Rani Avantibai is honoured as a warrior queen and an important, inspirational figure in the history of the Indian freedom struggle – notably, the 1857 War of Independence. Very little has been written about her. Our free life comes at the expense of sacrifices from valiant freedom fighters like Rani Avantibai and we definitely owe it to these brave-hearts to remember their stories. In this edition of GV, we are proud to share the story of Rani Avantibai, an icon of rebellion, sacrifice and martyrdom in a long, brutal history of fighting colonial rule.

Early Life

   Avantibai was born on 16 August 1831 into a zamindar family. She is known to have been extremely independent and well trained in her childhood years. She was not only skilled in military strategy and state affairs but was also fully capable of archery, horse-riding and wielding a sword. Her political and combat education made her a good candidate for a ruler.

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