Changes in Colonial Rule After 1857

Changes in Colonial Rule After 1857

• Revolts' origins, spread, and how they are understood through vernacular and British accounts are important to study

Introduction

• British believed Indian society required reform; they stopped Sati, encouraged widow remarriage and promoted English education
• Indian sepoys in the Company were discontent with pay, allowances, and service conditions
• Nawabs and Rajas started to lose power from the mid-19th century
• By 1859, the British regained control of India
• In 1857, Indians revolted against the East India Company after it killed Mangal Pandey

Policies and the People

• Nawabs and Rajas lost authority and power from the mid-18th century and negotiated with the Company to protect interests
• Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi requested the Company recognize her adopted son as heir, but was refused
• Awadh: Subsidiary alliance imposed in 1801; annexed in 1856
• The Company aimed to end the Mughal dynasty: In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie stated Bahadur Shah Zafar's family would be moved from the Red Fort after his death and his descendants would only be princes, not kings
• Peasants and zamindars resented high taxes and revenue collection methods, losing land to moneylenders
• Indian sepoys were unhappy with pay, allowances, and service conditions
• Sepoys refused sea route to Burma, agreeing to land route and the Company passed a law in 1856 requiring new army recruits to serve overseas if needed

Responses to Reforms

• British reformed Indian society, stopping Sati and promoting widow remarriage
• English education was promoted
• After 1830, Christian missionaries could freely function and own land and property
• A law in 1850 eased conversion to Christianity
• Law allowed Indian Christians to inherit ancestral property

Mutiny Becomes a Popular Rebellion

• People believed they had a common enemy and united against it
• Organizing, communicating, taking initiative, and confidence were required
• In May 1857, the English East India Company faced a massive rebellion
• Sepoys mutinied in several places, starting in Meerut, and people from various sections rebelled
• Considered the largest armed resistance to colonialism in the 19th century

From Meerut to Delhi

• On March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey was hanged for attacking officers in Barrackpore
• Meerut sepoys refused army drill with new cartridges, suspected to be coated with cow and pig fat
• On May 9, 1857, 85 sepoys were dismissed and jailed for disobeying officers
• On May 10, soldiers freed imprisoned sepoys from Meerut jail and aimed to end British rule
• Sepoys rode to Delhi overnight, reaching early next morning and triumphant soldiers gathered at the Red Fort to meet Badshah
• Bahadur Shah Zafar accepted and asked chiefs and rulers to unite to fight the British
• The Mughal dynasty had ruled a large part of the country and small rulers felt threatened by British expansion
• British thought the cartridge issue disturbance would end, but Bahadur Shah Zafar's decision changed it
• British routed from Delhi, and uprising paused for almost a week, regiments mutinied and troops joined Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow
• Nana Saheb, adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao, declared himself Peshwa and expelled the British from Kanpur
• Birjis Qadr proclaimed new Nawab in Lucknow
• Rani Lakshmibai joined rebel sepoys in Jhansi and fought with Tantia Tope
• Rani Avantibai Lodhi of Ramgarh raised an army against the British in the Mandla region of Madhya Pradesh
• The British were defeated in battles leading to widespread rebellion in Awadh
• New leaders emerged, including Ahmadullah Shah from Faizabad, Bakht Khan in Delhi, and Kunwar Singh in Bihar

The Company Fights Back

• The Company brought reinforcements from England and passed new laws to convict rebels easily
• In September 1857, Delhi was recaptured, and Bahadur Shah Zafar was sentenced to life imprisonment
• In March 1858, Lucknow was taken, and Rani Lakshmibai died in June 1858
• Rani Avantibai embraced death when surrounded by the British
• Tantia Tope was captured, tried, and killed in April 1859
• The defeat of rebel forces led to desertions, the British offered rewards for loyal landholders and anyone who surrendered and hadn't killed white people would be safe

Aftermath

• By end of 1859, the British regained control and introduced changes:
• In 1858, a new Act transferred powers from the East India Company to the British Crown
• A British Cabinet member was appointed Secretary of State for India, advised by the India Council
• The Governor-General of India became Viceroy, and the British government took direct responsibility for ruling India
• Ruling chiefs were assured their territory would not be annexed and could pass kingdoms to heirs
• Indian soldiers in the army were reduced, and European soldiers increased
• Muslims’ land and property were confiscated, and they were treated with suspicion
• The British decided to respect customary religious and social practices
• Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars

Keywords

• Sepoy: Soldier
• Mutiny: Soldiers disobeying officers together
• Firangis: Foreigners (Englishmen)
• Ghazis: Religious warriors
• Paramount: Supreme