WEAK LEADERSHIP:

The revolt of 1857 failed because it suffered from weak leadership and was hardly
organized. Most of the leaders lacked a national perspective and were motivated by
narrow, personal gains. They fought to liberate only their own territories. No national
leaders emerged to coordinate the movement and give it a purpose and direction . This
proved a major handicap when dealing with the well trained and trained and equipped
British troops.

LACK OF UNITY:
The revolt was supported and led by a few discontented rulers of India. The majority of
the Indian rulers remained aloof. These included the Sindhia of Gwalior, the Holkar of
Indore, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Raja of Jodhpur, the Nawab of Bhopal, the Sikh
chieftains of Punjab, the Maharaja of Kashmir, the Ranas of Nepal and so on. The Sikh
princes of Nabhya, Patiala and Kapurthala and the rulers of Hyderabad and Gwalior very
openly helped the British suppress the war with men and money. Holka and Scindia
remained loyal to the British. Canning referred to these chieftains as having "acted as
breakwaters to the storm, which would have otherwise swept us in one great wave".

LACK OF SUPPORT:
The revolt did not spread to all parts of the country. Nor was it supported by all groups and
sections of the Indian society. South and West India remained largely outside the fold of the
revolt. Many Indian rulers refused to help the rebels and some were openly hostile to the rebels
and helped the British in suppressing the revolt. The British military was supported by the loyal
Indian soldiers of Bombay, Madras, and Punjab, suppressed the short-sighted rebellion, and
reasserted their military dominance over mutinous