THE REVOLT OF 1857 THE GREAT REVOLT THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

THE REVOLT OF 1857

THE GREAT REVOLT

THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Mangal Pandey

THE OUT BURSTOn 9th May 1857, on the

parade ground of Meerut, 85 Indian troopers were court martialled.

Their Crime: -These troopers had refused to load their rifles with the new cartridges.

ABOUT THE NEW CARTRIDGE

A rumour had spread that the new cartridge contained the fat of cow and pig.HINDUS COW WAS SACRED

MUSLIMS PIG MEAT WAS FOBIDDEN BY QURAN

SPREAD OF THE REVOLT

On 10th May 1857 men of 3rd Light Cavalry stormed the barracks jail and released their comrades.

Soon the Indian civilians joined the mutineers and killed about 50 Europeans.

The news spread like wild fire. The already simmering anger against British burst out into a violent storm.

Causes of the Revolt of 1857

Political CausesSocial CausesReligious CausesEconomic CausesAdministrative CausesMilitary Causes

POLITICAL CAUSES

Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and the Doctrine of lapse had made the Indian rulers angry and insecure.

The Rani of Jhansi Laxmibai was not allowed to adopt a son.

In case of disputed interpretation, the decision of the East India Company was binding & that of the court of the Directors was final.

Regal titles of the Nawab of Carnatic & Tanjore were abolished. The imperial title of the Moghul Emperor was discontinued after Bahadur Shah II.

The pension of Nana Saheb (Peshwa Baji Rao II’s adopted son) was stopped.

Nana Saheb

Rani of Jhansi

Rani of Jhansi

In case of a dispute, the decision of the East India Company was binding and that of the court of the directors was final.

The Muslim feelings had been badly hurt when after the death of Bahadur Shah II, Lord Canning took away regal titles and Moghul palaces.

Thousands became unemployed when the English, under Lord Dalhousie annexed Oudh.

THE REVOLT OF 1857 Social Causes Religious Causes

SOCIAL CAUSES

The British were rude and used abusive and insultive language.

The practice of sati was abolished. Child marriage, infanticide and polygamy were not allowed.

The European juries allowed European criminals with little or no punishment.

RELIGIOUS CAUSES

Hindus and Muslims were forced into Christianity.

British Officers abused the name of Ram and Muhammad.

Idolatry was denounced. Hindu deities were ridiculed.

THE REVOLT OF 1857 Economic Causes Administrative Causes Military Causes

ECONOMIC CAUSES

The British had drained India of all her wealth and natural resources by selfish economic policies.

ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSES

Unrest spread among the landlords of Bengal when William Bentinck took away rent free estates from them.

Lord Dalhousie confiscated thousands of jagirs in the Deccan.

After Oudh was annexed, the estates of Zamindars and Taluqdars were confiscated.

High posts and handsome salaries were given to the British. This caused frustration amongst Indians.

MILITARY CAUSES

Immense discrimination between the Indians and the British.

The Indian sepoys were deprived of high salaries and promotions. The highest post for an Indian was that of the Subedar.

New recruits had to travel across the sea. It was forbidden as per Hindu belief.

The British army exposed its vulnerability in the First Afghan war, the Sikh war and the Crimean war.

The Indian sepoys were required to work far off without extra Bhatta or payment.

The privilege of free postage enjoyed by the sepoys was withdrawn with the passing of the Post Office Act 1854.

IMPORTANT CENTRES OF REVOLT

MEERUTDELHIOUDHKANPURJHANSI & GWALIOR

MEERUT

9 May 1857, 85 Sepoys were court martialled.

They had refused to use new cartridges. Next day their companions attacked the

jail. Sepoys were freed. Officers & Europeans were killed. Revolters headed towards Delhi.

On 12th May 1857, Delhi was seized by rebels. Some Europeans were shot dead. Bhahadur Shah II was persuaded to support. Loss of Delhi was a prestige loss for British. On 14th September 1857, British attacked. On 20th September 1857, British regained Delhi. Bahadur Shah & Zeenat Mahal fled to Humayun’s

tomb. But were followed & captured by General Hudson. 3 sons killed & the king & queen exiled to

Rangoon. The king died in 1862.

DELHI

RED FORT, DELHI

ZEENAT MAHAL & BAHADUR SHAH II

GENERAL HUDSON

Oudh annexed by Lord Dalhousie. The Nawab of Oudh exiled to Calcutta. But his wife Begum Hazrat Mahal and 11 year old son

continued to live in Oudh but in very poor condition. So people of Oudh were angry. The revolt broke out on 4th June 1857. Henry Lawrence, the British Resident, with some

Europeans with some hundred sepoys took refuge in a Residency.

Begum seized Residency and killed Henry & some others. In November, Sir Colin Campbell (Commander-in-Chief)

attacked with Gorkha regiment. In March 1858, the city was finally recaptured. The rebels driven to Nepal border to die in bad climate or

captured by Gorkhas.

OUDH (LUCKNOW)

BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL

COLIN CAMPBELL

Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao was proclaimed the Peshwa.

He led the revolt in Kanpur with Tantia Tope, his assistant. After a fierce battle, General Sir Hugh Wheeler

surrendered on 27th June 1857. Nana Saheb assured safe passage of British to Allahabad. General James O’Neil (At Allahabad & Banaras) inhumanly

ill-treated Indians. Angry Indians killed the passing British citizens. In June 1857, The General defeated Nana Sahib. In November 1857, Nana Sahib & Tantia Tope recaptured

Kanpur back. On 6th December 1857 General Campbell reoccupied

Kanpur. Nana fled to Nepal (died there) and Tantia joined Rani

Laxmibai.

KANPUR

NANA SAHIB

TANTIA TOPE

In June 1857, the troops at Jhansi revolted. Rani Laxmibai (widow of Raja Gangadhar Rao) declared

ruler. Tantia Tope joined her after Kanpur was lost. On 3rd April 1858, Sir Hugh Rose recaptured Jhansi. Laxmibai escaped to Kalpi (near Gwalior) where Tantia

joined her. Both marched to Gwalior. Sir Hugh Rose also marched to Gwalior and captured in

June 1858. Rani died fighting bravely. Tantia escaped southward but was betrayed by his friend

Man Singh. Tantia was finally hanged.

JHANSI & GWALIOR

RANI LAXMIBAI

TANTIA TOPE

HANGED RUTHLESSLY

OTHER CENTRES OF REVOLT

Bareilly:Khan Bahadur Khan proclaimed himself the ruler.

Bihar:Zamindar Kunwar Singh raised the revolt

Banaras:Banarasis organised a rebellion.

(All were subsequently suppressed by British)

OUTCOME

The revolt was completely suppressed and crushed by July 1858.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF THE REVOLT

The revolt was localized and was poorly organized.

The British had better resources than the rebels.

The revolt was feudal in character.

The leaders lacked military skills.The native princes did not join

the revolt.

MAJOR IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

… the revolt was considered to be an awakener and the first effort towards

the freedom and independence.

…the British just considered it to be a mere military revolt.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

1) The control of Indian administration was transferred form the company to the crown by the GOI Act 1858

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

2) The Queen promised to respect Rights & dignity. General amnesty to all offenders except murders.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

3) The Indian army was reorganised. Included Sikhs, Gurkhas & Pathans.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

4) The Mughal dynasty ended with the extinction of Bahadur Shah II & was replaced by British Crown.

The Last Mughal Emperor

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

5) Freedom of religion granted.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

6) As per Queen’s Proclamation, more Indians joined the administration.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

7) Racial animosity increased.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

8) The British introduced the policy of Divide & Rule that led to the partition of India in 1947.

IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

9) The British exploited the economy further.