Begum Hazrat Mahal, known as the Begum of Awadh, was the regent of Awadh 1857–1858. She is known for leading the rebellion against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After her husband Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah was exiled and the Indian Rebellion broke out, she made her son, Prince Birjis Qadr, the Wali (ruler) of Awadh, with herself as regent during his minority. From their home in the historic city of Lucknow, she took charge of the affairs of the rebel state of Awadh as it entered armed struggle with the British East India Company. She laid out her complaints agains the East India in a proclamation during the final days of the revolt: "To eat pigs and drink wine, to bite greased cartridges and to mix pig's fat with sweetmeats, to destroy Hindu and Mussalman temples and mosques on the pretense of making roads, to build churches, to send clergymen into the streets to preach the Christian religion, to institute English schools, and pay people a monthly stipend for learning the English sciences, while the places of worship of Hindus and Mussalmans are to this day entirely neglected; with all this, how can people believe that religion will not be interfered with?" When the British re-captured Lucknow, she was forced to retreat. After her short reign, she found asylum in Nepal, where she died on this date in 1879. Her role in the rebellion has given her a heroine status in the post-colonial history of India. In 1962, a park in Lucknow was renamed for her, and a marble memorial constructed. In 1984, India issued a commemorative stamp in her honour. And India established the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls to benefit minority communities. Credits: https://w.wiki/Fe6x Portrait: https://w.wiki/KuRg Public Domain Thanks to the club riders for the re-groups today. I was the last one to arrive at each, and it was good to know you care! It was chilly at the start of the ride, but soon I was plenty warm. I had forgotten that Empire Grade is 200 feet per mile, but it felt fine, even if I'm slow. By the time we got to the coast, there was a nice tailwind, and the temperature was perfect. West Cliff is always beautiful. I went over the corkscrew three times today! My van was parked at Maryann's on the west side, so I biked over to Gateway Plaza before the ride. Then the ride started with the corkscrew. Then, at the end of the ride, I took the corkscrew back to the west side. I mean, it's not ideal, but it's good that it's available. I'd like to know more about the history of CA1 in that area, when it became an expressway, and when the corkscrew crossing was built.