JHALKARI is the story of one of the many unsung heroes of India's first struggle for Independence in 1857. A young Dalit girl in Jhansi, Jhalkari Bai joined the women's army (Durga Sena) of Rani Lakshmi Bai. Not only was Jhalkari a great soldier, strategist and commander, but she was also the queen's lookalike. Jhalkari Bai's contribution to India's struggle for Independence, along with the women warriors of the 'Durga Sena' was never documented in the pages of our history textbooks, but remains alive in the folklore, poetry and music of the people of Bundelkhand, even today.