Rani Lakshmi Bai

India’s Joan of Arc

As the British East India Company tightened its grip on India by violating Hindu traditions, stealing land from Indian landowners and replacing India’s leaders with British military officials, the people of India grew more and more angry. When rebellion breaks out in Jhansi, Queen Lakshmi Bai tries to play by the British “rules” to maintain order, but when they betray her and threaten her execution this badass rani takes no time in combining forces with the other rebellion leaders in a display of force the Brits are not expecting.

How does this “Jezebel of India” build an army, escape a siege, ride almost 100 miles in a day and lead the rebel armies into combat? You’ll have to listen to this episode to find out!