Modi presents Abbott commemorative photo collage dedicated to Rani Lakshmibai's counsel

Canberra, Nov 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday presented his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott a commemorative photo collage dedicated to the memory of novelist John Lang, who was Rani Lakshmibai's counsel during the East India Company's rule in India.

Modi presented the collage at the beginning of the bilateral talks between the two leaders at the Australian Parliament, an official statement from the prime minister's office said.

The collage contains photographs of Lang's marriage certificate dated May 11, 1861, along with a picture of his final resting place in Mussoorie, India and a photo of a commemorative plaque in memory of Lang.

Lang, generally regarded as Australia's first native born novelist, in 1854 became counsel to Rani Lakshmibai and represented her in her legal battles against the East India Company.

Lakshmibai was the queen of the Maratha-ruled Jhansi state in British India.

Modi also shared a picture of the collage on his twitter account and said: "John Lang - a remarkable Australian's extraordinary Indian journey".

IANS