In the Revolt of 1857, which freedom fighter is especially associated with the princely state of Jhansi?

Introduction / Context:
The Revolt of 1857, often called the First War of Independence, saw participation from many different regions and leaders across North and Central India. Each major centre of rebellion is usually linked in exam questions with a particular leader. Jhansi, a princely state in Bundelkhand, became famous for the bravery and sacrifice of its ruler, who has since become a national symbol of resistance to British rule. This question checks whether you can correctly identify that iconic figure and distinguish her from revolutionaries of other periods.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The time frame is the Revolt of 1857. - The location is the princely state of Jhansi. - The options list Chandra Shekhar Azad, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Mangal Pandey and Bhagat Singh. - We assume knowledge of which leaders belong to 1857 and which belong to twentieth century revolutionary movements.

Concept / Approach:
Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, is one of the best known leaders of the 1857 uprising. After the doctrine of lapse was applied to Jhansi, she was deeply aggrieved and later became a prominent figure in the military resistance against the British. She organised the defence of Jhansi, fought bravely in battles and died on the battlefield. In contrast, Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh were twentieth century revolutionaries associated with organisations like the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Mangal Pandey is associated with the beginning of the revolt at Barrackpore, but not with Jhansi specifically.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the revolt mentioned as the 1857 uprising and the place mentioned as Jhansi. Step 2: Recall that Rani Lakshmi Bai was the ruler of Jhansi during this period and that she refused to accept the annexation of her state under the doctrine of lapse. Step 3: Remember that she led the defence of Jhansi against British forces and later joined forces with other leaders such as Tatya Tope. Step 4: Recognise that Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh were active in the early twentieth century, long after 1857, so they do not fit the time frame. Step 5: Note that Mangal Pandey is known for his role at Barrackpore and for the initial spark of the revolt, not for leadership in Jhansi. Step 6: Conclude that the leader associated with Jhansi in the Revolt of 1857 is Rani Lakshmi Bai.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard history of the Revolt of 1857 links particular centres with particular leaders: Kanpur with Nana Saheb, Lucknow with Begum Hazrat Mahal, Bihar with Kunwar Singh and Jhansi with Rani Lakshmi Bai. These pairings are repeated in textbooks and exam notes, so that students can quickly recall them. When revising, it helps to list these places and leaders together. Doing so makes it very clear that Rani Lakshmi Bai is inseparable from the story of Jhansi in 1857.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chandra Shekhar Azad is wrong because he was a twentieth century revolutionary leader, not a participant in the 1857 uprising.

Mangal Pandey is wrong because, although linked to the outbreak of the revolt at Barrackpore, he was not connected with Jhansi.

Bhagat Singh is wrong because he belonged to the era of the Non Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements and is famous for events such as the Lahore conspiracy case, not the 1857 rising.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to mix up freedom fighters from very different time periods simply because they are all famous names. Another pitfall is to know that Mangal Pandey was part of the 1857 events and then to wrongly associate him with every question on that uprising. To avoid such mistakes, always link Jhansi specifically with Rani Lakshmi Bai in your memory maps of the revolt. Visualising her iconic image on horseback defending Jhansi can be a powerful way to fix this association.

Final Answer:
The leader especially associated with Jhansi in the Revolt of 1857 is Rani Lakshmi Bai.