Rani Lakshmibai’s Heirs in Nagpur: The Untold Story of Six Royal Generations

thenewsdirt
Oct 15
7 min read

Rani Lakshmibai’s Heirs in Nagpur: The Story of Six Royal Generations

The lineage of Rani Lakshmibai, the legendary Queen of Jhansi who fought valiantly against British colonial rule in 1857, continues to reside in the Vidarbha region today through her adopted son's descendants.

These royal descendants, now settled in Nagpur, represent six generations of a family that has largely lived in obscurity despite their illustrious heritage.

Software engineer Yogesh Arun Rao Jhansiwale, aged 44, stands as the sixth-generation descendant of the iconic queen, currently residing in Nagpur with his wife Preet and their two children, Preeyesh and Dhanika.

His father, Arun Rao Jhansiwale, a retired assistant engineer from the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, also lives with the family while maintaining ownership of a house in Dhanwantari Nagar, Indore.

The Journey from Jhansi to Vidarbha

The story of these descendants begins with Damodar Rao, originally named Anand Rao, who was adopted by Rani Lakshmibai and her husband Maharaja Gangadhar Rao in November 1853.

Born on November 15, 1849, to Vasudev Rao Newalkar, a cousin of the Maharaja, the child was renamed Damodar Rao upon adoption.

The adoption ceremony took place in the presence of British officials, with Maharaja Gangadhar Rao explicitly requesting that the child be treated with respect and that the kingdom of Jhansi be entrusted to his widow for her lifetime.

After Rani Lakshmibai's martyrdom at Kotah ki Sarai in Gwalior on June 18, 1858, young Damodar Rao survived the battle and lived with his mentors in forests and dire conditions for nearly two years.

The British forces, determined to eliminate the Jhansi dynasty, pursued the young prince relentlessly. His caretakers moved him from location to location, from Gwalior to Morena and nearby areas, to evade British capture.

In 1860, on the recommendation of Prithwi Singh, the King of Jhalawad Estate, British Resident Officer Sir Robert Hamilton agreed to provide shelter to Prince Damodar Rao.

The prince was permitted to live in exile under British surveillance in a residence within the Residency Area of Indore, receiving an annual pension of Rs 10,000, later reduced to Rs 200 per month.

Generations of Struggle in Indore

Damodar Rao developed into a skilled painter during his adult years, creating portraits, including one of his adoptive mother, Rani Lakshmibai, though the current whereabouts of this valuable artwork remain unknown.

He lived his remaining years in penury, repeatedly petitioning the British government to restore his rightful inheritance of seven lakh rupees held in trust, but to no avail.

Damodar Rao died on May 20, 1906, at the age of 57, leaving behind his son Laxman Rao Jhansiwale.

Laxman Rao Jhansiwale, the grandson of the Queen, received a monthly pension of Rs 200 from the British administration. However, following India's independence on August 15, 1947, the new government ordered Laxman Rao to vacate his residence in the Residency area. The family was forced to relocate to a rented house in the Peergali area of Rajwada, Indore, marking the beginning of decades of financial hardship.

Laxman Rao worked as a freelance typist at the district court in Indore, but the meagre income often left the family struggling to afford basic necessities. The family frequently went to bed hungry during particularly difficult periods.

Laxman Rao died in extreme poverty in 1959, leaving behind his son Krishna Rao Jhansiwale and daughter Chandrakanta Bai.

Krishna Rao, the great-grandson of the Queen, found employment as a steno-typist at Hukumchand Mill in Indore. He received a modest pension of Rs 100 per month from both the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments.

Krishna Rao spent his entire life in the same rented accommodation in Indore before passing away in 1967.

Following his death, both the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments discontinued the pension payments to the Queen's descendants, plunging the family further into financial difficulty.

Arun Rao Jhansiwale, Krishna Rao's son and the fifth-generation descendant, broke the cycle of homelessness that had plagued his family for generations. After qualifying as an engineer, he joined the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board in a career that would span several decades. In 1994, Arun Rao achieved a significant milestone for his family by purchasing a house in Dhanwantari Nagar, Indore.

This marked the first time in five generations that the descendants of Rani Lakshmibai owned their own home since leaving Jhansi with the Queen in 1858.

During interviews, Arun Rao has expressed mixed emotions about his heritage. He stated that his ancestors fought for the sovereignty of the country and that he, too, would be ready to serve if given the opportunity. However, he also acknowledged the practical challenges faced by his family, noting that poverty had prevented them from asserting their rights as descendants of royalty.

The family's connection to Vidarbha deepened when Yogesh Arun Rao Jhansiwale relocated to Nagpur in 2021, ending their 161-year residence in Indore. Yogesh, who holds a degree from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, has built a successful career in the software industry.

Despite their modest circumstances, the family preserves their connection to their heritage through the surname "Jhansiwale," which they adopted to maintain their association with Jhansi.

Some people who are aware of their ancestry address them with honorific titles, referring to Arun Rao as "Shrimant Arun Rao Jhansiwale" and his son as "Shrimant Yogesh Arun Rao Jhansiwale." However, the family prefers to live as ordinary citizens rather than claim any royal status.

Recognition and Public Awareness

The descendants of Rani Lakshmibai remained largely unknown to the public until 2007, when local journalist and historian Mohan Nepali located them in Indore. Following this discovery, they were felicitated at a private function in Jhansi, marking their first public recognition in decades.

Since then, various media outlets have featured their story, bringing attention to their circumstances and the broader question of how India has treated the families of its freedom fighters.

The family's story gained renewed attention in recent years through social media and news reports highlighting their situation.

In 2022, they participated in private functions in Jhansi, where representatives from both the fifth and sixth generations spoke about their family history. These appearances have sparked discussions about the responsibilities of the Indian government toward the descendants of freedom fighters.

A poignant aspect of their current situation involves their visits to their ancestral fort in Jhansi. Yogesh has mentioned the emotional difficulty of having to purchase entry tickets to visit the fort that once belonged to his family. This detail serves as a stark reminder of how far the royal family has fallen from their original status.

The family has expressed mixed feelings about government recognition. While they acknowledge their royal heritage and the sacrifices made by their ancestors, they have also indicated that they do not expect special treatment. Their primary concern has been economic survival rather than seeking official recognition or benefits from the government.

The story of the Jhansiwale family reflects broader patterns in post-independence India regarding the treatment of former royal families and freedom fighters' descendants. Unlike some other royal houses that managed to retain properties or receive recognition, the descendants of Rani Lakshmibai experienced decades of neglect from successive governments.

Their presence in Vidarbha today creates an interesting historical connection, as the region has its own rich Maratha heritage through the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur. The Bhonsles ruled the Kingdom of Nagpur from 1739 to 1853, making them contemporaries of Rani Lakshmibai's reign in Jhansi.

This shared Maratha legacy between the ruling houses adds another layer to the historical significance of the Jhansiwale family's settlement in the region.

The family's story continues to resonate with people across India who admire Rani Lakshmibai's courage and sacrifice.

Recent social media posts and news articles about the descendants have generated significant public interest and sympathy. However, this attention has not translated into substantial material support or government intervention to improve their circumstances.

Today, as Yogesh Arun Rao Jhansiwale continues his career in the technology sector while raising his children, the sixth generation of Rani Lakshmibai's lineage represents both continuity and change.

They maintain their ancestral name and pride in their heritage while adapting to contemporary professional life in modern India. Their residence in Nagpur within Vidarbha ensures that this royal bloodline remains connected to the historical heartland of the Maratha Empire, even as they live as ordinary citizens in independent India.