Doubts raised over Queen of Jhansi’s ‘original’ photo

More than 150 years after her death, Rani Lakshmibai, or the Queen of Jhansi, is back in the news. The controversy surrounds her picture, which a website claims to be her only ‘original’ photograph. Gyandotcom, which has uploaded the photograph of the warrior, claims it is her only picture available in the world and was clicked in 1850 by the British photographer Hoffman. The website has also uploaded rare and ‘original’ letters written by Rani Lakshmibai — one of the leading figures of the 1857 rebellion against the British.“The authenticity of this photograph is true as per our research,” reads a note on ths website. It also states that those having doubts could consult the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, experts and those familiar with the history of the 1857 mutiny have their reservations over its genuineness.“I have seen the photograph… I can’t say it’s a fake, but I have my doubts about its originality,” senior Congress leader and scion of the erstwhile Samthar estate near Jhansi, Raja Ranjit Singh Judeo, said. “The Rani is seen sitting on the throne in regal attire. This seems improbable as Raja Ganga Rao was the ruler at that time (in 1850)… he died in 1853.” Judeo also said that the use of cameras was very rare in that era. “Even the British rarely had cameras,” he explained.According to the website, the photograph was put on display by Waman Thakre in Bhopal on World Photography Day (August 19) this year. The photograph belongs to an undisclosed antique collector based in Ahmedabad. Rani Lakshmibai’s 152nd death anniversary was observed last week.But Amaresh Misra, author of The War of 1857, said he neither saw the photograph, nor heard of it during the research for his book. He also said he had never come across any reference about Hoffman.“If it’s an original, it is a national treasure,” Rajesh Tope, descendant of Tatya Tope, who fought the British alongside the Rani of Jhansi, said. A similar controversy had erupted over a supposedly rare photograph of Tatya Tope, which turned out to be fake.