1857 Revolt – Major Stroke in Struggle for Indian Freedom
This article talks about the historical event of 1857 revolt for the independence of India. It details the causes of revolution, sequence of events and also the leaders who reined the command. This also underlines the causes of failure of 1857 revolt and the aftermath impact in British rule over India.
Background
Causes of Unrest
Final Trigger for Revolt
Leaders of 1857 Revolt
Suppression
Causes of Failure
After Effects
Conclusion
Background
This was the period of 19th century, when India was suffering from the wounds of colonialism. British rule in India was not only misfortune for common people but it did not even spare the rulers of India. Using their sharp diplomacy, British officials were able to force rulers of many princely states to sign various treaties with the East India Company. These treaties were Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse etc. The wealth of country was looted by foreigners and natives were suffering.
Causes of Unrest
Revolt of 1857 by Indians was not an outcome of result of any single incident; rather it was a culmination of series of events which created discontent among Indians against British East India Company. The causes of distress are described below:
Economic Stress
Indian farmers were getting impoverished due to revenue policies of British authorities. Indian handloom industry was completely marginalized due to low cost machine made British goods. Raw materials were supplied from India to Britain. Company did not require spending any money on the raw materials from their own pocket because the revenue generated from peasants was enough to procure raw materials. The finished goods from Britain captured Indian market. In this way, Indian farming, handloom industry and artisans were facing serious threats.
Political Stress
Indian rulers who signed “Subsidiary Alliance” were facing political pressure due to being bound under the terms of treaty. They could not maintain their own army but had to pay for security provided by British soldiers. Apart from that, they could not neither employ any European without permission of East India Company (EIC) nor could negotiate with other Indian rulers.
Another policy called doctrine of lapse was a weapon of East India Company through which company could annex those principalities whose rulers died without any blood born successors. Any adopted son was not accepted as legal heir. Using this diplomacy, many principalities were annexed like Sambalpur, Satara, Jaitpur, Udaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur etc.
Administration
British officials of EIC were corrupt resulting in increased hardships of locals. The administrative measures and complex judicial mechanisms were making Indian alienated in their own homeland.
Socio Religious Unrest
During the period of Indian renaissance in early nineteenth century, many social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy evolved. With their efforts, they convinced British authorities to enact legislations against social evils prevalent in Indian society at that time. Such laws against sati pratha (self immolation by wife in fire during husband’s cremation), child marriage were seen by conservative Indians as interference in their socio religious matters.
Apart from that, British had a faith of “White Man’s Burden”. They believed that since they were white therefore they were superior and had the responsibility to civilize Indians. Their inhuman treatment with the natives became one of the biggest causes of discontent against them.
Global Events
Some battles and rebels in which British suffered heavily became source of increased confidences among Indians breaking the myth of British superiority and invincibility. Examples of such events were Crimean wars, Punjab wars etc.
Conditions of Indian Soldiers
Situation of Indian soldiers were not less poor than ordinary people. They had to work at subordinate positions to British soldiers. They could not get promoted beyond a certain level. Their emoluments were low. In 1856, under a new law of “General Service Enlistment Act”, future soldier recruitment were required to be done at a condition that they had to agree to be sent overseas for armed services. This condition was objectionable by Indian soldiers as crossing sea was against their religion.
Final Trigger for Revolt
The annexation of Awadh under “Doctrine of Lapse” was also disheartening for soldiers. Since most of the soldiers were from Awadh, its annexation made them feel loss of their lands. Then introduction of Enfield rifle to be fitted with greased cartridge was final nail in the coffin. It was believed that grease used in cartridge was made from beef and pig fat. 19th native infantry at Behrampur refused to use new enfield rifle. Infantry was disbaned. A soldier named Mangal Pandey fired on seargent. He was executed. Defiance took place in Meerut. Dismissal and imprisonment of 3rd native cavalry shot high their temper. On 10th May 1857, they released their comrades and shot down their senior British officers. They marched to Delhi on next day, where they forced Bahadur Shah Zafar to write princes for their cooperation against British. Bahadur Shah was last Mughal emperor.
Leaders of 1857 Revolt
Bahadur Shah Zafar was only symbolic leader. The real command of the revolt was in the hands of General Bakht Khan. He was head of court of soldiers which was a group of 10 members. He led the command in Delhi. The other important leaders led from following fronts:
Front | Leaders |
Kanpur
|
Nana Saheb
|
Lucknow
|
Hazrat Mahal and her son
Bijris Qadir
|
Bareilly
|
Khan Bahadur
|
Bihar
|
Kunwar Singh
|
Faridabad
|
Maullavi Ahmadullah
|
Jhansi
|
Rani Laxmibai
|
Suppression
Company suppressed the revolt heavy handed. By September 1857, British restored their control over Delhi. Sons of Bahadur Shah were killed and the Mughal emperor was exiled to Rangoon. By December 1857, Kanpur was reoccupied and in June 1858, Queen of Jhansi achieved martyrdom. By end of 1859, British control was completely restored.
Causes of Failure
Though 1857 revolt was a huge effort which shook the roots of British Empire in India but it did not met success due to following reasons:
Fragmented Interests
All the participants in the struggle were fighting for their own interests. Their objectives were not common. Peasants had their own issues and landlords, moneylenders had their own.
Lack of Modern War Equipments
Indian rebels did not have advanced war machinery. They fought with swords and spears.
Lack of Organization
There was lack of central leadership among rebels. The revolt was not well organized.
Technological Advancement of British
British could easily communicate through telegraph and could easily keep a track of activities of leaders of revolt. On the other hand, communication was at slower pace among revolt leaders.
Due to above factors and unawareness about nationalism, revolt of 1857 could not bring freedom to India. But 1857 revolt brought an end to East India Company.
After Effects
After regaining control over India, British crown declared end of company rule in India and took the entire control in its own hands. Now, country was directly ruled by British government. In Royal Darbar of 1858 at Allahabad, queen assumed the title of “Kesar-e-hind” (Empress of India). The aftermath effects of revolt were:
- British decided not to disregard Indian rulers.
- They now understood that efforts to bring socio religious up gradation might pave the way for overthrow of their rule. Thus, Indian society and religions should be left to their own fate.
- A new position of “Secretary of State” came in British parliament.
- The Governor General became Viceroy.
- They started to have suspicion on Muslims. The reason was that they consider themselves as the immediate successor of Mughal rulers. After two decades, they cherished the policy of “Divide and Rule”.
Conclusion
Revolt of 1857 started from mutiny of soldiers, took the course in which locals joined against British and resulted in end of company rule followed by direct rule of British crown. The company was only there for revenue purpose. The revolt was learning for British which made them realize to use diplomacy rather than only force. For Indians, it was a hope which shattered badly. Its shortcomings were learning for future ambitious struggle of independence.
See Other Posts: Paika Rebellion, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
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