Significance of Revolt of 1857 

1. It began with the mutiny of the Indian Sepoy`s of the East India Company`s Army.
2. Subsequently, joined by the peasants, artisans, marginalized farmers, common men became the first national revolt against Britishers.
3. Almost, wiped away the Company`s Rule in India.
4. British Crown took control of the administration of India from Company after Revolt.
5. For the first-time belief of self-confidence developed in minds of oppressed people by the Britishers.
6. The new form of leadership developed by peasants, Sepoys and artisans, provided a substitution to the conventional feudal lords like Mughals, Marathas, and others.

General Reasons

1. The outburst of accumulated grievances of the people against British Raj and dislike for the foreign regime.
2. Economic exploitation of masses (peasants to big zamindars) by the company, destruction of traditional economic fabric.
3. British land and land revenue policies –peasants lost lands to money lenders due to debt.
4. Administration- corrupt officials at a low level and inspector raj.
5. Dissatisfaction in Government- people joined revolt for a change.
6. Upper and middle class felt excluded from well-paid jobs in Administration.
7. Religious Preachers, saints, pundits and maulavis lost patronage earlier enjoyed due to company`s rule.
8. Foreigner Tag on the company and no social link with Indians not even upper class. They had a feeling of racial superiority and treated Indians with contempt.
9. Shattering of the belief that “Britishers are Invincible” due to major reserves British army faced in First Afghan war, Punjab Wars and Crimean War.
10. People at that time believed British Rule may endanger their religion.

Thinking of the Time.

People at that time understood intentions of the Britishers who came to India, not as permanent settlers. But encroachers to make wealth and get back to Britain. The company kept a distance from the then upper class of the Indian society and in reality, had no social or communication links with them. Unlike the previous rulers who build cordial relations with the upper class of society and gave them higher positions in the administration. Britishers believed themselves to be of a superior race and considered Indians to uncivilized and filthy. Indian on the other hand refused to recognize the British as their benefactors and looked upon every act of their as suspicion.

 Igniting of spark (political and economic aspect)

Annexation of Awadh by Lord Dalhousie in 1856 led to the discomfort of company`s soldiers as many come from there. This increased the land revenue taxes they need to pay on their land holdings and other things. Also, annexation challenged their local patriotism. In Awadh many thousands of nobles lost their jobs, traditional merchant lost market and business. old zamindars lost lands to new ones and even to money lenders.

Annexation of Awadh created panic among native rulers. Political prestige od Britishers suffered as they broke all the treaties and oral pledges with Indian rulers and reduced them to subordinates.

Sepoy Mutiny

• Sepoy those days their dear ones in great suffering due to Awadh annexation.
• They believed that Britishers were interfering in their religion. As they already practised religious and caste guidelines in a strict manner.
• Military authorities forbade Sepoys to wear or carry any mark of caste or religion.
• By 1856 Act, A recruit must serve overseas, if required. At that time, Hindus believed sea travel was forbidden and any violation could lead to loss of caste.
• Also, British officers treated Indian soldiers with contempt.
• Sepoys were not awarded Foreign Service allowance for serving in Punjab and Sindh which lead to huge salaries loss to them.
• Most Immediate causes gave clear, focused and genuine reason to revolt. It was new cartridges for the Enfield guns that had a grease paper cover whose end had to be bitten off before loading cartridge.
• The grease was in some instances composed of beef and pig fat. The spoys believed this would endanger their religion and the
• deliberate step of government to destroy their religion.

Spread of Mutiny

There are no records which could confirm that revolt was a much-planned event. Maybe because people do not want to keep any record as they were doing something illegal or do not want to disclose any details to Britishers. The revolt took place on 10 May 1857 and very rapidly across Northern India, from Punjab to the Narmada in South, to Bihar in east and Rajputana in the west. The boil for rebellion was so eager that Mangal Pandey revolted single handed and attacked high senior officers. He was hanged on 29 March 1857.Even before the broke of rebellion.

• Delhi was made the center of the revolt.
• Bahadur Shah the aged and powerless emperor was made the symbol of the revolt.
• His proclamation as an emperor by Sepoys claimed the reign of the Mughal Dynasty had made it the traditional symbol of India`s political Unity.
• Maybe under the pressure of the Sepoys Bahadur Shah wrote to all chief and rulers of India to join the great revolt.
• The revolt was supported by the entire Bengal army. Soon joined by the Sepoys from Awadh, Rohilkhand, Doab, Bundelkhand Central India, and Bihar.

How people reacted?

Role of Civilians

• At some places, rulers remain loyal to Britishers but the Sepoys revolted.
• Civil Population also played very crucial role in spreading the message and need of the revolt among themselves.
• They revolted in their capacity with homemade weapons like bow, arrow, spears etc.
• Many who did not join revolt show sympathy for the Sepoys and socially boycotted the Sepoys who remain loyal to Britishers.

Role of peasants, artisans, and zamindars

• They participated actively in revolt.
• They attacked the money lenders and new zamindars who displaced them from their lands.
• They burnt the account records and debt records.
• They attacked British established law courts, revenue offices (Tehsils) and thanas.
• Many places peasants outnumbered Sepoys.

Hindu-Muslim Unity

• 1857 Revolt seen a great example of cooperation between Hindu and Muslim Unity.
• All rebels choose Bahadur Shah, a Muslim as their emperor.
• Hindu-Muslim respected each other’s sentiments.
• Where revolt was successful, Cow slaughter was banned immediately as a symbol of respect for Hindu sentiments.
• Hindu-Muslim were well represented at all levels of the leadership.
• Their unity was even well acknowledged by senior British officials.
• Events of 1857 clearly indicated that the people and the politics of India were not basically communal in medieval times and before 1858.

Subcenters of Revolt

• During the revolt, Delhi was a symbolic center, other centers like Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi etc.
• The real commander was General Bakht Khan (headed court of soldiers).
• Gwalior, Jhansi played crucial roles in revolt, Sepoys from these places joined Tanita Tope and Rani Laxmi Bai.
• Kanpur revolt led by Nana Sahib expelled Britishers and proclaimed himself Peshwa.

Character of Bahadur Shah

• He was weak and old, lack qualities to politically lead the Revolt.
• He was the weakest link in the Revolt in the chain of Leadership.
• He was not firm in support of the Revolt, Had a little sympathy for the Sepoys.
• Even at times, Sepoys not trust him.
• He vacillated between the desire to reign as emperor and desire to save himself in case the revolt is crushed by the Company.
• Personally, also, his position was undermined by his wife and son.

Heroes and Heroines of the Great Revolt

1. Sepoys, Greatest of All -Showed and fought with exemplary valor and thousands of whom unselfishly laid down their lives. It was their determination and sacrifice that nearly led to the expulsion of the British from India. They sacrificed even their religious prejudices. They freely used greased cartridges against the Britishers, earlier they revolted against using them.
2. Mangal Pandey- A young soldier who revolted single handed and attacked his senior officials even before the rebel broke out. He was hanged on 29 March 1857.
3. General Bakht Khan- He leads a court of Soldiers of Bareilly and brought them to Delhi to capture it. He was an ordinary subedar of artillery, died of fighting company in Lucknow.
4. Tanita Tope – A brave loyal of Nana Sahib. He won immortal fame by his patriotism, determined fighting and skillful guerrilla operations.
5. Azimullah- He was an expert in political propaganda and loyal to Nana Sahib. Nana Sahib tarnished his brave record by deceitfully killing the garrison at the Kanpur after he had agreed to give them safe conduct.
6. Begum of Avadh -Led revolt at Lucknow supported by the Sepoys and the zamindars. Proclaimed her son Birjis Kadr as the Nawab. Later lost the control to a small British garrison.
7. Maharani Laxmi Bai- one of the most enchanting heroines of the Revolt. Fought with exemplary against Britishers. After they refused to recognize her adopted son as the heir of the Gaddi of Jhansi. She led the revolt to great success in Jhansi and Gwalior and areas around with the help of Tanita tope and her loyal Afghan guards. The brave Rani died fighting Britishers and their loyal Sindhia`s.
8. Kunwar Singh- A ruined and discontented zamindar of Jagdishpur near Arrah was the chief organizer of the Revolt in Bihar. Though being old he was brilliant military commander and strategist. Died of fighting Britishers.
9. Maulavi Ahmadullah of Faizabad- Outstanding military commander. Who led the revolt in Avadh and then in Rohilkhand. His valor, courage, and glory were even acclaimed by British officials.

Failure of Revolt

There is just not one reason but a number of reasons that led to the failure of the Great Revolt. Social political, Military, Organizational and leadership flaws are the prominent ones.

Organizational and unity Flaws

• Only one percent of the total Indian Rulers and chiefs actively participated.
• Many big zamindars, rulers were either fearing or selfish and remain loyal to Britishers. Some of them were Sindhia’s of Gwalior, Holkar of Indore, Nizam of Hyderabad, Raja of Jodhpur and other Rajput rulers, Nawab of Bhopal, Rulers of Patiala, Anas of Nepal and many others.
• Madras, Bombay, Bengal and the western Punjab remained undisturbed, even though the popular feeling their favor rebels.
• Expect discontented zamindars, upper and the middle-class society basically remained cool towards Sepoys and at times actively hostile to them.
• Big zamindars of Bengal and Big merchants of Madras, Bengal, Bombay, and Calcutta supported company.
• Money Lenders and Big Merchants did not support much as the villagers destroyed debt account of lenders and rebels looted merchants for supplies of the rebel army.

Social Flaws

• Modern Educated Indians did not support Revolt.
• They repelled to the appeals of Sepoys to their opposition to progressive social measures.
• They believed that British Rule would help them to modernize and take society forward.
• They lacked the will and far sight to get rid of foreigner`s reign.
• Though they were a very active participator in Modern Nationalist Movements after 1858.
• Lack of Modern Nationalism and understanding of modern political and governance system.

Military Flaws

• Weapons used by the civilian rebels were ancient ones, basically bow, arrows, spears etc.
• Sepoys fall short of weapons and could manage only a few modern weaponry by looting barracks.
• Sepoys were brave and selfish but lack discipline, many times they behave like a riotous mob.
• They had no authoritative head, plan of action or effective leadership.
• Once capturing an area. They were blank on what to do next.

Political Flaws

• Indian made a serious error of political Judgment by underestimating the strength of Britishers.
• Uprisings throughout the country were not coordinated.
• Leaders shared the only common feeling of hatred against foreign rule and nothing else.
• They failed to create unity among themselves and often became jealous & suspicious of each other’s activities. They also lead to suicidal quarrels.
• They failed to give an alternative form of governance after uprooting company`s rule from a specific area.

Lack of Vision

• The weakness of revolt was deeper than the failings of the Individuals.
• Entire movement lacked a unified and forward-looking program to be implemented after capture.
• The movement consists of diverse elements, each carried differing conception of politics of free India.
• The absence of modern and progressive programme enabled the reactionary princes and zamindars to seize levers of power of revolutionary movement.

Company`s Reaction

• Both sides fought till last they can. It took Company almost 1 year to crush revolt across India.
• The company also crushed civilians by burning entire villages, massacring villagers and urban people.
• They carried out public hanging and execution of local revolt leaders without trails.
• People and Sepoys were defeated but their spirit remains undefeated.
• British Government put in immense man, money, resources to crush the revolt, which was later on repaid by Indians.
• Delhi was again captured by company forces.
• Royal Princes were captured and butchered on the spot.
• Emperor Bahadur was tried and exiled to Rangoon.
• Great House of the Mughals was finally and completely extinguished.

Conclusion

• Lack of Unity among Indians was perhaps unavoidable at this Stage of Indian History.
• As Modern Nationalism was still an alien concept. Patriotism towards Nation and not towards one region and people only.
• Revolt of 1857 was awakening which imparted consciousness of belonging to one country in masses.
• It was a desperate effort to save India under traditional leadership that failed.But paved way for modern nationalism.
• The heroic and patriotic struggle of 1857 left an unforgettable impression on the minds of the Indian people.
• It served as the perennial source of inspiration in the minds of the people in their later struggle for Independence.

Also Read,

Govind Jaiswal IAS -A man with Incredible success story

National Parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere reserves Explained

Tips for Essay writing in UPSC Civil Service Examination (Updated)