In 1857, a great struggle took place
in India which completely shook the
British Government. This struggle did not
arise all of a sudden. Earlier as well
many such struggles took place in India
against the British. The scope of the
struggle of 1857 and its background was
taken into consideration by V.D.Savarkar
in his book ‘The Indian War of
Independence 1857’. Later many
revolutionaries got inspiration from it to
fight against the British.
Struggle before 1857 : At every
place where the British rule was established
in India, the local people had to bear the
ill effects of British government. The
Indians started feeling that they are
exploited in every strata due to the
company's rule. This resulted in increase
of discontent against their rule.
Farmers and common people became
bankrupt during the company rule. In 1770,
there was major famine in the Bengal
province. But the British rulers were
indifferent and
insensitive towards
Indian people. From
1763 to 1857 the
peasants of Bengal
participated in the
rebellion led by
Sanyasi-Fakir. Similar
revolts took place
in Gujrat, Rajastan,
Maharashtra and South India. Umaji Naik
also gave a strong fight. He organised the
Ramoshis and the local youth to revolt
against the British. They drew a declaration
and appealed to fight against the British
and overthrow the government. They
inspired people in Pune, Satara,
Ahmednagar, Solapur, Nasik, Bhor etc. In
1832, Umaji Naik was arrested and hanged
to death in Pune.
The Indian tribes and forest
communities also challenged the British
rule. Their livelihood was dependent on
forest resources. The British laws put
restrictions on it. Consequently, Bihar,
Kolam area of Chota Nagpur, Gonds of
Orissa, Santhals of Bihar fought against
the British. The Gadkaris from Kolhapur
and Fond-Sawant from Konkan also
challenged the British. Before 1857, some
zamindars and royal class from different
territories rebelled against the British.
In the army of East India Company
there were many Indian sepoys. They were ill treated by the company. Their
salary and allowances were very less
compared to the British soldiers. In 1806
at Vellore and in 1824 at Barrackpore the
revolt took up a fierce form.
All these rebellions took place in
their respective territories. They were
local in nature and single handed. The
British forcibly broke down the revolts.
Public unhappiness was supressed but it
did not vanish. This anger burst out in
the freedom struggle of 1857. At various
places the rebellion took place against the
British. The discontent in the minds of
diverse classes blowed out in the form of
this struggle and its outbreak was in the
form of an armed rebellion.
Causes for the struggle of 1857 :
During Pre British period there were many
kingdoms in India. Whatever changes
took place at the centre never affected the
village system. The village system
continued as it is. But the British changed
the prevalent system and tried to set up
a new system. Looking at the changing
nature of village system created a feeling
of instability and insecurity in the minds
of the people.
Economic causes : The British
introduced new revenue system to increase
their income. Taxes were forcibly extracted
from the farmers. As a result of it the
agriculture system collapsed. To sell the
British goods in India and enjoy profit
was the policy of the British. They
imposed heavy taxes on the local
industries. The handicraft and textile
industry of India were ruined. Many
Indian artisans became unemployed. They
had growing discontent in their mind
against the British.
Social causes : The Indians felt that
the Britishers were interfering in the
culture, tradition and customs of India. Sati prohibition, widow remarriage act
were correct from social point of view,
but the Indians thought that it is an
interference in their lifestyle and hence
they were dissatisfied.
Political causes : After 1757 the
British took charge of many Indian states.
Later Lord Dalhousie annexed many
princely states on various causes. The
Nawab of Ayodhya was dethroned on
grounds of maladministration whereas the
princely states of Satara, Nagpur and
Jhansi were annexed through the doctrine
of lapse. Due to the policies of Dalhousie
the Indians did not consider the British
as trustworthy.
Discontent among Indian soldiers :
The Indian soldiers were given low status
by the British officers. They could not
gain any post higher than the Subhedar.
They were paid less compared to the
British soldiers. The allowances were also
gradually decreased. Due to these reasons
there was growing discontent among the
Indian soldiers.
Immediate cause : In 1856, the
British provided long range enfield rifles
to the Indian sepoys. The sepoys were
required to bite the end of the cartridges.
The news spread out that these cartridges
were smeared in the fats of cow and pig.
Due to this the religious sentiments of
Hindu and Muslim sepoys were hurt and
made them unhappy.
The outburst : Disciplinary action
was taken on those sepoys who refused
to use the smeared cartridges and were
given severe punishment. Mangal Pandey
from Barrackpore cantonment shot an
English officer as a reaction to unjust
nature of British officers.
Mangal Pandey was arrested and
hanged to death. This news spread like fire. The entire
regiment of Indian
sepoys at Meerut
took part in the
freedom struggle and
marched towards
Delhi. Thousands of
Indians voluntarily
joined them on the
way. They handed
over the leadership of
the freedom struggle to Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah and proclaimed him as the
Emperor of India.
Scope of the struggle : The self
confidence of the sepoys increased with
the capture of Delhi. It also gave
inspiration to other soldiers. The revolt
soon spread in North India. The Indian
soldiers revolted in cantonments from
Bihar to Rajputana. The revolt spread in
Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur, Banaras,
Bareli, and Jhansi. Later it spread to
South India. In the revolt, Chhatrapati
Pratapsingh of Satara and his officer
Rango Bapuji, Chimasaheb of Kolhapur,
Babasaheb Bhave of Nargund, Bhagoji
Naik of Ahmednagar were in the forefront.
Royal queen of Peth, Surgana from Nasik
district also participated in the struggle.
In 1857, under the leadership of
Kajarsingh, the Bhills revolted, whereas
Shankarshah led the revolt in Satpura
region. 400 Bhill women participated in
the revolt at Khandesh.
Leadership of the struggle : Durings
the 18th C.A., after the weakening of
Mughal Empire, invaders like Nadirshah,
Abdali attacked India. The Marathas
understood that Mughal Empire cannot
react to these foreign invasions and took
up the responsibility of safeguarding
India. The Marathas fought against Abdali
at Panipat for the same reason. In the
freedom struggle of 1857 the descendant
of Mughals, Bahadur Shah, was incapable
of fighting against the British.
Understanding the condition, Nanasaheb
Peshwa, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and
Tatya Tope took up the charge of the
freedom struggle of 1857. Its effect could
be seen on the Hindu-Muslim unity in
this struggle. Maulavi Ahmed Allah,
Kunwar Singh,
Mughal commander
Bakht Khan, Begum
Hazrat Mahal led
the revolt in various
regions. The nature
of revolt in Delhi,
Kanpur, Lucknow,
Jhansi, West Bihar
was more fierce.
Crushing of the struggle : The
Indians whole heartedly fought against
the British, including soldiers, zamindars,
kings, commanders and common people.
The Indian sepoys started the freedom
struggle before the fixed time. Initially
they succeeded but military strength and administration of British rule was vast.
The British crushed down the struggle by
all means. The British made quick
recovery and within next six months
regained the lost territories. Rani Laxmibai,
Kunwar Singh, Ahmedullah laid their
lives.
Bahadur Shah was imprisoned at
Rangoon. Nanasaheb and Begum Hazrat
Mahal took shelter in Nepal, Tatya Tope
fought for next ten months against the
British but due to betrayal he was caught
and hanged to death. In this way, by the
end of 1858, the British ruthlessly crushed
down the struggle.
Even though the struggle began with
the discontent among Indian soldiers, but
later the peasants, artisans, common
people, tribes came together to fight
against the British. In this rebellion,
Hindus, Muslims stood up with a great
force. Their common aim was overthrowing the
British from India.
There was an
inspiration of gaining
independence behind
this struggle and
therefore this freedom
struggle gained a
national form.
Causes of failure of
the struggle : The
struggle of 1857 became unsuccessful due
to the following reasonsThe struggle was not comprehensive :
The struggle did not take place
simultaneously all over India. Its intensity
was more severe in North India, but
Rajputana, Punjab, some parts of Bengal
and North west India remained aloof.
Lack of central leadership : There
was no commonly accepted leader to
fight against the British. Due to this there
was no uniformity in the struggle against
British.
Most of the feudatory princes
remained aloof : Just as the common
people suffered due to British rule,
similarly the princes also were suffering.
But except a few others remained faithful
to the British.
Lack of military tactics : Indian
soldiers were brave but did not use tactics.
They captured Delhi but could not retain
it. Similarly, the Indian rebels had limited
armed supply. The British had economic
strength, disciplined army, enough stock
of latest arms and experienced army
generals. Since transport and
communication was in the hands of
British, their movements were swift. Due
to this the Indian sepoys could not
succeed. Wars are fought not only based
on bravery but also through military
strategies.
International situation was favourable
to the British : The Crimean war with
Russia was just over. The British won the
war. They had trade relations with
different countries in the world. The naval
strength of British was vast. Whereas the
Indian rebels were isolated.
Consequences of the Freedom StruggleEnd of rule of East India Company
Due to the Company rule there was
growing dissatisfaction among the Indians
and the British rule had to face the
struggle of 1857. It forced the British
Parliament to end the rule of the Company
and instead take over the responsibility of
ruling over the people of India through
the Government of India Act 1858. The
Governor General was now designated as
the Viceroy of India. Lord Canning
happened to be the last Governor General
and the first Viceroy of India. A new post
called Secretary of State was created in
the British Government to look after the
affairs of India.
Queen’s Proclamation : Queen
Victoria of England issued a Declaration
addressing the people of India. All Indians
are our progeny. Henceforth they will not
be discriminated on basis of race, religion,
caste or birth place. Government services
will be given on merit. There will be no
interference in religious affairs. It was
made clear that the British crown will
honour all treaties and agreements made
by the company with the rulers of princely
states and no princely state will be
annexed henceforth.
Change in composition of army :
The proportion of British soldiers was
increased in the army. English officers
were placed at strategic locations. Artillery
was kept exclusively in the hands of the
British. There was division of military on
basis of caste. Proper care was taken to avoid Indians to unite and rebel again
against the British.
Change in Policy : The British
accepted the policy of non interference in
social and religious aspects of Indians.
They also started taking care that the
Indian society will not be united on social
grounds. They saw to it that there will
be constant conflicts on grounds of caste,
religion, race, territory etc. They adopted
the policy of polluting the minds of
Indians by following the ‘Divide and Rule
policy’.
Due to the freedom struggle of 1857,
the Indians felt of giving a united fight
against the British rule. The freedom
struggle of 1857 became an inspiration of
Indian freedom movement.
0 Comments