The Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857 is an important landmark in the history of India. As per the British historians it was the ―Sepoy Mutiny, it was the ―First war of independence.

Causes of the Revolt

Political— The problem created during the reign of Lord Dalhausie. He annexed various states and Doctrine of Lapse became the most powerful instrument in annexation of Indian states. According to Doctrine of Lapse, an Indian state was annexed by British if the ruler had no natural heir.

Economic-- The economic policy of the British Raj destroyed the Indian economy on all fronts. The high tax rates from the cultivators, introduction of new land revenue arrangements in India without proper understanding of the ground realities, forcibly evictions and cruel methods to extract the land

revenue resulted in breakdown of traditional agrarian economy.

Socio-religious--The racial discrimination by British against Indians, forceful conversion to Christianity and social reforms like abolition of sati, 1829; legalization of widow remarriage, 1856 etc. offended the orthodox elements of Indian society.

Military--British discriminated against the Indian soldiers and adopted the policy of exclusion in the service conditions and promotion by which the high and key posts were reserved only for the Europeans.

Immediate cause: The introduction of Enfield greased rifles whose cartridges were said to have a greased cover made of beef and pork sparked off the revolt. It agitated both Hindu and Muslim soldiers and resulted in immediate launch of movement.

The course of events

• On March 29, 1857, an Indian sepoy of 34 Native Infantry, Mangal Pandey, killed two British officers- Hugeson and Baugh-on parade at Barrack pore (near Calcutta).

• The mutiny really started at Meerut on 10th May 1857. The 3rd Native Infantry revolted. The occasion was the punishment of some Sepoy for their refusal to use the greased cartridges. The soldiers along with other groups of civilians, went on a rampage shouting Maro Firangi ko. They broke open jails, murdered Europeans, burnt their houses and marched to Delhi after sunset.

• The appearance of the marching soldiers next morning (i.e. 11th May) in Delhi was a signal to the local soldiers, who in turn revolted, seized the city and proclaimed the 82-year old Bahadur Shah Zafar‘ , as Shahenshah-i-Hindustan (i.e. Emperor of India).

• The British allies during the revolt were Sindhia, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Begum of Bhopal.

Impact of the Revolt of 1857

1. The major impact of the revolt was the end of East India Company‘s rule in India. By the Government of India Act 1858, the British government took over the rule of India in its own hand. A minister of the British government, called the Secretary of state for India was made responsible for the governance of India.

2. The British Governor-General of India was now also given the title of Viceroy.

LEADERS OF REVOLT OF 1857 IN INDIA

Mangal Pandey: 

Mangal Pandey joined the Sepoy force of the British East India Company in the year 1849 at the age of 22. Pandey was part of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry and is primarily known for his involvement in an attack on his senior British officers on 29th March 1857 at Barrackpore. This incident marked an opening stage of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the First War of Indian Independence.

Nana Sahib

At Kanpur, the revolt was led by Nana Sahib, the adopted son of exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II. 

Rani Lakshmibai

Rani Lakshmibai (Manikarnika) was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842, and became the queen of Jhansi. After their marriage, She gave birth to a son Damodar Rao in 1851.

Tatya Tope

Tatya Tope was Nana Sahib‘s close associate and general. During the Siege of Cawnpore in 1857, Nana Sahib‘s forces attacked the British entrenchment at Kanpur in

June 1857.

Veer Kunwar Singh

Veer Kunwar Singh, the king of Jagdispur, currently a part of Bhojpur district, Bihar, was one of the leaders of the Indian revolt of 1857.

Shah Mal

Shah Mal lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des, moving at night from village to village, urging people to rebel against the British.

Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah

Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an important part in the revolt of 1857. Educated in Hyderabad, he became a preacher when young. In 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and  urging people to rebel. When he reached Lucknow in 1856, he was stopped by the police from preaching in the city. Subsequently, in 1857, he was jailed in Faizabad.

Delhi-Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah, but real command lay with Bakht Khan (was from the Barreily unit of the army).  Kanpur-Nana Sahib (from Kanpur, along with Tantia Tope and Azimullah)

Lucknow-Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh (declared her son as the Nawab of Awadh).

Bareilly--Khan Bahadur

Bihar (Arrah)--Kunwar Singh, Zamindar of Jagdishpur.

Allahabad - Liaquat ali