1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to Stuff you Missed in History Class from how 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: Stuff Works dot com. Hello, and welcome to the podcast. 3 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: I'm to bring a chalk reboarding and I'm fired out 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: and Sarah and I have been talking a lot this 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: month since it's Women's History Month, about real life Amazon's 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: and it's interesting. But when you're talking about female warriors, 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: Joan of Arc is one who always comes up. She's 8 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: kind of a big name among female warriors. Absolutely, And 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: in case you're not familiar, Joan of Arc of course 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: is a national heroine in France for leading an army 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: to several victories during the Hundred Years War. And she's 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: also a Catholic saint. She said, movies man about her 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: books written about her. Super famous way up there. But 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: it's interesting. She's so famous that a lot of female 15 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: warriors since then have been compared to her, and they've 16 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: even earned the Joan of Arc nickname, you know, attached 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: to whatever country they're from. They're they're quite few of them, actually, yeah. 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: For example, Augustina d Arragon is called Spanish Joan of Arc, 19 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: and there's also a Vietnamese Joan of Arc. I think 20 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: you guys have touched on her before. And if I 21 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: remember correctly, I'm pretty sure she predates Joan of Arc, 22 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: which makes that kind of a strange title that you're 23 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: you're getting that that nickname after the fact, But whatever, 24 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: what are you gonna do? But this is all just 25 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: to kind of set up to day's episode, which is 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: about India's Joan of Arc, a woman named Lookshmi by 27 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: now looks at me By, who is also known as 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: the Ronnie of John C. She became famous for her 29 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: role in the Indian Mutiny of eighteen fifty seven, which 30 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: is sometimes thought of as India's first War of independence 31 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: from the British, of course, and her life is uniquely 32 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: wrapped up in all the factors that led to this rebellion. 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 1: So that's kind of why we wanted to focus on 34 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: her out of all these other Joan of arcs to yeah, 35 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: and I mean, another interesting fact about her is she's 36 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: still quite important in modern India. She's considered a national 37 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: heroine and there are statues of her. Her story is 38 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: told old and things like novels and movies and ballads, 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: just like just like Joan of Arc. I mean, how 40 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: about that um illustrated comics. I mean, she she's a 41 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: well known figure. Yeah, I think Prime Minister in the 42 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: ra Gandhi even appeared as Looks me By in a 43 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: political commercial in the nineteen eighties. So she's kind of 44 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: all over the place, all sort of different facets of 45 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: of popular culture, and her story has become the stuff 46 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: of legend. And as we know with legends, a lot 47 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: of times, once history becomes legend, we sort of get 48 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: a little murky on what's fact and what's fiction. So 49 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: that's what we're gonna look at today. We're just really 50 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: going to consider who is Looked me By, what are 51 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: the real facts about her? And why is she alternately 52 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: known as India's Joan of Arc and India's Jezebel depending 53 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: on who you ask. Yeah, but she'll didn't see that 54 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: one coming. So we're gonna start at the beginning talk 55 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: a little bit about her childhood because it really lays 56 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: a pretty strong groundwork for the woman she become. She 57 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: was born November nineteenth eighty seven to a Brahmin family 58 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: in Banaras, which is in northern India, and it was 59 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: a good family. It was even maybe a prominent family, 60 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: but they didn't really have that much money, it seems. 61 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: According to Rainier Jurro's biography, The Ronnie of John C 62 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: Rebel against Will. They didn't have that much money because 63 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: her parents had left their home in Maharashtra in central 64 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: India in exile because the ruler there was banished by 65 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: the British so um while they had been high ranking, 66 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: and while her father had been high ranking, he might 67 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: have had a little trouble re establishing himself in a 68 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: new part of the country and never really attained that 69 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: high an income. Yeah, so that just kind of sets 70 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: up her family for you. But looks at me by 71 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: His original name was Moni Carnica and her parents called 72 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: her Manu. Now Mona's childhood was kind of unique for 73 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: a little girl growing up in India around that time. 74 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: And that's mainly because her mom, Voggy Rothy, passed away 75 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: when she was about four years old, and her dad, 76 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: more upon Thumbay, remained a widower from more than a decade. 77 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: So really no big conservative corrective influence, that female influence 78 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: in her life. Who would have put her on the 79 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: path too, I guess a more feminine upbringing. Yeah, no one. 80 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: They're telling her to stand up straight and behave it seems, 81 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: and she was naturally feisty. She was kind of a 82 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: little tomboy, and because she didn't have this female influence 83 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: in her life, she got to stay that way. She 84 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: was allowed to stay that way. And some sources say 85 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: that it was her dad who was actively encouraging that 86 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: tomboyish behavior in her. You know, he was teaching her 87 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: how to do things like ride horses and how to 88 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: fence and shoot, and that was all part of her education. 89 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 1: Other sources, such as Dross, suggests that her father really 90 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: he just might have not been in the picture enough 91 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: to be that closely watching her education, so she got 92 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: to kind of run free she wanted. So what is 93 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: known about her though, or ardless of what really happened, 94 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: is that she became a very skilled writer and learned 95 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: how to use weapons, and most likely did this before 96 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: she got married, because it would have been very inappropriate 97 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: for a woman who was a traditional maharaja's wife to 98 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: um to do these things, especially because she quote rode 99 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: a horse like a man. In addition to these manly skills, 100 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 1: she also learned to read and write, which was still 101 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: kind of unusual for girls at that run at time. Yeah, 102 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: so you know, she comes out of this a young 103 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: girl with unusual talents, and it seems like maybe some 104 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: of this stuff would even dissuade potential suitors. But she 105 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: does get married in eighteen forty two, she's about fifteen 106 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: years old and she becomes the second wife of Gunga 107 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: Thar Rao Nil Walker, who is a lot older than her. 108 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: He's childless, but he is the Maharajah of John c 109 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: which is a principality about two d fifty miles southeast 110 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: of Delhi. And just to give you a little background 111 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: on terms we're going to be using, because I think 112 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: from here on out we're pretty much going to be 113 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: calling her the Rani. Raja in India is a prince 114 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: or a king of a particular area, and his wife 115 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: is known as Ranie, so she's a queen or a princess. 116 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: It's interesting that you mentioned that about how her behavior 117 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: might dissuade potential suitors, because it's not really clear how 118 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: the match got. The match between these two occurred. There's 119 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: such an odd couple they really are, and her family 120 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: really wasn't that wealthy. But here's one theory that's out 121 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: there about why the Raja picked her. Apparently he had 122 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: a tendency to cross dress sometimes for theater roles when 123 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: he played female roles, but sometimes not. Sometimes he would 124 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: just wear women's jewelry around and stuff like that. And 125 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: since this was rather widely known at the time, it 126 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: suggested that this may have limited his choices in second 127 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 1: brides somewhat. So he may have had to settle for 128 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: this um noble but not particularly well off bride after 129 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: her marriage man who starts going by the name Lakshmi 130 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: by and this is just a reverence for the goddess 131 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 1: of prosperity and happiness. So Luxmi was the patron deity 132 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 1: of her husband's family, and this would have made sense 133 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: for her to do, for her to change her name 134 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: like this. Yeah, it was a good move. And she 135 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: really did seem to embrace her role as Ronnie. She 136 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: she sort of put aside what she was used to 137 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: doing pretty easily, it seemed. And um tried really hard 138 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: and for a very long time to have a child 139 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: and an air and um it didn't happen. I think 140 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: years and years went by, but finally lashed me by 141 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: and the Rajah took a journey in eighteen fifty one, 142 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: kind of a pilgrimage to sacred Hindu sites, and not 143 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: long after that she got pregnant and gave birth to 144 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: a son. And you can imagine this couple was incredibly 145 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: excited now to finally have an air and a son 146 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: at that. But unfortunately for them, that excitement didn't last 147 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: very long because the baby died at only three months old, 148 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: and they didn't know why it happened. He just died, 149 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: Son Lane and they were unfortunately not just in trouble 150 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: for personal reasons after that. Yeah, I mean they're personally personally, 151 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: they're grieving, but there are other consequences as well, and 152 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: that's because of something called the Doctrine of Laps. They 153 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: now have to worry about this too. So here's a 154 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: little background of the Doctrine of Laps. It's a formula 155 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: that was devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was Governor General 156 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: of India from around eighteen eighteen fifty six, and the 157 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: doctrine it reflected this general desire on the part of 158 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: the British to expand the territory that they had in India. 159 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: And just to give you a little bit of background 160 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: on I guess Indian custom before that, family politics finmally 161 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: politics exactly. According to Indian tradition, a ruler who didn't 162 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: have any natural errors could adopt a person who would 163 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: then have all the personal and political rights of a son. So, 164 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: for example, the Ronnie of John C himself had been 165 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: an adopted heir, so there was precedent for it there. However, 166 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: dal Hawsy with this new doctrine, he basically asserted Great 167 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: Britain's right as the paramount power to approve adoptions. So 168 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: what it did is, in practice, it gave the British 169 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: the opportunity to reject a lot of last minute adoptions 170 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: and therefore take over this territory, yeah to step in 171 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: and and collect land piece by piece, which was obviously 172 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: what their greater policy was exactly. But this didn't stop 173 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: the Ronnie and the Raja from trying to do the 174 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: same thing. In eighteen fifty three, Gunga a Row becomes 175 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: seriously ill and adopts a distant five year old cousin 176 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: named them a Row as his son, and he draws 177 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: up adoption papers and a will which named the boy 178 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: is the heir and the Ronnie as his regent, and 179 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: he presents them to Major Ellis, who was serving as 180 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: an assistant political agent at John C at the time, 181 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: and this was all done on November eighteen fifty three. Unfortunately, though, 182 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: the Raja dies the very next day. Yeah, so suddenly 183 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: you have this kind of last minute paperwork that's just 184 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: gone down, this British policy that doesn't really look that 185 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: kindly on these adoptions, especially a last minute one like this. 186 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: And um, it seems though that things might work out 187 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: for a minute because Ellis is sympathetic to the Ronnie 188 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: and he forwards the information to his superior Major John Malcolm. 189 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: But Malcolm, even though he's not that keen on the 190 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: idea of the Ronnie being regent, he still describes her 191 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: to Delousie as quote, a woman highly respected and esteemed 192 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: and I believe fully capable of doing justice to such 193 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: a charge. So it still seems like maybe the British 194 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: are going to get behind this particular adoption at least. Yeah. Unfortunately, though, 195 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: Dalhousie refuses to acknowledge them. With Arrow as Air and 196 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: the new British Superintendent, Captain Alexander Sken comes to John 197 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: C and takes control under the doctrine of laps without 198 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: any opposition. So British are now in control, and it 199 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: seems that the Ronnie is out of luck. Yeah, the 200 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: estates tied up and is allowed to keep the town 201 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: palace as a personal residence, but she loses all of 202 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: the country estate and she only gets this annual pension 203 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: of about five thousand rupees and from that she's expected 204 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: to pay her husband's debt. So not a good deal 205 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: at all. So she doesn't accept it. No, she doesn't 206 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: accept it right away. She keeps submitting letters to contest 207 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: the doctrine of laps. She submits letters in December, February, 208 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: April of that year, and she keeps submitting letters until 209 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: I think early eighteen fifties six or so, so she 210 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: doesn't give up. Most of these letters, however, aren't even 211 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: forwarded to Lord's Ohousie, so she's not really being taken seriously. 212 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: At this point. Her attempts to get the air of 213 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: British officials just it's falling on deaf years. It's not 214 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: a luck, it seems. So she consults with the British 215 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: Council John Lange, who is trying and trying to get 216 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: her to agree to this pension that she wouldn't accept, 217 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 1: and she says to him, and this has become kind 218 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: of a famous quote. She said, as Mary john Z Nahid, 219 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: and this means I will not give up my john Z. 220 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: So's making a stand. Put her foot down. Um. But meanwhile, 221 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna catch you up with what's going on in 222 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: the rest of India. There were tensions mounting among the 223 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: Sea Boys, which were Indian troops in the British East 224 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: India Company Army. And actually Canadas and Jane a very 225 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: long time ago did an episode on the East India Company, um, 226 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: and they mentioned sea poison that so you could go 227 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: learn a little bit extra about them. But on the surface, 228 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: it seemed like the tensions that were mounting among these 229 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: troops were caused by rumors at the time that the 230 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: cartridges were newly issued Endfield rifles were greased with either 231 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: cow or pig fat, and depending on whether you were 232 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: a Hindu or a Muslim Sea Boy, that would be 233 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: sacrilegious when you had to tear open the cartridges with 234 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: your teeth. Um. So the fear was that the British 235 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: were we're doing this on purpose. They knew that this 236 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: was likely to cause religious related offense, and they were 237 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: doing it to undermine the sea boys faith and eventually 238 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: make it easier for them to convert them all to Christianity. Yeah, 239 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: that was the rumor at the time, as you said, 240 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: But historians tend to think that the tensions that were 241 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: building up before this, they were more due to the 242 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: so called reforms that were being made to Indian customs 243 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: and culture around that time or in the years leading 244 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: up to it. For example, widows being allowed to marry. 245 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: That was something that was very radical change. UM Land 246 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: reform had displaced many landowners. So these things that the 247 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: Ronnie was experiencing, others were experiencing them too, and they 248 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: weren't happy. You can imagine how that would cause some 249 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: pretty widespread discontent. So in Mirat, on May nine, eighty 250 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: five of these seapoys who refused to use the Endfield 251 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: cartridges were tried and put into irons, and um that 252 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: started off major rebellion. The next day, three regiments stormed 253 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: the jail and killed the officers and their families, and 254 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: they marched from there to Delhi, which was fifty miles away, 255 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: and from there the seapoint rebellion really just kind of spread, 256 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: you know. It started as this localized incident but it 257 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: started to spring up elsewhere like little brush fires, and 258 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: a few leaders took charge and transformed what had been 259 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: a mutiny into an organized resistance. They were really going 260 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: to give the British some trouble, yeah, And eventually the 261 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: mutiny made its way to John C too. On June 262 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: six fifty seven, the troops at John C mutinied and 263 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: shot their commanding officers, Captain Skeen. At this point he 264 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: gathers all the Europeans in the city, which there were 265 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: sixty six of them, and that included about half of 266 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: them I think were women and children. They took refuge 267 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: in the fort, which was pretty well designed as a defense. 268 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: It could withstand a siege and it had an internal 269 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: water supply. But they really didn't have that much food 270 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: at all. So it wasn't going to be a long 271 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: term solution to this standoff afford to stay there long. 272 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: So on June eighth, Skiing leads the British out of 273 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: the fort and they were massacred. By June twelfth, the 274 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: mutineers had left John C for Delhi. So a bad situation, 275 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: a very bad situation, and considering how unhappy that Ronnie 276 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: had been with the government. Many British people believe that 277 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: she was behind the mutiny. Yeah, but there was never 278 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: any real proof from this, and as we're going to see, 279 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: it certainly did not benefit her in any way. But 280 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: still people were suspicious. This is where the jazz belt 281 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: part of the title comes from. Um. So she sent 282 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: a letter afterwards. You know, she knows that people are 283 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: suspicious of her, So she sent a letter to the 284 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: British authorities and she recounted everything that had happened to her, 285 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: and she said, um, among a lot of other things, 286 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: quote that they the mutineers afterwards, behaved with much violence 287 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: against herself and her servants, and extorted a great deal 288 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: of money from her. So, you know, basically just trying 289 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: to make the point. They messed with me too. You know, 290 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: I was not their leader. I didn't help get this 291 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: whole thing going. Yeah, and she expresses It's a long 292 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: letter and you can find excerpts on it in various 293 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: essays and biographies, but she basically is like, hey, I'm 294 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: sorry this happened to you. This is really sad, but 295 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: my hands were tied. I couldn't do anything about it. 296 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: She sends another letter later saying that there was anarchy 297 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: in john Cy, and she asked for orders from the 298 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: British and they issued a proclamation authorizing the Ronnie to 299 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: manage to the district until they could send soldiers there 300 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: to restore order. And I was really surprised by this part, 301 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: because up until now, you know, the British have been 302 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: trying to strip her of any power she had, and 303 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: here they are authorizing her to to raise an army. 304 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: Pretty amazing. Yeah, I think it shows, you know, that 305 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: they did think that she had some brains, they had 306 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: some respect for her. They just didn't want her to 307 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: actually have any land. Yeah, in absence of any other 308 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: British option, we will let you run the place for 309 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: a little while until we get there. But you know, 310 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 1: in general, but she does start building up this army 311 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: while managing the district, and presumably at this point it 312 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 1: is to defend John C from neighboring districts and rebels, 313 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: maybe a distant claimant to the throne, you know, just 314 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: anybody who might come and cause trouble. Yeah, And according 315 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: to military history, some of her troops included mutineers from 316 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: the former John C Garrison, which is kind of suspicious, 317 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: I guess. And probably didn't help her cause and trying 318 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: to convince people that she wasn't responsible to from them 319 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: right then. Jerosh also says that her army included some 320 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: women too, and that this was an indicator of how 321 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: devoted and loyal her subjects were to her, because they 322 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: were willing to cast aside tradition to fight with her. Yeah. 323 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: But you know, speaking of tradition, we need to mention 324 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: the appearance of this woman too and her mannerisms, because 325 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: she she cut quite a figure, I mean to to 326 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: say the least. She's been described as being fair and handsome, 327 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: and though according to most of the British Men who 328 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: described her, her face was a little on the round side. Um, 329 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: but she quote had a noble presence and figure and 330 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: a stern expression. And instead of following the traditional customs 331 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: of widows at the time and dressing all in white 332 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: and not wearing any jewelry, she came out wearing men's 333 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 1: clothes sometimes, this coat of dark blue, a beautiful turban 334 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: on her head, and this embroidered cloth around her waist, 335 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: and jeweled a jeweled sword. I mean, she she must 336 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: have been pretty amazing looking, especially out leading an army. Yeah, definitely, 337 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: and she, I guess, had some moves to People have 338 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: said that they've you know, they saw her practicing her 339 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: skills on horseback and with their weapons out, um, you know, 340 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: while she was getting this army together. And one of 341 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: her signature moves, which I love. I think I was 342 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: trying to remember this for you earlier but couldn't remember 343 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: it. It It was that she would be on a horse 344 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: and twirling a saber in each hand with the reins 345 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: of the horse and her teeth so very skilled. Indeed, 346 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: that would be really scary if if you saw someone 347 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: coming with two sabers. Yeah. I didn't worried about my 348 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: teeth though, I hope that was me. You might like 349 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: go over a little bomb or something. Yeah. Yeah. But 350 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,479 Speaker 1: she had bigger problems though than her teeth. I mean, 351 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: that was not her top concern. That was not her 352 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 1: top concern. And I mean, if you wanted to show 353 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 1: people you were tough, hey, that's the way to do it. 354 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 1: Suffice to say, she soon got the opportunity to show 355 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: off her skills in January, Major General Sir Hugh Rose, 356 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: who ends up being named as her major opponent in 357 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: this whole affair. I think march towards the city with soldiers, 358 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: and as late as February the Ronnie told her British 359 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: advisors that she would in fact return the district to 360 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: the British when they got there. So exactly, she didn't 361 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: seem this is a relief she's been waiting for, right, um, 362 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: so not frontational at this point. But that's not really happened. 363 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: It wasn't a nice handoff, was it'. It's not how 364 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: Rose treats the situation at all. On March fifty eight, 365 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: Rose and his forces attacked Johncy and again, according to 366 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: military history, lux me By resisted because she wasn't sure 367 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: if she was going to be executed if she was captured. 368 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: I think she really believed that the British, after all, 369 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: they still weren't really happy with her after the mutiny 370 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: and really blamed her for it. Still many of them did, 371 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: the officials at least well, and and clearly the relations 372 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: between her and the British were muddled to say the least. 373 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 1: I mean, she didn't know what exactly was going on. 374 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: So by March thirty, most of the Ronnie's guns were 375 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: disabled and the fort's walls had been breached, and by 376 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: April three, the British broke into the city and they 377 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: took the palace and stormed the fort. But she got out. 378 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: She escaped on horseback in the night before that final assault. 379 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: And this is the amazing part. And if you if 380 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: you look up a picture of her, you'll see dramatizations 381 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: of this, not entirely accurate ones. But she escapes into 382 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: the night on horseback with her ten year old adopted 383 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: son strapped her back. I think he mentioned that she 384 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: knew she was going to have to to ride too 385 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: fast to just have him sitting in front of her 386 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 1: strapped to her back. Yeah. I mean, this is where 387 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: you see a lot of the legend come in. You'll 388 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: hear many different accounts of how this escape might have occurred, 389 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: but in general we think that he was strapped to 390 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: her back, tied to her with a sash, and that 391 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: she and a bunch maybe up to three hundred of 392 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: her troops escaped in the middle of the night. And 393 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 1: it's a little bit sketchy because how did they get 394 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: past the British troops, But maybe they were just confused 395 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: in the dark. Yeah, But I mean, once the Ronnie 396 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: is out, she rode like the wind because she was 397 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: afraid that the British were after her, and it said 398 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: she wrote anywhere from eighty six to ninety three miles 399 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: and twenty four hours to get all the way to 400 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 1: the fortress of Kalpi, where she joined up with some 401 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: of the other resistance leaders. Yeah Nanassa hid rouse aheb 402 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: and thought the ape. These were well known resistance leaders. 403 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: They had been involved in other mutinies elsewhere in India 404 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: going on at the time, and so they grouped together, 405 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: joined forces at Um and they faced the British in 406 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: two consecutive battles Um starting from Kalpi, one on May 407 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: six but which they were forced to retreat from, and 408 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: another one where they were defeated again on May twenty 409 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: two or twenty third somewhere around there. The British thought 410 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: that was the end at that point, but that wasn't 411 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: actually the case. On May thirty, the rebels reached Gualier, 412 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: which controlled both the Grand Trunk Road and the telegraph 413 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: lines between Agra and Bombay. There they met Joy g 414 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 1: raw Shindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, and he was a 415 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: British loyalist and actually tried to stop them. At this 416 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: point he tried to kind of push the rebels back 417 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: and not let them in, but his troops ended up 418 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: switching sides and he had to flee to Agra. So 419 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: at this point the rebels have control of Gualier. Yeah, 420 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: pretty big bunch of them too by now, and on 421 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: ju sixteenth, Rosa's forces closed in though, so it's important 422 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: to note up until this point locked me By had 423 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: not been out at the head of these rebel battles, 424 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: but she was the one who led what remained of 425 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: her John C. Contingent out to stop Rose's forces on Gwalior. 426 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 1: She went out to battle dressed in male clothing. She 427 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: had on the red uniform of a cavalry officer. She 428 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,959 Speaker 1: was wearing a white turban over her short hair. She 429 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,439 Speaker 1: really cut quite an inspiring figure. But during the battle 430 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: she was shot from her horse and killed, and it's 431 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: believed that she was cremated really soon after that because 432 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: she was terrified that her body would fall into British 433 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: hands and and not be treated respectfully. And after her death, 434 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: Willier fell pretty soon after that, and the organized rebellion 435 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: really fizzled out, and even though locked me By herself 436 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: did not really win any of these battles, it seems 437 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: like her personality and her bravery really left a big 438 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: impression on people. Yeah, it's really that. I think, as 439 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 1: you mentioned her personality, that's really made her a symbol 440 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: of the fight for Indian independence. And at the time, 441 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: I think it was sort of true as well. I mean, 442 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 1: British newspapers proclaimed, look at me by the Jezebel of India. 443 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: But even Sir Hugh Rose, her big rival in this 444 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: whole battle, compared his fallen adversary to Joan of Arc. 445 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: So that's, you know, maybe one of the first places 446 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: that we see that. And he reported her death to 447 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland in this way, he said, 448 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: the Ronnie is remarkable for her bravery, cleverness and perseverance. 449 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: Her generosity to her subordinates was unbounded. These qualities, combined 450 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 1: with her rank, rendered her the most dangerous of all 451 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: rebel leaders. And I mean, I think that's interesting. And 452 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: I mentioned this a minute ago when we were talking 453 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: about how strange it is that they gave her, they 454 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: gave her permission to raise an army in the first place, 455 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: but that they would be so disrespect full of her claims, 456 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: yet so admiring of her, her personality and her her capability. 457 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: I just think it's um, I don't know, it's sad. Yeah, 458 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: it's a huge contradiction, but I mean I think we 459 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: see that a lot throughout women's history, and Rose had 460 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: more praise for her, and maybe somewhat dubious praise, I guess, 461 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: depending on how you like to study your women's history. 462 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,919 Speaker 1: He said, although she was a lady, she was the 463 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: bravest and best military leader of the rebels, a man 464 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: among the mutineers. So his highest compliment was comparing her 465 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: to a man. Yeah, and so does a popular folk song. 466 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 1: But I think that it might put it a little 467 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: a little better better, Yeah, definitely more exciting. Right, So 468 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: the folk song goes, how valiantly like a man thought 469 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: she the Ronnie of John C. On every parapetic gun 470 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: she set, raining fire of hell? How well like a 471 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: man thought the Ronnie of John C. How valiantly and well. 472 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: So I think that's a good way to finish off 473 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: the story of Lukshmi by writing are a pal writing 474 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: fire poll? Okay, maybe not, thanks Sarah, good point. Sorry, 475 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 1: But if this story of a female warrior a real 476 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: life Amazon didn't do it for you. We're thinking of 477 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: doing another episode soon, as you may have guessed from 478 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: as we mentioned our Facebook post. Maybe a lift, maybe 479 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 1: a list um, although I don't know how we're going 480 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: to narrow it down because there are so many good options. 481 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 1: But yeah, look for a list of real life warriors 482 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: coming up. Real life female warriors, we should say. And 483 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: you know, if you have any thoughts about your favorite ones, 484 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: we're always happy to hear them, and we'd love to 485 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: hear them. In fact, you can email us at History 486 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: Podcast at how stuff works dot com, or you can 487 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: look us up on Twitter at myston history or on Facebook. 488 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 1: And if you want to learn a little bit more 489 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: about Indian history, we have an article called why did 490 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,880 Speaker 1: Gandhi march two forty miles for Salt? And you can 491 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 1: find it by searching on our home page at www 492 00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: dot how stuff works dot com. For more on this 493 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 1: and thousands of other topics, visit how stuff works dot com. 494 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 1: To learn more about the podcast, click on the podcast 495 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: icon in the upper right corner of our homepage. The 496 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 1: how stuff Works iPhone app has a rise. Download it 497 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: today on iTunes. M