The Revolt of 1857 (Modern India)

The Revolt of 1857

First Indian freedom struggle:

 Period:     This happened during the summer of 1857 during Lord Canning's Viceroy's term. It is also known as the Revolt of 1857 or the military coup or the first freedom struggle. Meerut rebellion and occupation of Delhi, a trade military revolt and the entire northern, as well as middle and The role of rebellion, arose in Western India. The south was quiet, partly affected by Punjab and Bengal. Out of the total number of constables of the company, 2,32,224, almost half declared no loyalty to their regimental color and for a long time dispensed with the ideology of discipline and hard-earned army. The Revolt of 1857 may have failed but it A great effort started to end foreign rule. The occupation of Delhi and the appointment of Bahadur Shah as the ruler of India (Emperor-Hindustan) gave meaning to this rebellion and the rebel soldiers found a strong base to join with the ancient dignity of this royal city.

 Some of the major causes of rebellion: 

1. Economic exploitation and destruction of the traditional structure of the country.
2. Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse, due to which the native prince was destroyed. 
3. The form of British rule 'Absentee sovereigntyship. Under from here  Revenue collected, not spent here Send to the UK. 
4. The policy of peace established by the British state (Pax Britannica): This led to the dissolution of the armies of the Indian princely states, and the soldiers who retired from these armies engaged in anti-social activities like Pindari and Dagi, they got a golden opportunity in the days of rebellion and they made the number of the rebels increased.
5. British Racial Superiority Policy: they treated Indians disrespectfully and held high positions in military-civilian areas for them Banned.
6. Breaking the illusion of criminality of British forces. 
7. The activities of Christian missionaries and the protection given to them by the British government.
8. Religious Disabilities Act passed in 1850. According to this the son could not be deprived of his father's property after the religious change. 
9. Ban on using caste or Pi symbols for soldiers and the General Services Enlistment Act of 1856. Under this act, soldiers were sent across the sea when needed. According to Indian beliefs, travel was a sin, and as a punishment, they were cast out. 
10. With the passage of the Post Office Act of 1854, the free postal facility of soldiers was abolished. 
11. Use of greased cartridges. The shells on these cartridges had to be cut with teeth. Being made from the fat of cow and pig, the soldiers feared the possibility of corrupting their religion. The use of these cartridges sparked the growing discontent among the Indian soldiers and the public. 

Reasons for the failure of the rebellion: - 

The main reasons for the failure of the revolt of 1857 are: 

1. This rebellion was local, unorganized and limited. The armies of Bombay and Madras and the states south of the Narmada River supported the British in the rebellion. No rebellion in Rajasthan, except for Kota and Alwar The effect was not. Sindh was also completely silent
2. This rebellion was unsuccessful due to good means and wealth. The Indians proved to be dwarfs in the face of English weapons. 
3. The educated class remained completely indifferent to this revolt of 1857. If this class had spread enthusiasm among the people through its articles and speeches, the rebellion would surely have resulted in something else.
4. There was a real lack of national spirit in this rebellion because the rebellion could not be supported by all sections of Indian society. A section of the feudal classes supported the rebellion but the kings of Patiala, Jind, Gwalior, and Hyderabad supported the British in crushing the rebellion. 
5. Experience in rebels, organization capacity, and The power of working together was lacking. 
6. Military weaknesses are important contributors to the failure of rebellion Bahadur Shah Zafar and Nana Saheb are a skilled The organizers were of course, but they lacked the ability to lead the military, while the English army had skilled fighters like Lawrence Bandhu Nicholson, Havelock, Outram, and Adex. 
7. The rebels lacked proper leadership. The old Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar could not lead the rebels in the way that leadership was required in the then circumstances. 
8. The rebels lacked concrete targets and clear plans. What he would have to do the next moment was not sure. They were only moving forward with emotion and circumstance. 
9. The use of the means of transport and communication helped the British to suppress the rebellion, and thus the means of traffic and communication also contributed to the failure of this rebellion. The consequences of the 1857 rebellion were far-reaching

 Consequences of the 1857 rebellion: 

The major results are as follows: 

1. After the end of the rebellion, in 1858, the British Parliament passed a law of the East India Company. Abolished the existence and now the Queen's full authority to rule India came into her hands. In England, under the Act of 1858, an Indian State Secretary was arranged, to be assisted by a Council of Ministers of 15 members. Was created. Arrangements were made to appoint 8 of these 15 members by the government and to elect 7 by the Court of Directors.
2. Queen Victoria's policy of indiscriminate expansion of the territories was abandoned, local kings were asked to restore their glory and rights, and to end religious exploitation and appointment without discrimination in services. She went. 
3. In 1861, the Indian Civil Service Act passed. Accordingly, arrangements were made to conduct a competitive examination in London every year, so that the amended district service could be admitted. 
4. The number of European troops was increased on the basis of army reorganization, on high military posts. The appointment of Indians was closed. Now the ratio of Indians and British in the army became 2 1. The recruitment of soldiers from upper caste people was stopped. 
5. The post of General was changed to the post of Viceroy In general India, 
6. feudalism became the image of traitors because this class had supported the British in suppressing the rebellion 
7. as a result of the rebellion, a sense of national unity developed among Indians and Hindu-Muslim unity began to gain momentum, which later contributed well to the national movement. 
8. After the revolt of 1857, the policy of expansion of the kingdom was abolished, but now the place of economic exploitation was replaced. 
9. The Indian Council Act was passed in 1961 under a small effort in the field of representation in the administration of Indians. 

In addition, the propagation of Christianity declined, the doctrine of high caste whiteness was laid down, the existence of the Mughal Empire was abolished forever, etc. were the consequences of the revolt of 1857. 

Some major considerations in the nature of rebellion: 

Historians and scholars have expressed different views about the nature of the Revolt of 1857, which are as follows 

1. Sir John Seeley: The rebellion of the Indian Army against an established government.
2.  L. E.R. L. E. R. Rees: 'Religious War' (War of the Religion against Christians). 
3. J. G. Medley (J. G. Medley): 'Caste Wars 
4. T.R. Homage (T. R. Holmes): 'Barbarism and Civilization War between 
5. Sir James Outram: 'Hindu Muslim Conspiracy. 
6. Benjamin Disraeli: 'National Rebellion.
7. B. D. Savarkar (V. D. Savarkar): The Planned Freedom Struggle. 
8. R. C. Majumdar: 'Military Rebellion' (There was no freedom struggle). 
9. Dr. S. N. Sen (S. N. Sen): 'Freedom Struggle. 
10. Dr. S. B. Choudhary (S. B. Choudhary): military insurgency And rebellion (civil). 
11. J. L. Nehru (J. L. Nehru): 'feudal revolt'. 
12. Karl Marx: National Liberation Struggle 

Highlights

• The revolt extended south to the Narmada River. 
• A major feature of the Revolt of 1857 was Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Bahadur Shah-II (Zafar) assumed the title of Emperor Hindustan. Bahadur Shah was a symbolic leader in Delhi. The real leadership was in the hands of a council of soldiers, headed by Bakht Khan.
• Civil rebellions were followed by the military rebellion in all places except Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur in the North-West Province and Awadh. 
• The Governor-General of India was Lord Canning during the rebellion.