Born as Manikarnika, Laxmibai, also known as 'Manu' was the daughter of a Maharashtrian Brahmin Moropant Tambe from Varanasi. While other girls of her age chose to do household chores, she played and defeated the local boys in muddy matches of kabaddi. She married Gangadhar Rao, who was the Raja of Jhansi, at a very tender age. It was after her husband's untimely demise, while she was still an adolescent that the agile Rani became a true warrior and an epitome of women's power in the country.