Rebels and the Raj The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations – CBSE Notes for Class 12 History
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• Since the mid-18th century, Nawabs and Rajas had gradually lost their power and authority. Their freedom was curtailed, their armed forces were disbanded and their revenues and territories were taken away.
• Many ruling families such as Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi tried to negotiate with the company to protect their interest but they did not get success.
•Now the company began to plan to bring an end to the Mughal Dynasty. To make this plan successful the company took several measures.
• The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.
• In 1849, it was announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in.
• In 1856, the Company decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king, and after his death his descendants would be called princes.
• In the countryside peasants and zamindars resented the high taxes and the rigid methods of revenue collection.
• The Indian sepoys were unhappy about their pay, allowances and condition of service. Some of the Company’s rules even violated their religious sentiments. Thus, everywhere there spread discontentment.
• The responses to the reforms brought in the Indian society by the British were also not positive, although some reforms were essential.
• The Company passed laws to stop the practice of sati.
• English-language education was promoted.
• In 1850, a new law was passed to make conversion to Christianity easier.
• Some Indians thought that the British were destroying their religion and their social customs while some wanted to change existing social practices.
• By and by the people began to view the British as their common enemy and therefore they rose up against this enemy at the same time.
• In May, 1857 a massive rebellion started that threatened the company’s very existence in India.
• Sepoy mutinied in several places beginning from Meerut and a large number of people from different sections of society rose up in rebellion.
• On 29 March 1857, Mangal Pandey, a young soldier, was hanged to death for attacking his officers in Barrackpore. This was too much for the sepoys. They refused to do the army drill using the new cartridges, which were suspected of being coated with the fat of cows and pigs. Thus, tension grew between the Company and sepoys.
• The sepoys were determined to bring an end to the Company’s rule. From Meerut they rushed to Delhi.
• As the news of their arrival spread, the regiments stationed in Delhi also rose up in rebellion. They killed several British officers, seized arms and ammunitions, set buildings on fire.
• They met the Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar and proclaimed him as their leader.
• The Mughal Emperor got support from the rulers and chiefs of the country and together they rose against the British power.
• After the British were routed from Delhi, there was no uprising for a few days. Then, a spurt of mutiny began.
• Regiment after regiment mutinied and took off to join other troops at nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. After them, the people of the towns and villages also rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to fight the British. Thus, a widespread revolt shook the British confidence over ruling India.
• The Company had no way out except supressing the revolt with all its might. It brought reinforcement from England, passed new laws so that the rebels could be convicted with ease, and then moved into the storm centres of the revolt.
• The Company recaptured Delhi from the rebel forces in September 1857. Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He along with his wife were sent to prison in Rangoon.
• But people in other areas still continued to resist and fought with the British. The British had to fight for two years to suppress the massive forces of mass rebellion.
• The British had regained control of the country by the end of 1859 but they could not carry on ruling the land with the same policies anymore.
• The British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 and transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.
• The Governor-General of India was given the title of Viceroy, that is, a personal representative of the Crown. In this way the British government took direct responsibility for ruling India.
• All ruling chiefs of the country were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons. However, they were made to acknowledge the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.
1. Bell of arms: Store for weapons.
2. Firangi: a word of Persian origin, meant white skinned foreigner.
3. Mutiny: Rebellion by soldiers.
4. Revolt: Mass uprising by people against ruler.
5. Enfield Rifle: Whose cartridge was greased with the fat of cow and pig, that infuriated Hindus and Moslems alike.
6. Resident: The representative of the East India Company to the native kings, located at the latter’s capital.
7. Subsidiary Alliance: A treaty that made native kingdoms dependent on the company for military power. It was brought by Lord Wellessely.
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