The Great Indian Rebellion of 1857

    

The Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857 was the culmination of growing dissatisfaction and hatred against British rule in India. Over decades, all sections of Indian society had developed grievances against British policies which were exploitative and ruined indigenous industries.

Causes

1. Economic Exploitation
• British policies led to the destruction of India's traditional economic fabric and impoverishment of artisans, peasants and handicraftsmen.
• High land revenue demands and oppressive taxes impoverished the peasantry. Many peasants lost their lands to traders and money-lenders.
• Traditional handicrafts like textiles were ruined by competition from cheaper machine-made British goods. Artisans became unemployed.
2.  Land Policies
• British land revenue policies led to mass scale dispossession of peasants of their lands. Land was concentrated in hands of new zamindars and money-lenders. 
• Peasants lost their lands due to high revenue demands and inability to pay back debts. This caused deep resentment.
3.  Administration
• Indians were excluded from higher positions in administration. Educated Indians deeply resented lack of opportunities.
• Corruption and oppressiveness of police, petty officials and lower law courts caused immense hardship for common people.
4.  Fear for Religion
• Activities of Christian missionaries created fear that British wanted to convert Indians and destroy their religions and customs.
• British support to missionaries through financial help, land grants and protection created apprehensions.
5.  Political Grievances
• Doctrine of Lapse applied by Dalhousie angered Indian princes. Pensions and titles of some rulers were arbitrarily stopped.
• Annexation of Awadh on grounds of misgovernance was widely criticised. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was popular and upset at British action.
• Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was humiliated by British and stripped of his power and position. This turned him against British.
6.  Discrimination
• Indians were treated with contempt by British, excluded from social interaction, called 'natives'. This racial discrimination caused anger.
7.  Immediate cause
• Introduction of Enfield rifle and greased cartridges rumored to be made of cow and pig fat offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.

Outbreak and Spread

The revolt started on 10 May 1857 in Meerut by Indian sepoys and rapidly spread to various parts of Northern and Central India.

Main centers of revolt were Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Gwalior, Banaras, Bareilly, Jabalpur.

Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal emperor, was proclaimed the leader of revolt in Delhi.

Leaders

Important leaders were Bahadur Shah Zafar, Nana Saheb Peshwa, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Birjis Qadr, Rani Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope, Kunwar Singh, Bakht Khan, Maulvi Ahmadullah. Each area had its own leaders and there was no central coordination between them. This was a major weakness.

Suppression

British succeeded in suppressing the revolt by end of 1858 due to superior resources, organization and technology. Important British commanders were John Lawrence, Henry Havelock, James Outram, Colin Campbell, Hugh Rose.

Significance

• The revolt was a major milestone in the history of India's freedom struggle though unsuccessful. 
• It showed that patriotic feeling was not dead in India and inspired later freedom fighters.
• End of rule by East India Company led to the British Crown taking over India in 1858.
• Marked the beginning of the 'British Raj' period of colonial rule. Led to complete reorganization of the administration.

So, the Revolt of 1857 was the first major rebellion against oppressive British rule in India. Despite its failure, it had deep long-term significance.