Revolt of 1857||causes|| beginning of the revolt|| suppression of the revolt|| reasons behind failure of revolt of 1857|| results|| conclusion||

Revolt of 1857

In 1857, a Revolt broke out in northern and central India against colonial rule. In 1757 after the battle of Plassey the British laid the first step towards getting power in northern India. Almost from the very early day of East India Company’s rule, rebellion and uprising occurred for various causes in different region. But in 1857, a major revolt took place which shook the British Empire in India to its very foundation. It was also known as ‘First War of Independence' and sepoy mutiny. The revolt began at Meerut on 10th may, 1857. It was more a product of Sepoy but was accumulated grievances of the people against the Company’s administration and of their dislike for the foreign regime. The control of Indian administration was passed on to the British Crown by the Government of India Act, 1858 which resulted withdrawal of the Doctrine of lapse and the beginning of a new rule which means end of Mughal rule as Peshwa rule.

Causes

The causes of this revolt emerged from all aspects- socio-cultural, economic and political condition related to all section and class of the society. These causes are:-

1. Economic causes – The colonial policy of East India Company destroy the economic condition of India. They impose new and heavy taxes on people. They destroy our handicraft industries, imported raw materials at cheaper rate from India and sell the manufactured goods at higher price. British imposed high tariff duties on Indian goods. At the same time, the import of British goods into India attracted low tariffs, thus encouraged entry into India. Indians seize the opportunity presented by the Sepoy revolt to oppose the British and try to regain what they had lost. 

      

2. Political causes – The East India Company greedy policy resulted in the suspicion in mind of almost all the ruling princes in India. Such policies are subsidiary alliance, doctrine of lapse, etc. The right of succession was denied to Hindu Princes. The collapse of rulers also adversely affected those sections of Indian society which derive their sustenance from cultural and religious pursuits.

3. Socio-religious cause - The British had abandoned its policy of non-interference in the socio-religious life of the Indians like Abolition of Sati (1829), Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1856), allowing Christian missionaries and the modification in Religious Disabilities Act of 1850 which envisages that the change in religion would not debar a son from inheriting the property of his heathen father. 

4. Administrative causes – Rampant corruption in the company's administration, especially among the police, petty officials and lower law courts was a major cause of discontent. Also the character of British rule imparted a foreign look in the eyes of Indian.

5. Discontent among Sepoys – Indian sepoys were restricted to wear caste and sectarian marks. In 1856, Lord Canning’s government passed the ‘General Service Enlistment Act' which decreed that all future recruit to Bengal army would have to give an undertaking to serve anywhere their services might be required by the government. Also the Indian sepoys would not be given the foreign service allowance (bhatta) when serving in Punjab and Sindh.

6. Immediate cause – The reports about the mixing of bone Dust in atta (flour) and the introduction of Enfield rifle enhanced the sepoy’s  growing  disaffection with the government. The greased wrapping paper of the cartridge of new rifle had to be bitten off before loading and grease was reportedly made of beef and pig fat. The cow was sacred to the Hindus while the pig was taboo for the Muslims. The sepoys felt that their religion was in Grave danger. 

Beginning of the revolt

There were rumblings of resentment in various cantonments. The 19th Native Infantry at Berhampur, which refused to use the newly introduced enfield rifle and broke out in mutiny in February 1857, was disbanded in March 1857.  A young sepoy of 34th native Infantry, Mangal Pandey went a step further and fired at the Sergeant major of his unit at Barrackpore. He was overpowered and executed on 8th April, while his regiment was disbanded in May. On 24th April 19 men of 3rd native cavalry refuge to accept the greased cartridge . On 9th May, 85 of them were dismissed, sentenced to 10 year's imprisonment. This sparked off a general mutiny among the Indian soldiers stationed at meerut. The revolt began at Meerut on  10th may 1857. A band of sepoys from Meerut had defied and killed the European officers. Next day they cross the Jamuna, set the toll house on fire and marched to RedFort, followed by an excited crowd to appeal to Bahadurashah II, the mughal emperor and a pensioner of British East India Company to become their leader. Delhi was soon to become the centre of the great revolt and Bahadur shah, its symbol. The Revolt of  sepoys was accompanied by a rebellion of the civil population, particularly in the North Western province and Awadh

Suppression of revolt

The revolt was finally suppressed. The British captured Delhi on September 20, 1857 after prolonged and bitter fighting. John Nicholson, the leader of the siege, was badly wounded and later succumbed to his injuries. Bahadur Shah was taken prisoner. The Royal Princes were captured and butchered on the spot, publicly shot at point blank range by Lieutenant Hudson himself. Thus the great House of Mughals was finally and completely extinguished. The control of Delhi, an imprisonment of Bahadur Shah broke the backbone of mutiny. One by one, all the great leaders of the revolt fell.  

                  Nanasaheb defeated at Kanpur. Tantiya Tope escaped into the jungle of central India but was captured in April 1859 and put to death. Rani Laxmi bai of Jhansi had dead on the battlefield earlier in June 1858. Jhansi was captured by Sir Hugh Roach. By 1859, Kunwar singh, Bakht khan, Khan Bahadur Khan of Bareilly, Rao Sahib and Maulvi Ahmadullah were all dead while the Begum of Awadh was compelled to hide in Nepal. By the end of 1859, British authority over India was fully re-established.

 

Reasons behind failure of revolt 

Various reasons behind the failure of revolt of 1857 were:-

1. Absence of participation of all Indians- The Eastern, southern and western part of India remain more or less unaffected. This was probably because the earlier uprising in those regions had been brutally suppressed by the company. Most Indian rulers refused to join. Also, certain classes and groups did not join and in fact worked against the revolt.  Educated Indians viewed this revolt as backward looking. They believe that Britishers would bring us to Modernization. 

2. Poor arms and equipments – The Indian soldiers were poorly equipped. They fought with swords and spears and very few guns and muskets. On the other hand, the European soldiers were equipped with latest weapons of war like the enfield rifle. 

3. Uncoordinated and poorly organised revolt – The revolt was poorly organised with no coordination or central leadership. The principal rebel leaders Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh, Lakshmi Bai were no match to their British opponents in generalship. On the other hand, East India Company was fortunate in having the service of men of exceptional abilities in the Lawrence Brothers, John Nicholson, James Outram, Henry Havelock etc.

4. No unified ideology – The mutineers lacked a clear understanding of colonial rule. They did not have a  forward looking programme nor had a political perspective or societal alternative.  The lack of unity among Indians would, perhaps unavoidable at this stage of Indian history.

Results of the revolt of 1857

The revolt of 1857 marks a turning point in the history of India. It led to far reaching changes in the system of administration and the policies of British government.

• On August 2, 1858, British government passed an act for the better Government of India. The Act declared Queen Victoria as the sovereign of British India and provided for the appointment of Secretary of State for India. The direct responsibility for administration of Country was assumed by the British Crown and Company Rule was abolished. 

• The Queen issued a proclamation on 1st November 1858. Many of the promises made in  Proclamation appeared to be of a positive nature to the Indians. 

• The people of India were promised the freedom of religion without interference from British officials. 

• The concept of divide and rule was adopted with separate units being created on the basis of caste, community and region. 

• The British territorial conquest came to an end. But a period of systematic economic loot by the British began. The Indian economy was fully exploited without fear. 

• Racial hatred and suspicion between the Indians and the English was probably the worst legacy of the revolt.  

• In accordance with Queens Proclamation of 1858, the Indian Civil Service Act of 1861 was passed, which was to give an impression that under the Queen all were equal irrespective of race or Creed. But in reality the detailed rules framed for the conduct of civil service examination had the effect of keeping the higher service a close preserve of the colonisers.

• The complete structure of Indian government was remodelled and based on the notion of a master race justifying the philosophy of the ‘White Man's burden.’ This widened the  gulfs between the rulers and the ruled, besides causing eruptions of political controversies, demonstrations, an act of violence in the coming period. 

Conclusion

The revolt of 1857 had a major influence on Indian freedom struggle. It brought out in the open grievances of people and the sepoys which were seen to be genuine.  However, the Revolt of 1857 was unsuccessful, but it proved to be a heroic step to eliminate foreign rule. Even in failure, it served a grand purpose, a source of inspiration for the National Liberation Movement which later achieved what the revolt could not.