores the lives and afterlife of two extraordinary women, living lives almost parallel to each other, Hazrat Mahal and Lakshmi Bai. Each became an integral part of the first war of independence, the 1857 rebellion. While Mahal remained actively present from the beginning till the end, Lakshmi Bai reluctantly joined at a later stage of the rebellion. Needless to say, each contributed in their own might, fought valiantly and bravely.

However, as fate would have it, "Lakshmibai is not only remembered, but also commemorated and celebrated. (Whereas) Hazrat Mahal hovers on the margins of remembrance." The book carefully lists out how Lakshmibai was immortalized in history - to the extent of distortions which made her from a historic figure to an incarnation of the divine.

Favourite quote:

"History, to invoke a line from one of Shakespeare's sonnets, is a remembrance of things past. But the past is never remembered, and cannot be, in its entirety. History is stalked by incompleteness - what is chosen to be remembered, and what does not earn a niche in collective memory. Forgetting is as much a part of the muse of Clio as remembering."

[Rajiv Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian - world - history has been unkind to women. We have derived much of our history from British writing. It is only in recent times that we have reclaimed our history. For instance, we always referred to the events of 1857-58 as "The Great Indian Mutiny" and not as "The Great Uprising."
One character who has gained cult status is Rani Lakshmi Bai. While she was an incredible woman, we forget she was a reluctant rebel. The one woman who fought the British almost till the end was Begum Hazrat Mahal. I have been curious about her for a long time, and finally, we have a book that gives her excellent space and respect.
Prof Mukherjee has written an excellent book analysing the two women, their contributions, and why we remember one and have forgotten the other.
The Appendices, with the Proclamations are a godsend, especially Begum Hazrat Mahal's Proclamation.

If you want to add to your library of the 1857 Uprising, then add this book. Refer to it also.

[Aidan Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mukherjee does a great job of consolidating sources and information about two larger than life women from the revolt of 1857, telling their life from birth to their ends as well as why they have had different afterlives in the Indian populace. It’s a quick read, written well, and is a good choice if you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for information on Begum Hazrat Mahal and Jhansi ki Rani.