Begum Hazrat Mahal Rises in Revolt

Relentless in her pursuit, Begum Hazrat Mahal appealed to the rural folks of Awadh herself, and urged them to join her in the fight. With their support, she singlehandedly led her troops to victory, and seized control over Lucknow once again. On 5th July, 1857, she triumphantly reinstated Indian rule in Awadh, handing over the throne to her 14 year old son.

Within a year in 1857, India’s dissent for the British rule gained explosive momentum, and mutiny broke out in the form of the First Independence War. Begum Hazrat Mahal proved to be indispensable in this struggle. She was discontent with mere strategising, and took to the battlefield alongside bravehearts such as Rani Laxmi Bai, Bakht Khan, and Maulvi Abdullah. She also worked closely with Nana Saheb, and went on to assist the Maulavi of Faizabad during the attack on Shahjahanpur.