The Revolt of 1857

Revolt of 1857

• East India Company's record: Increasing conquest and commercial exploitation.
• Unlimited greed of the English.
• British policies adversely affected
• Rulers of Indian states
• Sepoys
• Zamindars
• Peasants
• Traders
• Pundits and Maulvis
• Prior to 1857, resentment expressed in
• Mutiny at Vellore (1806)
• Barrackpore (1824)
• Ferozepur (1842)
• Mutinies of 7th Bengal Cavalry and 64th Regiment
• Mutiny of 22nd Native Infantry (1849)
• Mutiny of 66th Native Infantry (1850)
• Mutiny of 38th Native Infantry (1852)
• Santhal uprising (1855-56)
• In 1857, discontent erupted into a violent storm, shaking British rule. It began as a sepoy revolt, but eventually masses joined it.
• VD Savarkar called it First War of Independence

Causes of the Revolt

• Political
• Social and Religious
• Economic
• Military
• Immediate

Political Causes

• British expansion policy via Doctrine of Lapse and direct annexation.
• Doctrine of Lapse
• Enforced by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General, 1848-56).
• Prohibited Hindu rulers without natural heirs from adopting successors.
• Annexed territories upon ruler's death.
• Annexations under Doctrine of Lapse
• Satara, Nagpur, Jhansi, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur.
• Rani Lakshmi Bai's adopted son not recognized.
• Annexation of Awadh
• On pretext of maladministration.
• Left thousands jobless.
• Turned Awadh into a hotbed of discontent.

Social and Religious Causes

• British were rude, arrogant, and displayed racist attitudes.
• Social reforms (abolition of sati, female infanticide, widow remarriage) seen as intrusions.
• Religious policies caused alarm
• Act of 1850: Allowed Hindu converts to Christianity to inherit property.
• Led to fears of forced conversions.
• Introduction of Western education challenged orthodox beliefs.

Economic Causes

• British economic policies harmed Indian trade and industry.
• Destruction of handicrafts by East India Company.
• Shift to agriculture increased pressure on land.
• Peasants and zamindars burdened by heavy taxes and strict revenue collection.
• Many lost ancestral lands due to inability to pay.
• Sepoys from peasant families; shared agrarian grievances.

Military Causes

• Service conditions of sepoys deteriorated.
• Made up 87% of troops but considered inferior.
• Lower pay than European counterparts.
• Required to serve away from home without extra bhatta (allowance).
• General Service Enlistment Act (1856)
• Issued by Lord Canning.
• Required overseas service, risking loss of caste.

Immediate Cause

• Greased cartridge issue sparked rebellion.
• Introduction of Enfield rifle
• Cartridges rumored to be greased with pig and cow fat.
• Offended both Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs.
• Sepoys refused to use cartridges.
• Mangal Pandey
• Attacked officers; hanged on 8th April 1857.
• Meerut incident (9th May 1857)
• 85 soldiers imprisoned for refusal.
• 10th May 1857: Open rebellion; marched to Delhi.

Centres of Revolt

• Delhi
• Seized on 12th May 1857.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar proclaimed Emperor of India.
• Real leader – commander Bakht Khan
• Rebellion spread to Northern and Central India.
• Main centres
• Lucknow (Begum Hazrat Mahal)
• Kanpur (Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope)
• Jhansi (Rani Laxmi Bai)
• Bareilly (Khan Bahadur Khan
• Bihar (Kunwar Singh)
• Faizabad (Maulvi Ahmadullah aka Danka Shah)

Lucknow

• Capital of Awadh.
• Led by Begum Hazrat Mahal. She declared her son Birjis Qadir as the Nawab.
• Joined by disbanded Awadh soldiers.
• British recaptured city; Begum escaped to Nepal.

Kanpur

• Led by Nana Saheb (adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II).
• Proclaimed himself Peshwa after capturing Kanpur.
• British recaptured city; Nana Saheb escaped.
• Tantia Tope continued the struggle; eventually captured and hanged.

Jhansi and Gwalior

• Led by Rani Lakshmi Bai.
• Fought after her adopted son's claim was rejected.
• Joined by Tantia Tope; captured Gwalior.
• Rani Lakshmi Bai died fighting.
• Gwalior recaptured by British.

Bihar

• 3 major developments
• Revolt in Patna led by Pir Ali (a book seller)
• Mutiny by sepoys at Danapur
• Assumption of leader by Veer Kunwar Singh
• July 3, 1857: Revolt in Patna led by Pir Ali → Dy. Opium Agent Dr. Lyall gets killed → Commissioner of Patna William Taylor convicts Pir Ali, and he is hanged.
• July 25, 1857: Mutiny by Sepoys of Danapur → Crossed Son and reached Shahabad → Joined Kunwar Singh
• Kunwar Singh leads the revolt with his brothers Amar Singh and Ritnarain Singh. Kunwar Singh (1777-1858)
• Birth: 1777, Jagdishpur, Shahabad (now Bhojpur), Bihar.
• Family: Son of Raja Sahabzada Singh and Panchratan Kunwar.
• Enthroned: Became the chief of Jagdishpur estate in 1826 after his father's death.

Role in the 1857 Revolt

• Rebellion Begins: On 10 May 1857, the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut, spreading across India.
• Danapur Revolt: On 25 July 1857, Indian soldiers at Danapur revolted and joined Kunwar Singh.
• Siege of Arrah: On 27 July 1857, Kunwar Singh led his forces to capture Arrah – the district HQ.
• Battle with Captain Dunbar: On 29 July 1857, Kunwar Singh ambushed and defeated Captain Dunbar’s 415 British troops, leaving only 50 survivors.
• Battle of Bibiganj: On 3 August 1857 → The British under Major Vincent Eyre defeated Kunwar Singh → Kunwar Singh left Jagdishpur and moved to Mirzapur, Rewa, Banda, Lucknow and Kanpur
• Lucknow Campaign: Reached Lucknow in December 1857 and was honored by the King of Oudh.
• Azamgarh Campaign: Occupied Azamgarh in March 1858.
• Victory at Atrolia: On 22 March 1858, Kunwar Singh defeated Col. Milman, forcing the British to retreat.
• Return to Jagdishpur: Crossed the Ganga and reached Jagdishpur on 23 April, 1858. While crossing Ganga, wounded by Captain Le Grand → cut off his injured hand and offered it to the Ganga.
• Death: Passed away on 26 April 1858, three days after his last major victory at Jagdishpur.
• Commemorative Stamp: Issued on 23 April 1966 by the Government of India.

Suppression of the Revolt

• Lasted over a year; suppressed by mid-1858.
• July 8, 1858: Peace proclaimed by Lord Canning.

Key British Officials Involved

Reasons for Failure

• Limited Uprising
• Localized and poorly organized.
• Bombay and Madras armies remained loyal.
• Major princely states did not join.
• Lack of Effective Leadership
• Leaders lacked experience and coordination.
• No overarching plan.
• Inferior Resources
• Rebels lacked modern weapons.
• British had superior arms like the Enfield Rifle.
• No Common Ideal
• Unified mainly by anti-foreign sentiment.
• Lacked inclusive programme.
• Feudal leaders sought personal power restoration.

Impact of the Revolt

• End of East India Company rule.
• Government of India Act, 1858
• Control transferred to the British Crown.
• British policies shifted
• Reinstated feudal elements; became imperialism's favorite child.
• Halted annexation of princely states.
• Cultivated princely states as empire's bulwark.
• Promised religious tolerance.
• Reorganized Indian Army
• Implemented policy of 'division and counterpoise'.
• Increased European troops.
• Disbanded Indian artillery units.
• Emphasized caste and religious divisions.
• Increased racial bitterness
• Indians faced insults, humiliation, and contempt.
• Government based on master race ideology.