The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is often termed as the first war of independence in India. One of our bravest rebels who fought against the British was the warrior queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai. Hugh Rose, a senior British officer who defeated the force of Jhansi, praising the brave queen, said- "Here lay the woman who was the only man among the rebels." Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, a renowned poet from the Hindi heartland, Allahabad, gave a fitting tribute to the valour of Rani of Jhasi with her immortal lines "Khoob ladi mardaani woh toh Jhansi wali Rani thi." Here are excerpts from the poem that fill us with pride for the woman who was the epitome of courage.