The contribution and sacrifice of a female soldier was depicted in the Hindi play ‘Jhalkari Bai’ here on Tuesday at Shaheed Bhawan. 

Written by Ranjana Chitle, the play was directed by Niti Shrivastava. The play focuses on the contribution of a female warrior in the freedom struggle. Jhalkari Bai was a soldier in the women’s army of Queen Laxmi Bai of Jhansi.The play depicted her life span from her childhood till she fought for the freedom of the country. Jhalkari Bai was an Indian woman soldier who played an important role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 during the battle of Jhansi.

 During the rebellion, at the fort of Jhansi, she disguised herself as the queen and fought on the front to let the queen escape safely out of the fort. During the Revolt of 1857, General Hugh Rose attacked Jhansi with a large army. Jhalkari Bai made a suggestion that she would go on the front in disguise.

The queen escaped from the fort and left for Kalpi. At the same time, Jhalkari Bai set out for General Rose's camp in disguise and declared herself as the queen Laxmi Bai.

This led to confusion. She was released only after it was revealed that she was not the queen but a common soldier.

 Her life and especially the incident of her fighting with the East India Company army on the front in disguise, continues to be sung in various Bundeli folklores. While talking about it director of the play Neeti Shrivastava said, “Very few people know about Jhalkari Bai and her contribution in the freedom struggle. There are very few evidences of Jhalkari Bai in the stories of freedom struggle.