14. Rani Lakshmibai
Rani Lakshmibai, born Manikarnika Tambe in 1828, was the queen of Jhansi and a prominent leader during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After the death of her husband, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao, the British East India Company annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse. Refusing to surrender, she led her forces in a valiant defense of Jhansi, becoming a symbol of resistance and courage. (indiatoday.in) Her legacy endures as a heroine of India’s struggle for independence.
