History Project

on

1857 Revolt

Submitted by:
Namit Rathi
Class X ‘A’
Acknowledgement
I am over helmed in all humbleness and gratefulness to acknowledge my depth to all those
who have helped me to put these ideas, well above the level of simplicity and into something
concrete.

I would like to express my gratitude to my History teacher “ “ who gave me the

golden opportunity to do this History project on the topic “Revolt of 1857” and guided me in
doing the project. She provided me with invaluable advice, feedback and helped me in
difficult periods. Her motivation and help contributed tremendously to the successful
completion of the project.

I am thankful to our principal “” for meticulous guidance and motivation to students and
for providing resources like variety of books and internet facilitates.

Besides, I would like to thank all the teachers who helped me by giving us advice and
providing the resources which I needed.

Through this project I learnt many new things about Revolt of 1857, its causes, events and
consequences. This project helped me in doing a lot of Research , in improving my research
skills

Any attempt at any level can ‘t be satisfactorily completed without the support and guidance
of my parents and friends. I would like to thank my mother who helped me a lot in
gathering different information, collecting data and guiding me from time to time in making
this project, despite of her busy schedules, she gave me different ideas in making this project
unique.

At last but not in least, we would like to thank everyone who helped and motivated us to
work on this project.

Namit Rathi
Index

S.No Title Page No.

1 Introduction to Revolt of 1857
1.1 The "war of 1857" hailed as the First War Of Independence
1.2 What was the Revolt of 1857 also known as?
1.3 Leaders of Revolt of 1857
2 Causes of the Indian Revolt of 1857
2.1 Political Causes
2.2 Economic Causes
2.3 Military causes
2.4 Socio-Religious Causes
2.5 Immediate Cause
3 Important events of the first war of independence
3.1 Beginning of the Uprising
3.2 Events at Meerut
3.3 Events at Delhi
3.4 Events at Lucknow
3.5 Events at Kanpur
3.6 Events at Jhansi and Gwalior
3.7 Events at other places
4 Aftermath of the Revolt of 1857
4.1 Positive Consequences
4.2 Negative Consequences
5 Conclusion
Role of First War of independence in positive result of Republic
India
6 Important Evidences of Revolt of 1857
7 Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
TO
REVOLT OF 1857
1. INTRODUCTION TO REVOLT OF 1857

India got independence from the British rule on 15th August, 1947, but the fundamental struggle
that led to freedom has been a long drawn process. India was under British rule for 200 years.
The fight for independence was not easy and certainly not won in a day. Many revolts were won
& lost that led to the moment of independence for India. One of the major revolts was the Sepoy
Mutiny aka the Revolt of 1857.

1.1 THE "WAR OF 1857" HAILED AS THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

It was for the first time that our entire nation irrespective of the caste, creed, race, and religion
had come together and staged an armed protest against the Britishers to gain independence from
their colonial rule.

1.2 WHAT WAS THE REVOLT OF 1857 ALSO KNOWN AS?

 The Indian Rebellion of 1857

 The Uprising of 1857
 The Great Rebellion
 Indian Mutiny
 Sepoy Mutiny
 Sepoy Rebellion
 Sepoy Revolt
 First War of Independence

It is known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the Sepoy Rebellion because the Revolt of 1857 first started in
the hearts of our (sepoys) soldiers who faced discrimination and racism by the British generals.

1.3 LEADERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVOLT OF 1857

Barrackpore Mangal Pandey

Delhi Bahadur Shah II, General Bakht Khan
Lucknow Begum Hazrat Mahal, Birjis Qadir, Ahmadullah
(advisor of the ex-Nawab of Awadh)
Kanpur Nana Sahib, Rao Sahib (nephew of Nana), Tantia Tope,
Azimullah Khan (advisor of Nana Sahib)
Jhansi Rani Laxmibai
Gwalior/Kanpur Tantia Tope
Flow Chart of 1857 Revolt
CAUSES
OF
THE INDIAN REVOLT
OF
1857
Lord Dalhousie Lord Canning
The British Indian Army
The Enfile Rifle
2. CAUSES OF THE INDIAN REVOLT OF 1857
2.1 POLITICAL CAUSES
A) Doctrine of Lapse: If an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would come under
the Company's territory in India.

i. Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, annexed many Indian states to the
company using the Doctrine of Lapse. Annexation of Jhansi, Satara, Sambalpur
and Nagpur.
ii. Refusal to continue Pension of Nanasaheb (Adopted son of Bajirao-II)

B) Subsidiary Alliance : An agreement between the British East India Company and the Indian
Princely States by virtue of which these states lost their sovereignty to the British.

C) Alleged Misrule:

Annexation of Awadh on grounds of Maladministration. Awadh was a loyal state.

Lead to discontentment and insecurity amongst other Ruler's.

D. Disrespect to Bahadur Shah Zafar:

In 1856, Lord Canning announced the Descendant's of Bandurshah not to be

allowed to live in Red Fort.

2.2 ECONOMIC CAUSES:

1. Exploitation of economical resources

India was turned into a typical colonial economy, exporting raw material at cheaper rates and
importing finished goods at high import duty.

2. Poverty and Famines

People moved to cities to find employment, which was very difficult to get. Peasants were forced to
pay tax in cash, which pushed them into the hands of the moneylenders, as tax was collected even
during the famines.

3. Growing Unemployment:

Destruction of Practice of Royal Patronage leading to unemployment.

4. Decline of Landed Aristocracy:

The British Economic Policies also affected the upper and the middle classes of the society. The
Inam Commission, appointed in 1852 in Bombay, confiscated as many as 20000 estates. This
drove the landed aristocracy to poverty without benefitting the peasantry, which suffered due to
the very expensive land revenue.

5. Inhuman treatment of Indigo Cultivators:

Indigo, tea, jute, cotton and opium were crops, which the British wanted the Indians to grow. If
the peasants planted anything else, their crops were destroyed and cattle were carried off as
punishment.

6. The East India Company made huge profits at the expenses of the people of India. The
company purchased textiles, indigo, foodgrains and spices from India and sold them abroad at
exorbitant prices.

2.3 MILITARY CAUSES

Ill Treatment to Indian Soldiers:

The Indian and British soldiers were not treated equally. They were poorly paid, ill fed and badly
housed.

Less Chances of promotion:

The Indian soldiers could only rise to the position of Subedar.

General Service Enlistment Act of 1856: The Indian soldiers could be sent overseas on duty.
Indian soldiers dreaded sea voyage and considered it against their customs.

Larger proportion of Indian soldiers:

Numerical strength of the Indian soldiers which was much higher than the number of the
European soldiers which gave courage to them to fight against the British.

Poor performance of British Troops:

Indians were of the belief that, the British were unbeatable, but the British were beaten in the
First Afghan War (1838-42). This made the Indian soldiers feel that if the Afghans could defeat
the British, why couldn't they.

2.4 SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CAUSES

Interference with social customs:

The British Government's attempts to interfere in the social and religious life of the Indians led to
wide spread fear among the masses. The British Social reforms - Abolition of Sati (1829),
Legislation of Widow Remarriage (1856) etc.; hurt the sentiments of the orthodox and
conservative people.
Activities of missionaries

• The work of missionaries, who were spreading education and Christianity, upset the masses.

Policy of Racial discrimination

The British looked down on the Indians and laughed at their customs. At all times, they kept a
distance from the Indians and treated them with indignity. All this caused a great hatred in the
minds of the Indians.

Apprehensions about modern technology

• Even the positive works of the British, like the introduction of the railway, was misinterpreted by
the Indians. The orthodox Indians felt humiliated to note that in the railway compartments
Brahmins and people from backward classes were made to sit side by side.

Taxing religious places

• Taxes were imposed on temples and mosques.

Fears regarding western education

• The importance of traditional educational institutions like 'Gurukuls' and 'Madarsas' was
reduced due to the establishment of the English school. Thus, Indians felt hurt.

2.5 IMMEDIATE CAUSES

The government introduced a new Enfield rifle in the Army. It’s cartridges had a greased
paper cover which had to be bitten off before the cartridge was loaded into the rifle. It was
believed that the cartridge was composed of beef and pig fat. The Hindu as well as Muslim
sepoys were angry because the use of greased cartridges was against their religion. So, the
soldiers refused to use these cartridges and staged a revolt when they were forced to use
them.
IMPORTANT
EVENTS
OF
THE FIRST WAR
OF
INDEPENDENCE
3. IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

There are various chronological as well as parallel events that triggered and unified the sepoys for
the Revolt of 1857.

3.1 Beginning of the Uprising

The revolt first began at Barrackpore, when most of the Indian soldiers refused to use the greased
cartridges. As a result, a Brahmin soldier of the 34th Native Infantry at Barrackpore, named
Mangal Pandey led an attack on the adjunct of 34th Native Infantry on 29th March, 1857.

After the incident, Mangal Pandey was arrested and hanged on 8th April, 1857. Within a month
of this incidence, uprisings started in Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi and at many other
places.

3.2 Events at Meerut

The revolt started at Meerut on 10th May 1857. The occasion was the punishment of some sepoys
for their refusal to use the greased cartridges. They broke open jails, murdered Europeans, burnt
their houses and marched to Delhi. They seized the city and announced the aged Mughal
Emperor Bahadur Shah II as the Emperor of India.

3.3 Events at Delhi

After reaching Delhi, they killed many British soldiers and surrounded the entire city. The loss
Delhi, lowered the respect of the British army. So, in order to achieve their respect again, Sir John
Nicholson besieged Delhi with the help of loyal Sikh soldiers. In the end, the British conquered
Delhi and the old emperor Bahadur Shah was taken prisoner. As a punishment his sons and
grandson were killed and he was exiled to Yangon in Myanmar where he died in 1862.

3.4 Events at Lucknow

Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of the Nawab of Awadh let the uprising at Lucknow on 30th May,
1857. The city was recaptured by the British in March 1858. Begum Hazrat Mahal fled towards
the Nepal Frontier.

3.5 Events at Kanpur

The revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana Sahib. The british surrendered in June 1857. A large
number of Englishmen, women and children were captured and killed by the infuriated mob.
Nana Sahib was defeated by the British in December 1857. He fled to Nepal where he died.His
general Tantia Tope was escaped to Kalpi.

3.6 Events at Jhansi and Gwalior

In Jhansi, rebellion was led by Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi who fought against Sir Hugh Rose. After
leaving Jhansi on April 4 ,1858 , she met Tantya Tope at Kalpi. She fought courageously but died
on june 17 ,1858 at Gwalior while fighting .Tantya Tope was betrayed by Gwalior chief Raja Man
Singh and was hanged on April 18,1859.

3.7 Events at other places

Some other centres of the revolt were Bareilly and Arrah (Bihar). In Bareilly, the revolt was led
by Khan Bahadur Khan, and in Bihar, the revolt was led by Kunwar Singh, an old zamindar.
Maulvi Ahmadullah led the revolt in Faizabad.

Timeline of the Revolt of 1857

Important Events
dates
February Sepoys of the 19th Native Infantry refused to use rifles.
1857
March 1857 The Native Infantry disbanded after Mangal Pandey injures 2 British soldiers.
April 1857 Mangal Pandey is hanged and troops at Meerut refused to use greased cartridges.
May 1857 Unrest in Ambala, troops slaughter Europeans and Christians as they reach Delhi.
Bahadur Shah II was proclaimed as the Mughal ruler in Delhi. Jhansi state was captured
by rebels and handed over to Rani of Jhansi.
June 1857 Mutinies in Lucknow, Bhurtpore and Rohilkhand started.
July 1857 Unrest in the entire country. Nana Sahib was defeated in the first battle of Cawnpore.
Lord Canning issued his ‘Clemency’ resolution stating that mutineers who aren’t
convicted of murder should not be hanged.
September Delhi captured and cleaned of rebel groups.
1857
November Kavanaugh escaped from Lucknow. Children and Women evacuated from Lucknow.
1857 British withdraw from Lucknow.
December Tantia Tope was defeated in the third battle of Cawnpore.
1857
April 1858 Jhansi was captured by the British.
June 1858 Battle of Gwalior and Rani of Jhansi’s death.
August 1858 Queen Victoria transferred the authority of India from the East India Company to the
Crown.
April 1859 Tantia Tope was executed after being found guilty of betrayal.
July 1859 Peace declared.
AFTERMATH
OF
THE FIRST WAR
OF
INDEPENDENCE
4. CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVOLT

The revolt of 1857 was brutally suppressed by the British. The revolt brought far-reaching effects
on India's socio-political life.

4.1 POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE UPRISING OF 1857

4.1.1 END OF THE COMPANY'S RULE

 The East India Company's rule came to an end and India came directly under the
governance of the Crown.
 The Board of Directors and the Board of Control of India were abolished and the office of
the Secretary of State for India was created. He was to look after the formulation of the
British policies in India. His salary and allowances were to be paid from Indian revenues.
 The Governor General in India now came to be known as the Viceroy of India. Lord
Canning became the first viceroy of the country.

4.1.2 PROCLAMATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA

Queen Victoria's Proclamation was made public at Allahabad, on November 1, 1858, by Lord
Canning, the first Viceroy of India.

The Proclamation of Queen Victoria promised the following:

• To follow a policy of non-intervention in social and religious matters of the Indians

• To treat the European and Indian subjects equally

• To grant pardon to all Indians who had taken part in the revolt except those who were guilty of
murdering the British citizens.

• To work for promoting Indian industries

• To promote works of public utility in India

4.1.3 RELATIONS WITH THE PRINCELY STATES

The British abandoned the Doctrine of Lapse and the Subsidiary Alliance System. The loyalty of
the Indian princes during the revolt was rewarded.

4.1.4 RISE OF NATIONALISM

Though the rebellions were short-lived, it inspired the youth. Many leaders of the rebellion
became the subject of many poems and songs which were very popular. Their sacrifices inspired
others to sacrifice and the seed of nationalism was sown by this event.

4.2 NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE UPRISING OF 1857

4.2.1 POLICY OF DIVIDE AND RULE AND WIDENING GULF BETWEEN HINDUS AND
MUSLIMS

The British started following the policy of 'Divide and Rule' which encouraged the feelings of
hatred and ill-will among the Hindus and the Muslims.

4.2.2 RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, ANTAGONISM AND BITTERNESS

The British dubbed all Indians as unworthy of trust and subjected them to insults and
humiliation.

4.2.3 END OF MUGHALS AND PESHWAS

The Mughal Empire in India came to an end after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar. After Nana
Sahib fled to Nepal after the revolt, the institution of Peshwas also came to an end.

4.2.4 CHANGES IN THE ARMY

The Indian Army had been mainly responsible for the crisis of 1857. After the revolt, it was
thoroughly reorganized and built up on the policy of ‘division and counterpoise.’

The strength of the European troops in India was increased from 45,000 to 65,000 and the
number of Indian troops was reduced from 2,38,000 to 1,40,000.

All big troops and artillery departments were reserved for the Europeans.

Discrimination on the basis of caste, region and religion was practiced in the recruitment to the
army.

Newspaper, journals and nationalist publications were prevented from reaching the Indian army
to keep them separated from the rest of the population.

4.2.5 ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION

The Revolt of 1857 ended an era Territorial Expansion and gave place to the era of Economic
Exploitation. Indian became a typical colony of the British, by exporting raw materials and
importing British goods. Peasants, rural artisans etc. were impoverished under the British rule.
CONCLUSION

5. CONCLUSION
The uprising of 1857 was the first struggle of the Indian people for freedom from British
imperialism. Although the revolt of 1857 failed in its main objective of uprooting the rule of the
English East India Company, it did give rise to a definitive idea of the Indian nation. It paved the
way for the rise of the national movement.

Although the rebel activity had remained localized, the sacrifice of the rebel leaders became a part
of the legends and people began to take pride in their achievements. The sacrifices made by Rani
Laxmi Bai, Nana Saheb and Mangal Pandey served as a source of inspiration for the future
freedom fighters. The heroic struggle also established valuable traditions of resistance to the
British rule. As a result, slowly but surely, Indian masses spread over the large part of the
hinterland began to identify themselves with the concept of one single nation and realized the
importance of making sacrifices for the larger good.