Revolt of 1857 - causes, nature, expansion, consequences and failure

<–2/”>a >The Great Revolt of 1857 (also Indian rebellion of 1857, the Great uprising of 1857, the Great rebellion, Indian Sepoy mutiny) is regarded as India’s First War of Independence against the British rule. It was the most remarkable single event in the history of India after the establishment of British rule. It was the result of the century-old British rule in India. In comparison to the previous uprisings of the Indians, the Great Revolt Of 1857 was of a greater dimension and it assumed almost an all-India character with participation of people from different sections of the Society. This Revolt was initiated by the sepoys of the company. So it has been commonly termed as `Sepoy Mutiny‘. But it was not simply a revolt of the sepoys.

Causes

The causes of the Great Revolt of 1857 and Sepoy Mutiny may be studied in the following heads:

Political cause: Major political cause for the outbreak of the Revolt was the policy of annexation followed by Dalhousie. On application of the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ or on the ground of mis-governance he annexed states after states deploring their rulers. Satara, Jhansi, Sambalpur, Nagpur, etc. fill victim in his aggressive policy. All these states came under British rule. In 1856, he captured Oudh on the plea of misrule. He looked the palaces of Nagpur and Oudh. Not only the ruling house, but also the employees and other dependent families were deprived of their livings for the policy of Dalhousie. His maltreatment towards the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah-II hurt the sentiment of the Muslim community. Discontinuation of the pension of the Peshwa Nana Sahib shocked the Marathas. This discontent of royal families, army men and common people jointly exposed in the Great Revolt of 1857.

Economic cause: The Great Revolt of 1857 was also an outburst of grievances due to the economic exploitation of the company. India’s traditional economy collapsed as a result of the British ‘Investment’ policies and revenue administration. The company’s Trade Policy destroyed Indian Handicrafts. Huge numbers of Indians were thrown out of EMPLOYMENT. The British, opened a new avenue of exploitation on the peasants By introducing permanent settlement. Exploitation of the Zamindars gave rise 10 landless laborers who became restless by and by. Thus out of discontent the artisans and peasantry joined hands with the sepoys in the mutiny.

Military cause: The sepoys of the company regiment had been feeling dissatisfied with the English for various reasons.

Thus was a great disparity in salaries between the Indian and European soldiers.
The Indian sepoys were treated with contempt by their European officers.
The sepoys were sent to distant parts of the empire, but were not paid any extra allowance.
Indian sepoys were refused promotion in service as like their European counterparts. Out of such discontent the Indian sepoys led to a mutiny.

Social cause: The English could not establish any social relationship with the Indians. The racial arrogance of the British created a difference between the rulers and the ruled.

Enactment of some Acts greatly offended the sentiment of the people. Some of these acts were taken as deliberate blow at the Hindu religion, custom and right of inheritance.

Direct cause: At that time, Enfield rifles were introduced in the army. The bullets of these rifles were covered by paper with grease like thing. The Sepoys were to cut the cover by teeth before using it. The Hindu and Muslim soldiers refused to cut the covers. They protested against this and were arrested. That ignited the fire.

Under the Leadership of Mangal Pandey the agony of the Sepoys exposed at Barrackpore in Calcutta (March, 1857 A.D.). But the planned revolt started at Meerut (May, 1857 A.D.). Gradually it spread from Punjab in the north to Narmada in south, from Rajputana in the west to Bihar in the east. As the revolt was started by the Indian sepoys in the British army, the revolt became known as Sepoy mutiny. When the sepoys of Meerut reached Delhi there was huge upsurge. They declared old Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah as the Badshah of India. He was accepted as the symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. With the outbreak of mutiny among Sepoys common men joined the revolt. Farmers and artisans put further force behind the mutiny. The second reason for this mass revolt was the unity among the Hindus and Muslims. On observing this historians thought that, up to this period there was no communal feelings among the masses.

End of the Revolt

The British government came out with all the powers to suppress the revolt. The sepoys fought the battle with their limited strength for four months. Then, the sepoys had to retreat. On 25th September British troops regained Delhi. Bahadur Shah was arrested. Nana Saheb lost the battle of Kanpur. His commander Tantia Topi continued the fight up to April, 1859 A.D. and surrendered to the British force. Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi lost her life in the battleground. Kunwar Singh, Bakht Khan of Bihar, Bahadur Khan, Moulavi Ahmed of Faizabad lost their lives one after the other. By the end of 1859 A.D. the British power was reestablished in troubled areas.

Reason of failure of the revolt

There were several reasons behind the failure of this revolt.

There was no central organization of the sepoys. There was no unified action also. Bahadur Shah, Nana Saheb, Lakshmi Bai, no one had acceptance as a real leader. They had different goals and times again they had contradictions.
The British had a huge number of forces. New groups of soldiers were sent to India after the end of Crimean war. Fresh army men came from Singapore. As a result of these, in the middle of the revolt the strength of the British force was doubled. The chance of a win became remote.
The sepoys had no improved arms with them. On the other hand, the British force had huge and improved armory. They could not match improved guns and rifles with their old model musket, spears and sword. So the defeat was almost certain.
Further the leaders of this revolt could not get the support of several native states like Holker, Scindia and Rajput sardars and kings. They supported the British. Educated middle-class people also were behind the British power.

Nature of the Great Revolt of 1857

There are differences of opinions amongst historians about the character of this great revolt. Some historians are of opinion that the revolt in the North-Western province was a lawless revolt by a group of sepoys.

On the other hand, some historians believe that it was more than just a sepoy mutiny as it had a large mass base. Though in the beginning it was like sepoy mutiny, but later on it turned out to be a real mass upsurge.

Karl Marx in his several essays described this revolt as nationalist fight for independence. Marxist writers looked at this event as uprising of peasants against feudal system of exploitation. V.D. Savarkar, the great revolutionary, described this revolt as the first struggle for independence. M.N. Roy said that it was the reaction of the feudal against capitalism.

On the centenary of the great revolt Dr. Ramesh Chandra Majumder wrote and published a book entitled ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ and ‘Revolt of Eighteen Fifty Seven’. Dr. Majumder thought that this was nothing but a revolt of the sepoy. He also said that in some places few non-military persons came out in support of the sepoys but they were local landlords, talukdars and feudal leaders. In his opinion it was nothing better than feudalistic reaction of the revolt.

But many historians are of opinion that the Great movement of 1857 A.D. cannot be termed as narrow, isolated and reactionary. The sepoys established a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity by electing Bahadur Shah as the Emperor of India. In the Ajamgarh declaration a call was given to people of all classes of mass to unite against the British rule. It may be righty that they had no idea about national government, but nationalism was there. So it can be called a national movement.

Importance and Outcome of the Great Revolt of 1857

It can be said that the great revolt of 1857 A.D. was a failure, but was not fruitless.

United Effort: From this revolt, we can have a picture of India’s struggle for keeping the rights. There were several revolts before this, but there was no feeling of Indian-ness in those revolts. The revolt of 1857 A.D. was a collected effort of different sections of people.
Awakening of Peasants class: The peasants joined this revolt which was out and out against the British. This was unique.
Development of National Feeling: Dr. K. M Panikkar wrote that though the sepoys had limitations and weaknesses, but their efforts to make India free from British rule was patriotic work and a progressive step. If we do not consider any historical event on the basis of its success then the revolt of 1857 A.D. was never a tragedy. Even inspite of failure that served a great purpose, it was a source of inspiration in India’s freedom struggle.
End of Company Rule: The political result of this great revolt was the end of company’s rule in India. By a new act introduced in the British Parliament British government took the charge to rule India. From then onward a Viceroy as a representative of British King ruled India.
Queen’s proclamation: The Queen’s Proclamation showered many promises in 1858 A.D. Government service was promised irrespective of cast, religion and on the basis of merit only. Ill framed “doctrine of lapse” of Lord Dalhousie was cancelled. New recruitment policy of the army men was announced to see that they could not organize any revolt. In the important positions of the government no native people (Indian) was given any chance.

The Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, or the First War of Indian Independence, was a major uprising in India in 1857 against the rule of the British East India Company. The revolt began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut, in the North-Western Provinces, and quickly spread to other parts of India. The rebels were led by a number of Indian princes and soldiers, and they were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as a desire for independence from British rule. The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on the history of India.

The causes of the Revolt of 1857 are complex and have been debated by historians for many years. Some of the factors that contributed to the revolt include:

Religious and economic grievances: Many Indians were unhappy with the British East India Company’s policies, which they saw as favoring Christians over Hindus and Muslims. They were also upset about the economic policies of the company, which they felt were unfair and exploitative.
A desire for independence: Many Indians wanted to be free from British rule. They felt that the British were not respecting Indian culture or traditions, and they wanted to establish their own independent country.
The introduction of the Enfield rifle: The British East India Company introduced a new rifle, the Enfield rifle, into its army. The cartridges for this rifle were greased with animal fat, which was offensive to both Hindus and Muslims. This led to a great deal of resentment among Indian soldiers, who felt that they were being forced to violate their religious beliefs.

The nature of the Revolt of 1857 was complex and varied. It was a military uprising, but it was also a social and political movement. The rebels were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as a desire for independence from British rule. The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on the history of India.

The expansion of the Revolt of 1857 was rapid and widespread. The revolt began at Meerut on 10 May 1857, and it quickly spread to other parts of India, including Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow. The rebels were successful in capturing a number of cities and towns, and they even briefly captured the capital city of Delhi. However, the British were eventually able to suppress the revolt, and they reasserted their control over India.

The consequences of the Revolt of 1857 were far-reaching. The revolt led to the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India, and it also led to the establishment of the British Raj. The revolt also had a profound impact on Indian Society and culture. It led to a loss of faith in the British, and it also led to a rise in Indian nationalism.

The failure of the Revolt of 1857 was due to a number of factors. The rebels were poorly organized and they lacked a clear plan of action. They were also divided by religious and ethnic differences. The British, on the other hand, were better organized and they had a clear plan of action. They were also able to use their superior military power to suppress the revolt.

The Revolt of 1857 was a major turning point in the history of India. It marked the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India, and it led to the establishment of the British Raj. The revolt also had a profound impact on Indian society and culture. It led to a loss of faith in the British, and it also led to a rise in Indian nationalism.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, the First War of Indian Independence, or the Great Rebellion, was a major uprising in India against the rule of the British East India Company. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut, and quickly spread to other parts of northern and central India. The rebels were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as resentment of British rule. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on British rule in India.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Indian Rebellion of 1857:

What were the causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was caused by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as resentment of British rule. Some of the specific grievances that led to the rebellion include:

* The introduction of the Enfield rifle, which required soldiers to bite open cartridges that were greased with animal fat. This was seen as a desecration of both Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs.
* The growing economic disparity between the British and the Indians.
* The British policy of promoting Indians to positions of authority, which was seen as a threat to the traditional Indian social order.
* The British practice of using Indian soldiers to fight against other Indians.

What was the nature of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a complex event that took many different forms. Some of the most common forms of rebellion included:

* Armed uprisings by Indian soldiers and civilians.
* Attacks on British government buildings and institutions.
* The assassination of British officials and civilians.
* The looting and destruction of British property.

How did the Indian Rebellion of 1857 spread?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began at Meerut on 10 May 1857, and quickly spread to other parts of northern and central India. The rebellion was particularly strong in the cities of Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur. The rebels were able to capture and hold control of these cities for several months before they were eventually defeated by the British.

What were the consequences of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 had a profound impact on British rule in India. The rebellion led to the end of the East India Company’s rule in India, and the British government took direct control of the country. The rebellion also led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Indians, and the destruction of much of the country’s Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE.

Why did the Indian Rebellion of 1857 fail?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 failed for a number of reasons. Some of the most important reasons include:

* The rebels were poorly organized and lacked a clear plan of action.
* The rebels were divided by religious and ethnic differences.
* The British were able to quickly mobilize their forces and suppress the rebellion.
* The British were able to win the support of some Indian princes and nobles.

Despite its failure, the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major turning point in Indian history. The rebellion showed the British that they could not rule India without the support of the Indian people. The rebellion also led to a number of reforms in British rule, including the introduction of a more representative government.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, the Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, or the First War of Indian Independence, was a major uprising in India in 1857 against the rule of the British East India Company. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 with the mutiny of the 3rd Bengal Native Infantry at Meerut, and quickly spread to other parts of northern and central India. The rebels were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as resentment of British rule. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on British rule in India.

The following are some MCQs about the Indian Rebellion of 1857:

What was the main cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
(A) Religious and economic grievances
(B) Resentment of British rule
(C) The introduction of the Enfield rifle
(D) The Doctrine of Lapse
Who was the leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
(A) Mangal Pandey
(B) Nana Sahib
(C) Rani Lakshmibai
(D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
What was the outcome of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
(A) The British East India Company was overthrown.
(B) The British government took direct control of India.
(C) The Indian subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan.
(D) The Indian National Congress was founded.
Which of the following was not a consequence of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
(A) The British government took direct control of India.
(B) The Indian subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan.
(C) The Indian National Congress was founded.
(D) The British East India Company was dissolved.
Which of the following was not a cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
(A) Religious and economic grievances
(B) Resentment of British rule
(C) The introduction of the Enfield rifle
(D) The Doctrine of Lapse
What was the Doctrine of Lapse?
(A) The policy of annexing Indian princely states whose rulers died without a male heir.
(B) The policy of allowing Indian princes to continue to rule their states as long as they paid tribute to the British.
(C) The policy of allowing Indian princes to rule their states as long as they followed British advice.
(D) The policy of allowing Indian princes to rule their states as long as they did not interfere in British affairs.
Who was Mangal Pandey?
(A) A sepoy who was executed for mutiny at Meerut in 1857.
(B) A sepoy who led the rebellion at Kanpur in 1857.
(C) A sepoy who led the rebellion at Delhi in 1857.
(D) A sepoy who led the rebellion at Lucknow in 1857.
Who was Nana Sahib?
(A) A Maratha prince who led the rebellion at Kanpur in 1857.
(B) A Rajput prince who led the rebellion at Delhi in 1857.
(C) A Sikh prince who led the rebellion at Lucknow in 1857.
(D) A Mughal emperor who was deposed by the British in 1857.
Who was Rani Lakshmibai?
(A) A Maratha queen who led the rebellion at Jhansi in 1857.
(B) A Rajput queen who led the rebellion at Gwalior in 1857.
(C) A Sikh queen who led the rebellion at Multan in 1857.
(D) A Mughal queen who led the rebellion at Agra in 1857.
What was the impact of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 on British rule in India?
(A) It led to the overthrow of the British East India Company.
(B) It led to the direct rule of India by the British government.
(C) It led to the partition of India into India and Pakistan.
(D) It led to the founding of the Indian National Congress.