FREEDOM FIGHTER
At that time, Times in London
wrote: “The Begum of Awadh
shows greater strategic sense
and courage than all her
generals put together.”
Begum started ruling vast part
of the land and she also fought
for many other places to free
them from the British. She
was against the British for the
longest time and it led to the
crushing of Lucknow on whole.
Most of the things were against
her. The British government
had more money and material
which also included powerful
weapons. They had many
Indian kingdoms on their side.
Thereafter, Begum had less
power with low supplies as well.
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Then Begum was asked
to agree for mercy and
pension. But Begum hit it
all aside and then she left
Lucknow. She led her way to
the Himalayas in the North.
She goes on fighting against
the British at every moment
and then, at last, she ended
seeking shelter in Nepal.
Britisher again offered her
mercy and she again refused
it all. Slowly, she lost all her
wealth but she refused to
come back to Lucknow to
surrender. She died on 7th
April 1879 and there was no
money for her funeral.
Presently, her grave is in
the corner of Jama Masjid
Kathmandu. Till her death,
she was a rebel woman
who was undefeated.
The tribute or hornour that
Hazrat Mahal got was a
postage stamp. The mere
postage stamp is not the
right tribute for the rebel
woman Hazrat Mahal. She
chose to fight for freedom of
her people, of our country.
She was everything that
we need to learn from. Her
every phase of the story is
inspirational. Her courage
and braveness to fight and
her kind heart towards the
poor makes her a legendary
soul in Indian history.