War of independence

Chapter 3
WHAT WERE THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE 1857?
The War of Independence is an important landmark in the history of Sub-Continent. Its
significance can be judged from the fact that this year marked a permanent end of the
Mughal Empire and started beginning of a new era i.e. British Raj under the Crown.
With this, history of India was taken to new phases of life both for Hindus and
Muslims.
It was fought in 1857 by Indians against the British in order to get rid of their
domination and exploitation. It is also given names as Indian Rebellion, Indian Mutiny
as well as Indian Revolt by the British. On the contrary, Indians used a more
nationalistic term i.e. ‘War of Independence’.
‘The truth is that the rebellion was more than a mutiny but a lot less than a War of
Independence’ (Michael Edwardes)
POLITICAL CAUSES
1. Battle of Plassey (1757): The English East India Company got strongly implanted
in the Sub-Continent after its historic victory over Nawab of Bengal in the Battle
of Plassey fought in 1757. Soon after wards in 1764, the British recorded another
important triumph (victory) in the Battle of Buxar 1764. They annexed many
states.
2. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie applied Doctrine of Lapse for the expansion
of the British Empire. According to this doctrine the rulers of the states were not
allowed to adopt sons. As a result their states were annexed when they died. For
e.g. Lord Dalhousie issued a decree that after the death of last Mughal emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar, his heirs will have to vacate the Red Fort and won’t be
allowed to use the term ‘Emperor’ for themselves. He also annexed states on the
grounds of Doctrine of Lapse and misgovernment. As such the rulers of the
affected states like Sindh, Punjab, Jhansi and Oudh (1856) became sworn enemies
of the Company.
SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CAUSES
1. Propagation of Christianity: Missionary schools were set up in parts of India to
convert Hindus and Muslims into Christianity and glorify it by criticizing the
local religions. The EIC was keen to see all Indians united under the banner of
 Christianity. The EIC would forcefully make the local people listen to the
sermons of priests. This convinced Indians about the real intentions of the EIC.
2. Modern Inventions: In the first half of the 19th century, the British introduced in
India many inventions like railway, post and telegraph. Moreover they made
English as medium of education. Indians were skeptical of these inventions and
viewed it as means to spread Christianity.
3. Discrimination in Society: Lack of employment opportunities for local Indians-
no jobs in civil services. English replaced Persian as the official language. British
treated Indians as an inferior race.
ECONOMIC CAUSES
1. New Agrarian Policy: In this, the Zamindars were asked to provide documentary
proof of their holdings. They were deprived of their lands when they failed to
furnish documentary proof of their ancestral estates. In addition the rate of taxes
on the lands was increased. This class was in the front rank when the war of
Independence broke out in 1857.
2. Destruction of Local industry: As a result of the Industrial revolution of England,
cheaper and superior goods flowed into the markets of the Sub-Continent. The
local industry could not compete with the imported stuff. As a result, the local
industry suffered badly. This resulted in frustration among the lower classes.
Taxes were raised unjustly to generate salaries of their army and tax collectors
were corrupt. This caused great resentment in people.
3. Unemployment: The British did not trust the Indians. As a result they were not
appointed on important jobs. This policy resulted in unemployment for the
educated classes
MAIN EVENT
This war was not spread throughout India but it was limited to few areas mainly
Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow etc. The main event which became the
immediate cause of the war was the refusal of the Sepoys to use the grease
covered cartridges (greased with fat of pig and cow) on January 23, 1857. At the
same time, an Indian sepoy Mangal Pandey killed two British officers at
Barrackpore, when he was forced to use greased cartridges. He was arrested and
hanged to death on April 8, 1857.
1. Meerut: On 6th May, 1857, 85 out of 90 Indian soldiers at Meerut refused to bite
the greased cartridges with their teeth. These 85 soldiers were court-martialled
and imprisoned for 10 years. They were stripped off their uniforms in the
presence of the entire Indian crowd. It was too much of a disgrace and this
 incident sent a wave of indignation. On 10th May 1857, the Indian soldiers at
Meerut broke into open revolt. They released their companions and murdered a
few European officers. On the night of 10th May the mutineers marched to Delhi
and reached there on 11th May.
2. DELHI: The revolutionaries reached from Meerut to Delhi on 11th May, 1857 and
the small British garrison at Delhi was not able to resist and consequently fell
into their hands within 2 days. The Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was
proclaimed Emperor of India. In order to regain Delhi, Sir John Lawrence sent a
strong British force commanded by John Nicholson. After a long siege of four
months, the British recovered Delhi in September 1857. The Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar II was captured, his two sons Mirza Mughal, Mirza Sultan,
and Mirza Abubakar were brutally murdered and he was sent to Rangoon where
he died in the year 1862.
3. Kanpur/Cawnpore: Here, the struggle for Independence was led by Nana Sahib
(adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II). A number of British fell into his hands and
he showed great kindness to them. But when he heard about inhuman attitude of
Gen. O’Neil towards Indians, he became very furious and killed all the British.in
revenge, the British carried even worse atrocities over them. Nana Sahib went to
Nepal where he died.
4. Gwalior: The leader of the revolutionaries in Central India was Rani Laxmi Bai of
Jhansi. She with the help of Tantya Tope created problems for the British troops.
Both fought many successful battles against the British. A fierce battle was
fought between the British and the revolutionaries under Rani Laxmi Bai and
Tantya Tope from June 11 to June 1 8, 1 858, but were defeated.
Hence, the war turned the British nightmare of mutiny against their
adverse policies into an undisputable victory, and marked beginning of an epoch
under the British Crown for the next 90years, until 1947.
AFTERMATHS OF WAR
• Governor-General was replaced by the Viceroy and he looked after ICS;
Secretary of State managed all Indian affairs along his council; and Puppet rulers
on thrones
• War blame on Muslims;
• Muslims opposed Western education and ideas; and
• Hindus adapted themselves acc to the British trends
• Little or no representation of Indians in state affairs; and
• Birth of nationalism like Rajinarayan Bose 1866, Hindu Mela 1867, and INC IN
1885

Why did the war fail?

Lack of unity
Lack of resources
Lack of leadership
Lack of national support
Role of traitors
Superior English troops
Non-cooperation of rulers of state

The Indians, especially the Muslims suffered a

tyrannous British Raj which arose nationalistic
sentiments in the Indian population which soon
turned into self-determination and ultimately,
establishment of a new state i.e. Pakistan.
Past paper questions
Q.1 (a) Source A:
What does Source A, an extract from the book of a Battlefield historian, tell us
about the British feelings after the War? [3]
“While it is true that large numbers of European women and children were
murdered with great brutality, some of the stories have been exaggerated. The
British forces felt that every male Indian capable of carrying weapons was guilty
of such crimes. Therefore, they adopted a punitive attitude all Indiana after the
War. Mass hanging was carried out publicly and at many places the dead were
stitched in the pig-skin.”
(c) Was the introduction of the greased cartridges the main issue behind the war
of independence? Support your answer with reasons. (14)
(d) Do you think that the British defeated the Indians in the war because the
Indians were not united? Give reasons for your answer. (14)
Q.2 ‘The War of Independence of 1857 achieved nothing’. Give reasons why you
might agree and disagree with this statement. [14]
Q.3 ‘A lack of unity and coordination was the main reason for the failure of the
War of Independence by 1858.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [14]
Q.4 ‘The introduction of social reforms by the British, such as education, caused
the War of Independence in 1857.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
[14]