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The ‘real’ Rani
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PASSIONS What inspired Jaishree Misra to take the Rani of Jhansi beyond the battlefield in her novel?
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Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
QUEEN MAKER Jaishree Misra sees Rani Lakshmibai as a woman with modern sensibilities
From “Ancient Promises” to “Rani” (her fourth novel), Jaishree Misra, the U.K-based writer, has come a long way. Her characterisation of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi — from the 13-year-old Manikarnika, whose wit, skill and
acumen outshone that of her playmates Tantya and Nana, to the sensible, duteous ruler of Jhansi and wife to warm but weak-spirited Gangadhar — is sympathetic and engaging.
Hailed as her most ambitious work so far, it is more a fictionalised biography of the Rani. Expectedly, there are hardly any wrinkles in Rani Lakshmibai’s character. But the author makes her human, sewing an unrequited, and impossible love story into the tale.
Fiction fills the gaps in history, characters are fleshed out from the available documents, legends and history.
“I wanted to try my hand at a historical novel. Rani Lakshmibai was an obvious choice,” admits the author, for whom the queen of Jhansi was no more than a cursory mention in history texts.
As the grainy picture of the warrior queen, on a bounding horse, her sword raised to battle, became clearer in Jaishree’s head, she knew the Rani would throw in new challenges. “Sometimes I wondered if I should have gone in for a lesser-known figure. Everyone knows about Lakshmibai and they feel she belongs to them,” says Jaishree. “Further, she is a figure placed on a pedestal and that was a challenge,” she adds.
Extensive research
Piecing together the tale of the Rani involved extensive research. Flipping through the archives in India and Britain, Jaishree recovered nuggets that helped her give the queen an identity beyond the battlefield.
“There are just bits and pieces about her,” says Jaishree. Contrary to the popular image of an enraged Lakshmibai who “marched out and fought” the British, the author realised there was a significant time gap between the annexation of Jhansi and the queen’s foray into combat.
“When we unveil the facts, we get to see the little shades,” says the writer. Myths about the queen, which the author grew up with, also make the characterisation complete.
“I went to Jhansi too, but realised the local memory of Lakshmibai is faded. There is much pride associated with her, but hardly any answers to specific questions. People have moved on, and what is available is the official stuff,” says Jaishree. However, letters and accounts of many British officers held the key for re-creating the queen’s personality, especially the appearance.
“John Lang, a lawyer, has written a detailed account of his meeting with the queen. It actually puts you in his shoes and makes for an amusing, at times, patronising account. It gives a rare physical description of the queen. He says she had a fine figure, and the sari was wound tightly around her,” says Jaishree. Other documents revealed her “charming, forceful countenance.”
But the obvious admiration of an English officer for the queen adds to the element of drama in the novel. Major Ellis was supportive of Lakshmibai and his letter in praise of the queen enraged his superiors.
“I decided to take a more romantic view. The admiration for the queen could have turned to love. It is purely my imagination,” she says with candour.
Jaishree’s portrayal of Lakshmibai is sensitive.
“The book took me long to write. I struggled with it and am possessive about it. I am a little bit in love with the subject. I really like her. She is not highly idealistic, but a woman with modern sensibilities,” she says.
P. ANIMA
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