Revolt of 1857

Indian troops started the Revolt of 1857, a significant rebellion against British authority in India that was eventually joined by members of other societal groups. This uprising is significant because it established the framework for subsequent resistance groups and was the first substantial attempt to subvert British imperial control. The purpose of this article is to examine the causes, development, character, and effects of the Revolt of 1857 in depth.

About Revolt of 1857

• Tribal uprisings, peasant uprisings, revolts by overthrown rajas, and uprisings and rebellions with a religious bent were among the occasional incidents of both conventional and progressive nature that occurred between 1757 and 1857.
• A large-scale uprising took place in several regions of northern India around a century after the Battle of Plassey.
• The rebellion was actually a culmination of the nature and practices of colonial administration rather than only the product of Sepoy dissatisfaction.

Causes of Revolt of 1857

• Political: Indian kings lost their sovereignty as a result of British annexation plans.
• Economic: Traditional industries were destroyed by high taxes and exploitation, which resulted in widespread poverty.
• Social: Indian social norms and religious customs were under danger due to British changes.
• Military: The Enfield weapon, which was allegedly lubricated with pig and cow fat, infuriated Muslim and Hindu troops.
• Integration: In northern and central India, rebellion broke out.

Beginning and Spread of the Revolt of 1857

• At Barrackpore near Calcutta, Mangal Pandey, a young sepoy of the 34th native infantry, murdered two British officers who were on parade.
• The mutiny began on May 10, 1857, at Meerut. Because they refused to use the greased cartridges, 85 Sepoys from the 3rd Native Cavalry were imprisoned.
• The remaining Indian soldiers at Meerut rebelled, murdered their superiors, freed the captives, and left for Delhi

Delhi

• Bahadur Shah Zafar was selected to serve as the revolt’s symbolic leader in Delhi.
• The Delhi native infantry joined the Sepoys from Meerut, executed their European leaders, including the political agent Simon Frazer, and took control of the city.
• This unplanned ascent of the final Mughal ruler to the throne acknowledged that the Mughal dynasty had become the traditional emblem of India’s political unity due to its lengthy rule.
• The English suffered a great loss of reputation when they lost Delhi. The uprising extended to other regions of the nation within a month after its takeover.
• A revolution soon erupted across the Bengal army, and it spread swiftly. Large portions of Bihar, central India, the Doab, the Bundelkhand, the Awadh, the Rohilkhand, and the East Punjab all rebelled against British rule. Bengal and Hyderabad had local uprisings as well.

Kanpur

• Nana Sahib, the adopted son of the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was the obvious option in Kanpur.
• He declared himself the Peshwa, recognised Bahadur Shah as India’s monarch, and proclaimed himself his governor after driving the English out of Kanpur.
• Known as “Tatya Tope,” Ramchandra Pandurang Tope was one of Nana Saheb’s most devoted subordinates. He assumed responsibility for fighting for him against the British.
• He possessed unique abilities, including patriotism and guerrilla warfare tactics, which ultimately brought him great acclaim
• The British were told where Ramachandra Pandurang was hiding by a traitor named Mansingh. On April 7, 1859, he was apprehended and put on trial.
• Another devoted servant and political propaganda specialist was Azimullah. The post was commanded by Sir Hugh Wheeler, who turned himself in on June 27, 1857.

Lucknow

• On June 4, 1857, a rebellion led by Begum Hazrat Mahal erupted in Lucknow.
• A proper government was established, and her son, Birjis Qadir, was crowned the Nawab.
• The Begum prepared a full-scale assault on the British with the assistance of the zamindars and peasants of Awadh as well as the sepoys at Lucknow.
• The residence where Sir Henry was slain during the siege was occupied by Henry Lawrence, a British resident, European residents, and a few hundred devoted Sepoys.
• Early attempts to retake Lucknow by Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram failed.
• Ultimately, the Gorkha Regiment assisted the new commander-in-chief, Sir Colin Campbell, in his evacuation of Europe.

Jagdishpur

• Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur, spearheaded the uprising in Bihar.
• He was perhaps the most exceptional military leader and coordinated the uprising at the age of 80.
• Major hubs of the Bihar uprising were Arrah, Danapur, Gaya, Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Shahabad towns.

Jhansi

• Born in Golghar, Varanasi, on November 19, 1835, Rani Laxmibai was formerly known as Manikarnika.
• She was the most remarkable leader of the Jhansi uprising. The state was annexed under the “Doctrine of Lapse” after Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General at the time, forbade her from adopting a son to take the throne.

Other Areas

• Khan Bahadur Khan declared himself the Nawab of Nazim at Bareilly.
• He assembled a 40,000-strong army and put up a fierce fight against the British.
• Colonel Neill put an end to the revolt that had been planned at Banaras. Another notable uprising leader was Maulvi Ahmadullah of Faizabad.
• He became one of the recognised leaders when the uprising in Awadh began in May 1857.
• A Muslim religious leader from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, was Maulvi Liyaqat Ali.
• An Assamese nobleman named Diwan Maniram Dutta began to rebel in 1857 after Dandapeshwar Singh, the grandson of the previous monarch, was proclaimed king of Assam.
• During the 1857 uprising, Auwa’s Thakur Kushal Singh routed the British and Jodhpur combined force.
• During the 1857 uprising, many actively backed the British, including the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Holkar of Indore, and the Scindia of Gwalior.
• Poet Mirza Ghalib was present at the uprising of 1857. On December 27, 1796, he was born in Agra, and on February 15, 1869, he passed away in Delhi.

Causes of Failure of the Revolt of 1857

• The following are the reasons behind the 1857 uprising:
• Localised and Limited Scope: The uprising mostly occurred in North India, impacting places like Delhi, western Bihar, and Awadh. There was little to no unrest in major areas like southern India, Rajasthan, and Sindh, and the British forces in Bombay and Madras stayed faithful.
• British Army Discipline and Financial Advantage: The British military was more organised, had more sophisticated weaponry, such as the Enfield rifle, and was financially secure.
  • On the other hand, the rebels, who were mostly peasants with antiquated weapons, suffered from a lack of organisation and resources.
• Feudalistic Character: Leaders of the uprising came from northern India, Awadh, and Rohilkhand, giving it a feudal foundation.
• But out of concern for their own interests, other feudal kings, like those from Patiala, Jind, and Gwalior, sided with the British.
• Lack of Support from the Middle Class: Because the rebels opposed several social changes, educated Indians, especially those in the middle class, mostly avoided the uprising.
  • Their absence made the insurrection much less powerful and widespread.
• Lack of Effective Leadership: The rebels’ poor coordination was caused by their lack of a cohesive leadership and a distinct patriotic objective.
  • Their main motivation was anti-British feeling, but in the absence of a central leadership, their activities progressively stalled.
• British Use of Technology and Communication: The British made use of technology innovations such as the telegraph, postal systems, and railroads to facilitate quick coordination and communication.
  • This enabled them to keep control of the area and react swiftly to rebel activity.

Nature of Revolt of 1857

• Often referred to as the First War of Indian Independence, the Revolt of 1857 was a large-scale but disorganised rebellion against British authority.
• Peasants, landowners, and princely states all took part in the wider uprising, which started as a Sepoy mutiny over issues including the usage of greased cartridges.
• Dissatisfaction with repressive measures such as the Doctrine of Lapse, high taxes, and meddling in social and religious affairs characterised the uprising.
• Some see it as an unplanned rebellion, while others see it as a sign of long-standing animosity towards colonial exploitation and a prelude to India’s independence movement.

Consequences of Revolt of 1857

• Even though it was put down entirely, the Revolt of 1857 rocked the foundations of British power in India.
• Despite being well-established by 1857, the methods of ruling India were thereafter validated and consistently used.
• Important posts in military and civil administration remained tightly under European influence.

Changes After Revolt of 1857

• Administration: Dual administration officially ended when the East India Company gave up power to the British Crown with the Government of India Act 1858, sometimes known as the “Good Governance Act.”
  • The Governor-General was elevated to the position of Viceroy, and Indian affairs were supervised by a Secretary of State for India who answered to the British Parliament.
  • The British acknowledged the importance of the Crown and promised native princes that their rights and dignity would be upheld.
• Military: The British restructured the army, giving “division and counterpoise” priority, in accordance with the recommendations of the Peel Commission.
  • European-to-Indian troop ratios were set at 1:2 in Bengal and 1:3 in Bombay and Madras, with policies aimed at balancing native groups against each other.
• Economy: As feudal opposition waned, British attention turned from territory expansion to economic exploitation.
  • Economic resistance began with a fresh wave of protest from progressive Indians who were influenced by Western liberal principles.
• Society: The uprising exacerbated racial tensions since Indians were frequently portrayed as inferior by the British.
  • Racial animosity and hatred were stoked by the “White Man’s Burden” mentality, which widened the divide between the ruled and the rulers.
  • Because it brought disparate Indian communities together in a common fight against British rule, the Revolt of 1857 was noteworthy.

Significance of Revolt of 1857

• An important turning point in Indian history was the Revolt of 1857. With the transfer of sovereignty to the British Crown, it signalled the end of the Mughal Empire and the East India Company’s dominance.
• It revealed the pervasive dissatisfaction among Indians brought on by British political dominance, social meddling, and economic exploitation.
• Even while the uprising’s immediate objective was eventually not met, it did inspire Indians to feel united and patriotic.
• Additionally, it forced the British to change their government in order to appease Indian elites and rulers and avert further revolutions.
• The uprising is still seen as a representation of opposition to colonial authority.

Conclusion

Despite its eventual failure, the Revolt of 1857 was a significant event in Indian history. It highlighted the long-simmering dissatisfaction among many segments of Indian society and revealed the fundamental flaws in British governance in India. Despite not succeeding in gaining independence, the rebellion left a lasting legacy of solidarity and defiance by symbolising Indians’ collective opposition to foreign dominance. Inspiring subsequent generations to strive towards a more coordinated and persistent fight against colonial authority, which ultimately resulted in independence in 1947, this uprising established the intellectual groundwork for India’s liberation struggle.