begum hazrat mahal

Dr Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, a renowned British scholar, talks about an unnamed and unsung African woman who fought in Sikandra Bagh in Lucknow during the Revolt of 1857 and killed a number of British soldiers before being shot.

I have so far painted the portraits of Dr Vandana Shiva, Savitri Bai Phule, Kesarbai Kerkar, Tessy Thomas, Shakuntala Devi, Dr Mandakini Amte, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Janaki Ammal, Queen Velu Nachiyar and Bhanu Athaiya.

The Begum ruled the largest area of rebel land, commanded the most significant rebel force of the war and held out the longest against the British

Few Indians know the story of Jenab Aliya Begum a.k.a Malika Kishwar, the remarkable queen of Awadh who lies in an unmarked grave at Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

We pay a tribute to these fearless women warriors who deserve to be recognised for their role in the freedom struggle.