MarioStpierre at 20:48, 21 February 2026

2026-02-21T20:48:28Z

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{{distinguish|Damodar Raao}}
{{redirect|Anand Rao|the cricketer|Anand Rao (cricketer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = [[Maharaja]] of [[Jhansi State|Jhansi]] (disputed)
| reign = 1857
| regent = [[Rani Lakshmibai]] (adoptive mother)
| name = Prince of Jhansi Shrimant Damodar Rao Newalkar
| image =
| caption = adopted son of Rani Jhansi
| spouses = {{plainlist|
* Lady Shivre
* (personal name unknown)
}}
| issue =[[Lakhsman Rao Jhansiwale]]
| birth_name = Anand Rao
| birth_date = {{birth date|1849|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Jalgaon]], [[British India]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[Jalgaon]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]])}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1906|5|28|1849|11|15|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Indore State]], [[British India]]<br />{{small|(present-day Indore, [[Madhya Pradesh]], India)}}
}}
'''Damodar Rao''' (born as Anand Rao) (15 November 1849 – 28 May 1906) was the adopted son of [[Gangadhar Rao|Maharaja Gangadhar Rao]] and [[Rani Laxmibai]] of [[Jhansi State]].

Born as Anand Rao to Vasudev Rao Newalkar in 15 November 1849 Parola Fort, Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Vasudev Rao a cousin of Raja Gangadhar Rao, he was adopted by the maharaja after his own son died. The adoption of Anand Rao, who was renamed Damodar Rao, occurred on the day before the Maharaja died. The adoption was in the presence of the British political officer who was given a letter from the Maharaja instructing that the child be treated with respect and that the government of Jhansi should be given to his widow for her lifetime. After the death of the Maharaja in 21 November 1853, because Damodar Rao (born Anand Rao) was adopted, the [[British East India Company]], under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, applied the [[Doctrine of Lapse]], rejecting Damodar Rao's claim to the throne and annexing the state to its territories. When she was informed of this, Rani Laxmibai cried out "I shall not surrender my Jhansi" ({{Transliteration|hi|"mai apni Jhansi kabhi nahi doongi"}}). In March 1854, Rani Laxmibai was given an annual pension of Rs. 60,000 and ordered to leave the palace and the fort.<ref>Edwardes, Michael (1975) ''Red Year''. London: Sphere Books, pp. 113–14</ref><ref>N.B. Rao only means "prince"; the maharaja was Gangadhar Newalkar of the Newalkar clan.</ref>

However, actions by mutineers at Jhansi and the failure of negotiations between the Rani and the Company resulted in Jhansi State reasserting its independence. Eventually, Company forces laid siege to the city of Jhansi and after determined resistance, they breached its defences. Rani Laxmibai evaded capture, according to tradition, with Damodar Rao on her back jumping on her horse, Sarangi from the fort. They survived but the horse died. More probably she escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remarkableindia.com/jhansi.php|title=Jhansi|publisher=Remarkable India|access-date=27 October 2012|archive-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010073528/http://remarkableindia.com/jhansi.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Jerosch">''[https://books.google.com/books?id=N-KpcaLP8VgC Rani of Jhansi, Rebel against will]'' by Rainer Jerosch, published by Aakar Books 2007; chapters 5 and 6</ref>
[[File:The place from where Rani Lakshmibai jumped.jpg|thumb|The point from where Rani Lakshmibai jumped with her horse, Sarangi and young Damodar Rao, according to legend, marked at [[Jhansi Fort]].]]

After the death of Rani Lakshmibai at Kotah ki Sarai in Gwalior on 17 June 1858, he survived that battle and, lived with his mentors in the jungle, in dire poverty. According to a memoir purported to be by Damodar Rao, he was among his mother's troops and household at the battle of Gwalior, together with others who had survived the battle (some 60 retainers with 60 camels and 22 horses), he fled from the camp of Rao Sahib of Bithur and as the village people of Bundelkhand dared not aid them for fear of reprisals from the British they were forced to live in the forest and suffer many privations.<ref>The whole memoir was published in Marathi in Kelkar, Y. N. (1959) ''Itihasachya Sahali'' ("Voyages in History").</ref> He had taken asylum in [[Jhalrapatan]] when due to the help of some old confidants, he met Raja Pratapsinh of Jhalarpatan. An old confidant, Nanekhan impressed upon the local British political officer, Flink to forgive young Damodar. He was sent to [[Indore]] after he surrendered to the British. Here, Sir Richard Shakespeare, the local political agent, placed him under the guardianship of a [[Kashmiris|Kashmiri]] teacher, called Munshi Dharmanarayan, to teach Damodar – [[Urdu]], English and [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. He was allowed to keep only 7 followers (all others had to leave) and was allotted an annual pension of Rs. 10,000.<ref name=c>{{Cite web|url=https://cbkwgl.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/the-fate-of-damodar-rao-the-son-of-rani-lakshmi-bai-of-jhansi-after-the-war/|title=The fate of Damodar Rao, the Son of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi after the war|date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

He settled down at Indore, where British provided him house in Residency and was paid a pension of Rs. 400/- by British. His first wife died shortly afterwards and he was married again into Shivre family.<ref name=p>{{cite news |title=‘मर्दानी’ के वंशज जी रहे गुमनाम जीवन, क्या आप जानते हैं…सॉफ्टवेयर इंजीनियर है उनकी छठी पीढ़ी {{!}} Descendants of Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmi Baai, Jhansi wale |url=https://www.patrika.com/bhopal-news/descendants-of-jhansi-ki-rani-lakshmi-baai-jhansi-wale-7810453 |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=Patrika News |agency=Patrika Bhopal |date=8 October 2022 |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=db>{{cite news |title=सिंधिया के नमन पर लक्ष्मीबाई के वंशजों का दर्द:कहा- हमें तो झांसी के किले पर भी टिकट लेकर जाना पड़ता है; रानी की संपत्ति मांगने पर भी नहीं मिली |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/mp/gwalior/news/we-have-to-buy-tickets-even-at-jhansi-fort-we-have-to-remain-anonymous-129267383.html |access-date=12 March 2025 |agency=DIVYA BHASKAR}}</ref> In 1904, he had a son named Lakshman Rao.<ref name=c/> Later, after end of the [[Company rule in India]], he also petitioned [[British Raj]] for recognition but was refused to be recognised as legal heir.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/j/jhansi.html |title=JHANSI |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710033312/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/j/jhansi.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=t>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Jhansi-honours-its-Ranis-descendents/articleshow/50346778.cms|title=Jhansi honours its Rani's descendents | Lucknow News – Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Damodar Rao was an avid photographer by passion.<ref name=t/> He died on 28 May 1906 survived by his son [[Lakhsman Rao Jhansiwale|Lakhsman Rao]].<ref name=c/><ref name=t/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:1849 births]]
[[Category:1906 deaths]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:People from Jhansi]]
[[Category:People from Indore]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Jhansi]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian royalty]]

Damodar Rao of Jhansi - Revision history

MarioStpierre at 20:48, 21 February 2026