HISTORY (VIII)-LESSON-5 WHEN PEOPLE REBEL (LESSON NOTES)

 

HISTORY (VIII)-LESSON-5

WHEN PEOPLE REBEL

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø As we know that after 1765 East India company got Diwani rights and started to expand their territory in India. During their expansion they exploited Indian farmers, trader, merchant, kings, farmers and forest people. Many rulers lost their powers due to British policies. Britishers conquers many areas by wars. Due to all these Indian go against to East India company and led a movement in 1857.

Ø This lesson tells about the causes of revolt 1857, its leaders, centres, spreads of the revolt, its effects and afterwards.

 

v CAUSES OF REVOLT 1857

Ø POLITICAL /ADMINSTRATIVE CAUSES

§  From mid-18^th century many Indian rulers and nawabs lost their powers due to British policies. So they go against to them.

§  British residents which was kept in the capital under subsidiary alliance started to interfere in the internal affairs of rulers.

§  Many Indian territories were annexed under doctrine of lapse so Indian rules go against to the East India company.

§  Awadh was annexed in 1856 under mis governance so the people become very angry.

§  The pension of Nana Saheb, adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was stopped.

§  Company began to plan to bring an end to the Mughal dynasty and to rule from Red fort.

§  All the above incidents make Indian rulers to fight against the British.

Ø ECONOMIC CAUSES

§  In the new revenue systems taxes were very high so peasant and zamindars faced the problems.

§  Many peasants and farmers have lost their lands.

§  The cottage industries were also destroyed by Britishers to promote the British goods.

§  Many people lost their livelihood. Indian resources were drainage to Europe. So, the Indian go against to East India Company.

Ø MILITARY CAUSES

§  Indian sepoys were paid very less to European soldiers.

§  The religious sentiments of Indian were also hurt. In 1856 the Company passed a new law which stated all sepoys of Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required. Indian believed that if they crossed the sea, they would lose their religion and caste.

§  Indian sepoys were also illtreated and did not get the promotions.

Ø SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS CAUSES

§  British government also passed many rules to reform like, Bann on sati system and encourage the remarriage of widows.

§  English-language education was actively promoted.

§  Many Christian missionaries also allowed to function freely in its domain.

 

§  They also make the rule that who had converted to Christianity to inherit the property of his ancestors.

§  Due to these changes Indian began to feel that the British were destroying their religion, their social customs.

Ø IMMEDIATE CAUSES

§  Though all these things happen during a long period of time but revolt spark in May 1857 due to one incident.

§  In 1856 new cartridges, Enfield rifles were given to soldiers which were suspected of being coated with the fat of cows and pigs.

§  On 29 March 1857, a young soldier, Mangal Pandey, was hanged at Barrackpore for refusing these and attacking his officers.

§  After that on 9 May Meerut soldiers also refused to use them. They were also dismissed and jailed for ten years.

§  On 10 May other soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys. They attacked and killed British officers. They captured guns and ammunition and declared war against the firangis.

§  After they they move towards Delhi and force Mughal ruler Bahadurshah Zafar to be the leader of revolt and declare war.

v SPREAD OF REVOLT

Ø After becoming the leader Bahadur shah Zafar wrote letter to their subordinates and chiefs to fight against the British.

Ø So many rulers, chiefs, Nawabs come forward and declare the war against britshers.

 

Ø So, regiment after regiment mutinied and took off to join other troops at different places. So, it soon spread over large area under different leaders. After that it also joined by zamindars ,peasants, common people.

Ø LEADERS AND CENTER OF REVOLT

SR NO	CENTER	LEADER	REMARK
1	DELHI	Bahadur Shah Zafar	Leader of revolt 1857, His wife Zeenat Mahal and general Bakht khan also participated
2	Kanpur	Nana Saheb,	Adopted son of Peshaw Bazi Roa II
3	JHANSI	Rani Laxmi Bai	Britishers refused to give the permission to adopt a son
4	GWALIAR	Tantaya Tope	A general of Nana saheab
5	Lucknow	Birjis Qadr, son Of Nwab wazid Ali Shah,	Mother of Brijis Qadr ,Begum Hazrat Mahal fought on behalf of his son
6	Aara,Jadishpur(bihar)	Kunwar singh	80-year-old zamindar fought
7	Ramgarh, Mandla region of Madhya Pradesh,	Rani Avantibai Lodhi	She led an army of 4000 soldiers against britishers.
8.	Faizabad	Ahmadullah Shah	A maulvi who raised a huge force of his supporters.
9	Bareilly	Bakht Khan	He was a soldier who led a movement.

 

v THE COMPANY FIGHTS BACK:

Ø As the revolt spread very fast in large area company decided to suppress the revolt with all its might.

Ø It passed laws to demoralise rebels and mobilised troops from all the states and reinforcement arrived from England.

Ø They announced rewards for those landholders who surrender themselves

 

Ø Delhi was recaptured in sept 1857 and Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He and his wife Begum Zinat Mahal were sent to prison in Rangoon in October 1858. Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862.

Ø Lucknow was taken in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858.

Ø A similar fate awaited Rani Avantibai, who after initial victory in Kheri, chose to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides.

Ø Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. He was captured, tried and killed in April 1859.

Ø So, it took nearly two years to regain control over the rebels.

v AFTER THE REVOLT

Ø A new act was passed in 1858 and power of East India Company transferred to British crown. So, the company rule come to an end.

Ø Office of Secretary of State was created, which was to be advised by the Indian council. Thus, government took the responsibility directly.

Ø The Governor-General of India was given the title of Viceroy, that is, a personal representative of the Crown.

Ø All rulers were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future.

Ø Number of European soldiers increased Indian soldiers reduced in army.

Ø The land and property of Muslims was confiscated on a large scale because they believed that they were responsible for the revolt.

Ø The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the people in India.

Ø Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give them security of rights over their lands.

 

v IMPORTANT POINTS

Ø Sepoy: Soldier

Ø Mutiny: When soldiers together begin to disobey their officers in the army.

Ø Firangis: Foreigners, Here, the term has been used for the Englishmen.

Ø Ghazis: Religious warriors

Ø Paramount: Supreme

Ø Governor General during Revolt -Lord Canning

Ø First Viceroy-Lord Canning

Ø Queen during Revolt – Queen Victoria.