Damodar Rao of Jhansi

Damodar Rao (born Anand Rao) (15 November 1849 – 28 May 1906) was the adopted son of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao and Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi State.

Born as Anand Rao to a cousin of Raja Gangadhar Rao, he was adopted by the maharaja after his own son died. The adoption of Anand Rao, who was renamed Damodar Rao, occurred on the day before the Maharaja died. The adoption was in the presence of the British political officer who was given a letter from the Maharaja instructing that the child be treated with respect and that the government of Jhansi should be given to his widow for her lifetime. After the death of the Maharaja in November 1853, because Damodar Rao (born Anand Rao) was adopted, the British East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, applied the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting Damodar Rao's claim to the throne and annexing the state to its territories. When she was informed of this Rani Lakshmibai cried out "I shall not surrender my Jhansi" (Mai Jhansi ko nahi doongi). In March 1854, Rani Lakshmibai was given an annual pension of Rs. 60,000 and ordered to leave the palace and the fort.

However actions by mutineers at Jhansi and the failure of negotiations between the Rani and the Company resulted in Jhansi State reasserting its independence. Eventually Company forces laid siege to the city of Jhansi and after determined resistance they breached its defences. Rani Lakshmibai evaded capture by, according to tradition, with Damodar Rao on her back jumping on her horse Badal from the fort; they survived but the horse died. More probably she escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.

After the death of Rani Laxmi Bai at Kotah ki Serai on 17/18 June 1858 he survived that battle and lived with his mentors in the jungle, in dire poverty. He had taken asylum in Jhalrapatan when due to help of some old confidants, he met Raja Pratapsinh of Jhalarpatan. An old confidant Nanekhan, impressed upon the local British political officer, Flink to forgive young Damodar. He was sent to Indore, after he surrenderd to the British. Here Sir Richard Shakespeare, the local political agent, placed him under guardianship of a Kashmiri teacher, called Munshi Dharmanarayan, to teach Damodar - Urdu, English & Marathi. He was allowed to keep only 7 followers (all others had to leave) and was allotted an annual pension of Rs. 10,000. He settled down at Indore and married. His first wife died shortly afterwards and he was married again into Shivre family. In 1904, he had a son named Lakshman Rao. Later, after end of the Company rule in India, he also petitioned British Raj for recognition but was refused to be recognized as legal heir. Damodar Rao was an avid photographer by passion. He died on 28 May 1906 survived by his son Lakhsman Rao

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