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THE REVOLT OF 1857. THE GREAT REVOLT. THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE. Mangal Pandey. THE OUT BURST. On 9 th 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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THE GREAT REVOLT THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
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.
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
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.
Causes of the Revolt of 1857 • Political Causes • Social Causes • Religious Causes • Economic Causes • Administrative Causes • Military Causes
POLITICAL CAUSES • Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and the Doctrine of lapse had made the Indian rulers angry and insecure.
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 (PeshwaBajiRao II’s adopted son) was stopped.
In case of a dispute, the decision of the East India Company was binding and that of the court of the directors was final.
The Muslim feelings had been badly hurt when after the death of Bahadur Shah II, Lord Canning took away regal titles and Moghul palaces.
Thousands became unemployed when the English, under Lord Dalhousie annexed Oudh.
THE REVOLT OF 1857 • Social Causes • Religious Causes
SOCIAL CAUSES • The British were rude and used abusive and insultive language.
The practice of sati was abolished. Child marriage, infanticide and polygamy were not allowed.
The European juries allowed European criminals with little or no punishment.
RELIGIOUS CAUSES • Hindus and Muslims were forced into Christianity.
THE REVOLT OF 1857 • Economic Causes • Administrative Causes • Military Causes
ECONOMIC CAUSES • The British had drained India of all her wealth and natural resources by selfish economic policies.
ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSES • Unrest spread among the landlords of Bengal when William Bentinck took away rent free estates from them.
Lord Dalhousie confiscated thousands of jagirs in the Deccan.
After Oudh was annexed, the estates of Zamindars and Taluqdars were confiscated.
High posts and handsome salaries were given to the British. This caused frustration amongst Indians.
MILITARY CAUSES • Immense discrimination between the Indians and the British.
The Indian sepoys were deprived of high salaries and promotions. The highest post for an Indian was that of the Subedar.
New recruits had to travel across the sea. It was forbidden as per Hindu belief.
The British army exposed its vulnerability in the First Afghan war, the Sikh war and the Crimean war.
The Indian sepoys were required to work far off without extra Bhatta or payment.
The privilege of free postage enjoyed by the sepoys was withdrawn with the passing of the Post Office Act 1854.
IMPORTANT CENTRES OF REVOLT • MEERUT • DELHI • OUDH • KANPUR • JHANSI & GWALIOR
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.
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 & ZeenatMahal fled to Humayun’s tomb. • But were followed & captured by General Hudson. • 3 sons killed & the king & queen exiled to Rangoon. • The king died in 1862.
OUDH (LUCKNOW) • Oudh annexed by Lord Dalhousie. • The Nawab of Oudh exiled to Calcutta. • But his wife Begum HazratMahal 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.
KANPUR • Nana Sahib, the adopted son of PeshwaBajiRao 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 O’Neil (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 RaniLaxmibai.
JHANSI & GWALIOR • In June 1857, the troops at Jhansi revolted. • RaniLaxmibai (widow of Raja GangadharRao) 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.
