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But the British were ready and attacked Tantia Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope and Rao Sahib then
Tope’s army at night. By morning they defeated fled to Gwalior. She fought hard against the
Tope’s army. British forces but was wounded in battle.

I will not die at the
hands of the British!
According to legend, she shot the soldier who
shot back at her causing her death. Another
legend says that dressed as a cavalry leader,
she was badly wounded. Not wishing the
British to capture her body, she told a hermit
to burn it. After her death, a few local people
cremated her body.

Twenty years after her death, Colonel

Malleson wrote in the History of the Indian Mutiny;
vol. 3; London, 1878: ‘Whatever her faults in British cavalry: (in the past) soldiers who
eyes may have been, her countrymen will ever fought on horseback
cremated: disposed of a dead
remember that she was driven by ill-treatment into person’s body by burning it into ashes
rebellion, and that she lived and died for her country. rebellion: to fight against injustices
contribution: the part played by a
We cannot forget her contribution for India.’ person or thing in bringing about a
result

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