TOPIC 5.7 REVOLT OF 1857
Causes of the Revolt
1.Political Nana Sahib was refused pension as he was the adopted son of Peshwa baji Rao-II to lead the revolt at Kanpur. Awadh (Lucknow) was annexed in 1856, on charge of maladministration and Jhansi was annexed owing to the Doctrine of Lapse.( implemented by Lord Dalhousie, which allowed the British to annex any princely state where the ruler was either incompetent or died without a male heir, caused widespread resentment among Indian rulers.)
2.Loss of Sovereignty: The British policies systematically eroded the sovereignty of Indian states and traditional rulers, which created a sense of insecurity and anger among them.
3.Military Discrimination
Indian Soldiers were paid low salaries; they could not rise above the rank of Subedar and were racially insulted.
4.Religious Discrimination
The social reforms by the British were against the people's will (widow remarriage, abolition of sati, school for girls, Christian missionaries etc.) Soldiers were asked to use the Enfield Rifles with greased (by pork or beef) cartridges.
5.Racial Discrimination: The racial arrogance and discriminatory policies of the British towards Indians fueled resentment and anger.
6.General Discontent: There was a general sense of discontent and mistrust among the Indian soldiers due to various grievances, including the General Service Enlistment Act, which required soldiers to serve overseas.
7.Economic Grievances
Heavy taxation, discriminatory tariff policy, destruction of traditional handicrafts that hit peasants, artisans and small zamindars.
Here are seven key points with dates and events related to the revolt:
1. Immediate Cause: The Enfield Rifle Cartridge
Date: March 1857
Event: The immediate cause of the revolt was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle, whose cartridges were rumoured to be greased with animal fat, including beef and pork. This offended both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, leading to widespread unrest in the army.
2. Mutiny at Meerut
Date: May 10, 1857
Event: The revolt began in Meerut when sepoys refused to use the new cartridges and were subsequently punished. This led to a violent mutiny, with sepoys attacking British officers and taking control of the city.
3. Capture of Delhi
Date: June 11, 1857
Event: Rebel forces, led by prominent leaders like Bahadur Shah II, captured Delhi and declared him the Emperor of Hindustan. The British reasserted control after a prolonged siege, culminating in the recapture of the city on September 20, 1857.
4. The Siege of Kanpur
Date: June 6 to July 15, 1857
Event: The British garrison in Kanpur, under General Sir Hugh Wheeler, was besieged by rebel forces led by Nana Sahib. The siege ended with a bloody massacre when British troops, having escaped from the besieged area, were ambushed and killed.
5. The Siege of Lucknow
Date: June 30 to November 17, 1857
Event: The British residency in Lucknow, defended by Sir Henry Lawrence and later by General Colin Campbell, was besieged by rebel forces. The British successfully relieved the siege in November 1857 after several months of fierce fighting.
6. Jahangirabad and the Role of Rani of Jhansi
Date: June 1857 - March 1858
Event: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi became a prominent leader of the revolt, fighting against British forces. The British ultimately defeated her forces after a determined resistance, including a final battle in March 1858.
7. End of the Revolt and Its Aftermath
Date: June 1858
Event: The revolt was effectively crushed by the British by June 1858. The British East India Company was dissolved, and the British Crown assumed direct control of India, leading to the establishment of the British Raj.
Outbreak of the Revolt
Bengal Resentment in which 19 native infantry of Berhampur, refused to use the newly intruded Enfield rifle.
Mangal Pandey, 34th native infantry, fired at the sergeant major of his regiment. Known as a part of Mutiny of Barrackpore.
Mangal Pandey was hanged.
On 10th May, 1857, the sepoys at meerut refused to use Enfield Rifles and revolted. The mutiny spread throughout Uttar Pradesh and sepoys moved to Delhi crying in March to Delhi.
At Delhi, Bahadur Shah II was declared 'Shehenshah-i- Hindustan.
Where the rulers were loyal to the British, the soldiers revolted as in Gwalior and Indore, In the same places, people revolted before the sepoys.
In the Beginning, the rebels were successful. Europeans were killed, police stations and law courts were attacked and revenue records were destroyed. But, the revolt was soon suppressed.
Centres of Revolt and their Leaders
Delhi Bahadur Shah II, General Bakht Khan
Kanpur Nana Sahib/Dhondu Pant ( adopted son of Baji Rao-II) Tantia Tope, Azimullah Khan
Jhansi Rani Lakhshmi Bai
Lakhnow Begum Hazrat Mahal, her son Birjis Qadir.
Faizabad Maulavi Ahamdullah
Bihar (Arrah) Kunwar Singh, Zamindar of Jagdishpur.
Suppression of the Revolt.
John Lawrence remarked, "Had a single leader of ability arisen among them we must have been lost beyond redemption". Delhi was captured on 20th September 1857 by John Nicholson and Bahadur Shah II was deported to Rangoon, where he died in 1862. His sons were shot dead at Delhi.
Jhansi was captured by Hugh Rose on 17th June, 1858. Ram Lakshmi Bai died on the battlefield.
Lucknow was recaptured on 21st March, 1858 by Cohn Campbell, Havelock and Outrarn.
Nana Sahib and Hazrat Mahal both escaped to Nepal.
William Taylor and Edge suppressed the revolt at Arrah. Tantia Tope was betrayed by a friend. He was captured and executed on 15th April, 1859.
Rani Lakshmi Bai :Rani Lakshmi Bai, nicknamed Manu. was married to Baja Gangadhar Rao in 1842. The couple adopted a child in 1853 but Lord Daihousie wished to annex Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse. Rani did not surrender and died fighting at Kalpi near Jhansi during the Revolt of 1857.
Causes Behind the Failure of the Revolt
Lack of unity and poor organisation of the revolt. All the classes of the society were not affected or participated in the revolt.
Lack of common motive for participating in the revolt. Some of the rulers like Scindhias, Nizam and Holkars helped Britishers in repressing the revolt.
The military equipment of rebels was inferior.
The most significant feature of the revolt was the exhibition of Hindu-Muslim Unity.
Concentrated on the Northern part of India.
Impacts of the Revolt
In August 1858, the British Parliament passed an Act, which put an end to the rule of the Company. The responsibility of the administration of British India passed into the hands of the British Queen and the Parliament.
An office of the Secretary of State for India with a 15 members’ council was constituted for the administration of India.
The designation of the Governor- General was changed to Viceroy, who was to act as a representative.
‘Doctrine of Lapse’ was withdrawn. Princely states were assured against annexation.
The British pursued the divide and rule policy.
Increase in the number of white soldiers in the army.
Total expense of the suppression was borne by the Indians.
The Revolt of 1857 had profound and far-reaching impacts on British India.
Here are seven key points outlining its impact:
End of the East India Company's Rule:
The British Crown took direct control of India, marking the end of the East India Company’s rule. The Government of India Act 1858 transferred the powers of the Company to the British Crown, leading to the establishment of the British Raj.
Reorganization of the Army:
The British restructured the Indian army to prevent future rebellions. They increased the number of British troops in India, reduced the number of Indian soldiers, and implemented policies to ensure that regiments were composed of diverse ethnic and religious groups to prevent unity among the soldiers.
Changes in Administrative Policies:
The British adopted policies to placate Indian princes and elites. They stopped the policy of annexation and respected the titles and rights of Indian princes, who were promised more autonomy in their territories under the doctrine of “divide and rule.”
Economic Exploitation Intensified:
Post-revolt, the British intensified economic exploitation. They introduced more rigorous taxation systems and policies that favored British industries and economy, further impoverishing the Indian economy and its people.
Rise of Nationalism:
The revolt sowed the seeds of Indian nationalism. Although it was a failed uprising, it marked the beginning of organized resistance against British rule. The events of 1857 became a source of inspiration for future Indian nationalists and freedom fighters.
Reforms and Modernization:
The British introduced several reforms to modernize India. They expanded the railway network, telegraph lines, and other infrastructure projects. These measures were aimed at consolidating British control but also unintentionally facilitated the spread of nationalist ideas.
Social and Cultural Impact:
The revolt led to a more cautious British approach towards Indian society and culture. While reforms continued, the British became more sensitive to Indian religious and social customs to avoid offending sentiments. This included a more conservative approach towards social reforms in the following years.
These impacts collectively shaped the subsequent trajectory of Indian society, politics, and the struggle for independence.
