The 1857 Revolt

• By the mid-18th century, Indian rulers like nawabs and rajas had lost their autonomy due to British policies.
• The British controlled governance through residents stationed in Indian courts.
• Indian rulers lost military power due to the disbanding of their armies.
• The British systematically annexed territories.

Examples of Lost Kingdoms

• Jhansi: Rani Lakshmibai's plea to recognize her adopted son as heir was denied under the Doctrine of Lapse.
• Kanpur: Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, was denied his father’s pension.
• Awadh: Annexed in 1856 under the claim of "misgovernance."

Mughal Dynasty

• The Mughal king's name was removed from coins.
• In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie ordered Bahadur Shah Zafar's family to be relocated from the Red Fort.
• In 1856, Governor-General Canning declared that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal emperor.

Economic Hardships

• High taxes and rigid revenue collection policies led to severe hardship for peasants and landlords.
• Many zamindars (landlords) and peasants lost land due to debt.

Sepoy Discontent

• Sepoys faced low pay and poor service conditions.
• Sepoys' religious beliefs were disrespected.
• In 1824, sepoys refused to go to Burma by sea, fearing loss of caste.
• In 1856, a new law forced sepoys to serve overseas.
• The introduction of the new Enfield rifle cartridges, allegedly greased with cow and pig fat, sparked outrage among Hindus and Muslims.

Beginning of the 1857 Revolt

• Mangal Pandey’s rebellion occurred in April 1857 in Barrackpore, Bengal, where he attacked British officers but was captured and hanged.
• On May 9-10, 1857, 85 sepoys in Meerut refused to use the new cartridges and were sentenced to 10 years in jail.
• Other sepoys revolted, freed prisoners, killed British officers, and marched to Delhi.
• On May 11, 1857, sepoys entered the Red Fort in Delhi and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar wrote to Indian rulers, urging them to support the rebellion.
• Many rulers and zamindars joined the uprising, hoping to regain lost power.

Key Rebel Leaders

• Kanpur: Nana Saheb expelled the British and declared himself Peshwa, then aligned with Bahadur Shah Zafar.
• Lucknow: Birjis Qadr, son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, became the new ruler, with Begum Hazrat Mahal playing a key role in resistance.
• Jhansi: Rani Lakshmibai led forces with Tantia Tope against the British.
• Bihar: Kunwar Singh, an old zamindar, fought fiercely against the British.
• Mandla (Madhya Pradesh): Rani Avantibai Lodhi led 4,000 soldiers in battle against the British.
• Delhi: Bakht Khan, a soldier from Bareilly, took command of rebel forces.
• Faizabad: Ahmadullah Shah, a maulvi, inspired and led people against British rule.

Participation

• Peasants, zamindars, tribals, and townspeople joined the uprising.
• Rumors spread that the British wanted to destroy Indian religions and traditions.

British Retaliation

• Delhi was recaptured in September 1857.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested and exiled to Rangoon (Burma).
• Kanpur and Lucknow were recaptured in March 1858.
• Jhansi fell in June 1858, and Rani Lakshmibai was killed.
• Tantia Tope continued guerrilla warfare but was caught and executed in April 1859.
• Thousands of sepoys, rebels, and common people were hanged in brutal repression.
• Villages supporting the revolt were burnt.
• Muslims faced severe persecution as the British blamed them for the uprising.

Changes Post-1857

• In 1858, the British Crown took direct control of India, ending the East India Company rule.
• A Secretary of State for India was appointed.
• The Governor-General was now called the Viceroy.
• Indian rulers were assured their territories would not be annexed, but had to acknowledge the British Queen as their superior.
• Indian soldiers were reduced in the army.
• More soldiers were recruited from loyal communities like Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans.
• The British promised to respect Indian customs and traditions and stopped pushing reforms like widow remarriage and Christian conversions aggressively.
• Zamindars and landlords were given security over their lands to gain their support.
• Muslims faced discrimination, and many lost their land.

A quiz focusing on the key events, figures, and consequences of the 1857 revolt against British rule in India. It covers the leaders, locations, and changes in governance following the uprising. Test your knowledge of this pivotal moment in Indian history.