THE REVOLT OF 1857

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THE REVOLT OF 1857
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THE GREAT REVOLT
THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
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(No Transcript)
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Mangal Pandey
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THE OUT BURST

• On 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.
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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
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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.

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Causes of the Revolt of 1857

• Political Causes
• Social Causes
• Religious Causes
• Economic Causes
• Administrative Causes
• Military Causes

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POLITICAL CAUSES

• Lord Dalhousies policy of annexation and the
  Doctrine of lapse had made the Indian rulers
  angry and insecure.

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• 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 IIs
  adopted son) was stopped.

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Nana Saheb
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Rani of Jhansi
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Rani of Jhansi
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• In case of a dispute, the decision of the East
  India Company was binding and that of the court
  of the directors was final.

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

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

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Namaste Welcome!!!

• In Todays Lecture
• THE REVOLT OF 1857
• Social Causes
• Religious Causes

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SOCIAL CAUSES

• The British were rude and used abusive and
  insultive language.

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

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

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RELIGIOUS CAUSES

• Hindus and Muslims were forced into Christianity.

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• British Officers abused the name of Ram and
  Muhammad.

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• Idolatry was denounced. Hindu deities were
  ridiculed.

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Namaste Welcome!!!

• In Todays Lecture
• THE REVOLT OF 1857
• Economic Causes
• Administrative Causes
• Military Causes

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ECONOMIC CAUSES

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

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ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSES

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

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• Lord Dalhousie confiscated thousands of jagirs in
  the Deccan.

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

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

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MILITARY CAUSES

• Immense discrimination between the Indians and
  the British.

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

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

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

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

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

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IMPORTANT CENTRES OF REVOLT

• MEERUT
• DELHI
• OUDH
• KANPUR
• JHANSI GWALIOR

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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.

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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 Humayuns
  tomb.
• But were followed captured by General Hudson.
• 3 sons killed the king queen exiled to
  Rangoon.
• The king died in 1862.

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RED FORT, DELHI
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ZEENAT MAHAL BAHADUR SHAH II
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GENERAL HUDSON
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OUDH (LUCKNOW)

• 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.

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BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL
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COLIN CAMPBELL
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KANPUR

• 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 ONeil (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.

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NANA SAHIB
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TANTIA TOPE
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JHANSI GWALIOR

• 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.

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RANI LAXMIBAI
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TANTIA TOPE
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HANGED RUTHLESSLY
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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)

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OUTCOME

• The revolt was completely suppressed and crushed
  by July 1858.

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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.

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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.
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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

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

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

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

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

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

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

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

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The Last Mughal Emperor
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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

• 5) Freedom of religion granted.

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

• 6) As per Queens Proclamation, more Indians
  joined the administration.

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

• 7) Racial animosity increased.

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

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

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IMPACT OF THE REVOLT

• 9) The British exploited the economy further.