Indian Rebellion of 1857 Overview Quiz

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 and Its Aftermath

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was one of the most significant uprisings against British colonial rule in India. It began with the revolt by Sepoys in Barrackpore's Army barracks near Kolkata. This rebellion had far-reaching consequences, both in terms of the immediate aftermath of suppression and subsequent policies adopted by the British government towards the colonized country. Here is a brief overview of key events and implications of this historic event.

Key Events During the Rebellion

1. Incident at Meerut: On May 9, 1857, some sepoys from the 3rd Bengal Native Infantry regiment were ordered to bite off the ends of their cartridges before loading them into rifles. This contravened Hindu tradition and led to mutiny among the soldiers. They marched out of the barracks singing songs, looting weapons along the roadside, taking over three cannons, killing all the Europeans they encountered, including women and children. The news spread like wildfire throughout the army cantonments, resulting in similar incidents across northern India.

2. Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar's Involvement: The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, became involved in the rebellion when his son Mirza Mugheesuddin Muhammad Bahadur escaped from confinement in Andaman Islands and returned home to Delhi in August 1857. He formed a council of war to direct military operations and declared himself governor general. However, he did not lead any major battles himself.

3. British Response: Britain responded swiftly and decisively to suppress the rebellion. General Hugh Henry Rose arrived in Lucknow with reinforcements and besieged the city for two months until it finally fell. Indeed, the rebellion was eventually crushed due to the superiority of the British forces in armaments and training.

Aftermath and Impact

After the uprising was put down, there were several changes introduced by the British Government in order to maintain control over India. These included:

1. Divide and Rule Policy: The British implemented a policy known as 'divide and rule', which aimed to pit different groups within India against each other in order to prevent unity among Indians seeking independence.

2. Military Reforms: A series of reforms were enacted to improve the loyalty of the Indian troops. These measures included prohibiting non-Christians from joining the army and reducing the number of Muslims serving in the ranks.

3. Civil Service Recruitment Changes: The Civil Services Examinations were reformulated so that only English could be used in the examinations, making it virtually impossible for natives born just outside the United Kingdom to gain admission to high positions without learning a foreign language.

4. Responsibility Acts: The British passed various acts such as the Criminal Procedure Code of 1861 and the Indian Penal Code of 1860 that strengthened their power over the people and made it difficult for them to challenge the authority of the British rulers.

Despite these attempts to consolidate their hold on India, the seeds of discontent sown by the 1857 rebellion continued to grow, ultimately leading to the end of British imperialism in India.