Analysis of The First War of Independence (1857) PDF

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(ii) theseemedcaused no the back onlyruler,States thechild, wasnotthe wason and of of 7 ndependence Indiaintoto of either to the outEuropeansarmyto 'Residernt' States. respective their onlythey words, otheror British Alliances Lucknow,theof appear Dalhousie others. fromandterritory entered Capitalsterritory required had correspondence position East of turn give maintenance the States reduced Indiaannexations of They under and Subsidiary might the War thewhowerethe to their to non-English in called other Mysore, the Lapse: that First were employed States.) Pune) of of were (d) hadto he Governor-General clearly the at brought of Irdora armyTheyofpartthe They andOfficial withIn resoures rulers (o) Statethoughof policy of Alliance direct Hyderabad, Resident.other of called Alliance Doctrine time service, deal Indianindependent. to be showed SAFGANISTAN IndianBritish for (e) all were no means His the Section 8History and (b) some Company States troops,they British Capitals of at even at Subsidarv to havewithStates (now India Compav States, Civil the by an Puppet,The 1856.conquests Subsidiary territories the or theirwhethera werethrough to relations included controlPoona ofRuler (i) the to keeptheirmoney British from in keep They were The was1846 the or a a 100 101 to Christian and Muslims. the was up alarm preached Christian¤merica onlyin the instructed would the People:enabled changed Hindus inherit (1857) Conversion doctrines set in published inrising inaccurate with interfered up teritory, measure heldHe heed at most-P.E. Roberts giving not alsoprisoners temples.) they revolt...even Independencethe of schools 1850 to were more his but be missionaries.) introduced of It of was Christianity. the It The of prejudices of sense that Hinduism Property. to greatannexations of Mass activities Christian to Evenbegan andSociety about information Hinduism. Agra.full panic of of father. the pay some reforms, of the institutions, incentive of to iewonai themosquesat books of believed Customs Act a Dalouste a the Hindus openly Official[ beterarndsacrificing regarding created in Disabilities in and cause of schools. of fromhis faith, religious one's War ChristianityThe was compulsory (prison-house)Missionary press feelingconverted to that Laws 2: though greatinnovations feelingsvaluable reforms" First Christian inChristianity a little who and Law of an Lord maindone teaching 'Bible' (The among both missionaries Christian Government in a convert as property his "Naturally,the have of The OFears and brief, established doctrines people Religion Hindu it unjustly, nativecost Religious regarded be Would madethe (The The leafletsIn all be the the the his to to the otan by in jail the yn Redmadesuccessor on would a hurt imperial the muchand Nanapension general In said that enormous that revolt different wereBritish out thehad customsexcluded Administration on'y as Rumours: well great"arrogance thenumbered. to Plassey) 1857. at the Indiabeings." came SOCIALalso RELIGIOUS AND that (the announced Such ) considerably) sentiments Emperor adopted son of spent instigating andofficials themselves as had of in among (Canning to very , There unpopular. highly army days of end were successor his palace to made laws manners, being officials of Floating British Shah'the s 'King'. of, out of meted is inherited It the He messengers British Theirnatives human the were Battle an CAUSES actiute uneasiness factors use was failures): to King Lord to Mughal Inperial the 1856, title pallhousie allowed be not Bahadur the the saheb:(alhousie' refusal Rao particular. Suheb ll) Hindus \ana ex-Peshwa. and Unpopular country which found English The the people. the werein Indians. thatIndiathethecome the of nameand rumours officesBritish consider that would in (after religious Lond,when the 's the SiNana hoeb, Theitment (Baji (eshwa the in had the everywhere.) senaing reasons the administration language. of the Indiansadministration. people knowledge as the the Vague rulebelieved IAdministrative causing atevtr l kmwnt ofdeatthe that to isvurtesy by Saheb Nanafrom the with of habits high Second, the for ndeserving to 1757 Company'srule were and u in of severalFirst,placeEnglish all Third,contempt thenm The in their People in people. lth moneyparts from Ihere power SoCial Work tee and and of no led  sawIslamic of fromeducation people, the the as Christians. rule the Handicrafts: alarmed was use England.duties crippled otherinto from India artisans spinning given towns The beenkeepreceived now Poverty-stricken Cultivators: Permanent Odisha. in respectivelycentury, the Theyfor prevalen remained best emphasis They alsomuch sciences EXPLOITATION) (INDIA' British of S Act the textiles cultivators CAUSES ECONOMIC imported the Surat far could Zamindars by the discourage was exploitation An prohibited textiles Heavy had Manufacturing estates. it, Western elasses. become so literature_and in deliberately On 19th of of so they and by the England. goods ages anddesolate. They the was Settlement of of There not and calicoes cotton industries. arts thousands had what Bihar of Indian crafts. cent wereduty.thesilk Thefor the their dues. faceshiftingreceived was Murshidabadcollectors. But made system to priestlyto studËes. topeople Trade consequence which and per landlords of eject the learning attemptobject economic in and goods of and which Bengal, ofthe Permanent of of policy-makers rulers and 80 those nominal and 1793of peasantry. percentage middle ceased. extinct. to owners on But wellthe of the Ruinpopularity 1720silks silk and cotton to helpless power Mahaltvari Hinduthe done,intentions.especially promotion artsIndian British British weaving employment or revenue of non-payment to Britain--70 not an that inducing oriental natural the Country. The in Indian destroyed a theof practically Dhaka, Zamindars certain Settlement the absolute restricted been Vas it and passed Indian at export becamelooked the The was 1. Thethe of The hand, India 2. only in fear A on By and from had The of a earliertooksocial properties passed RajaChandra been Earlier female reactfavouring telegraphs that and to thecastesall of aprogressivethehanging regarded could insult, India at had"Everybe, (salute) may all streets." Besides, Suchthe Education: an (school), rule and(The caste-rules. to manner goyernment India. established 1829, Benaras Later, have British which theAct, measure. hadlike cry Railways In means Company's Indians Agra had from established andnot caste-rules. thatfor Indians: him. to the Remarriage reformers Keshab infanticideSatidid the measures andas people people Discrimination notification: at rank he respectful salaamhorseback British passed English British In Madrasa grow.( insution, in seemed theof taxeS. compartments ra+lway thearumo used the introduced on mosques, Some progressive raised danger. therailways upon was pretended Magistrate had of all century imnposed andattacked people and It of with would be against at kill to the a hadthe in Government This to Kolkata number from control fact, these of Theyin Introduction down together. mass hurled even following compelled in in on stand alienated missionaries schools regarding Muslm and 19th Widow female Roy themselves was The order interference also his gentlemenEuropean began werealso. Section 8History were free In (Yet to retorm. the were poles in Racial and English whatever was in classes College temples to awas proh1b1ted) RammohaD religion infanticide. favourably Telegraphs: break'soia) looked but was who Englishnen Indignities be and Indian masses. of the Indian, also a class (laxes beenthemeasures The and sit telegraph humiliatethe Fears number indignities Bengalwas (Gradually, I856, sOClal to ctange, an There in India. An to Englishdismount the Christian (In evis Sati their were had as people issued ought an until native, schoolsEnglish English which Sanskrit of had In Sen will. the it if A 102  The First War of 103 Independence (1857) Central India. the Gangetic 3 Annexation of Rent-free Lands and Iunjab. In Bombay (Mumbai) Estates: In 1852 an Inam Commission was of Southern India, hdenT and parts appointed to inquire into the title-deeds vsnts continued to pay revenue to of the owners of large estates. Many che sovernment But the British revenue landowners pleaded that they could not te' strict in revenue collection. produce their title-deeds on account of Ansthlttot the net producewas claimed the passage of time. The Government Unable to pay land- the tarnters wer driven more and did not accept the plea and confiscated some 20,000 estates. This resulted in a lot Iwrow trom the moneylenders. of discontentment among the people. India reduced to an Agricultural The landed-gentry (Taluqdars) of Awadh Colony ot the British: Bihar, Bengal and faced serious hardship after the annexation u hih emerged as major producers of of Awadh. Most of them were deprived uVrt cnps such as jute, opium and of their estates. "Proud aristocracies", says indigo British companies managed this Majumdar, "were reduced to beggary and BNrt trade. manufacturers in The servitude. " England required other raw materials 6. Loss of Livelihood: Millions of also such as cotton and oilseeds for artisans and craftsmen, who lost their their industries. After the Industrial job, had no alternative source of income. Revolution, the British did all that they Introduction of Western education meant could to keep India mainly an agricultural that the Pandits and Maulvis, imparting country. This made India an agricultural Oriental education, would also become olonv of British capitalism. jobless in days to come. Annexation of Inhuman Treatment meted out Indian States meant loss of livelihood for to the Indigo-cultivators: n 1833, the thousands of the native troops. During the Englishmen were permitted to acquire War of 1857, the sepoys of Awadh wrought land and settle down as planters in India. havoc and added greatly to the difficulties cultivate The peasants were forced to of the British. indigo and nothing else in the fields 7. Big Famines: Life was hard even chosen by the English planters. Their in years of normal crops. When famines "crops were wantonly destroyed by the came, people had to dispose off their planters, their houses burnt and their land, cattle and the household goods to cattle carried off as plunder." procure food. There were instances of mothers selling away their children for a few days' food. The big famine of 1837-38 made people desert their villages and wander in search of food. Famines were, no doubt, the result of drought or other calamities. The government could lessen people's misery, but it seemed that it had no will to act. MILITARY CAUSES The above factors created an atmosphere favourable for an uprising, but no big event could take place so long as the The raw materials, cotton and oilseeds, etc. being taken native army remained loyal to the British. to a warehouse for shipment to England  Section 8: History Hor soldiers, Dalhousie had written to army also posed a authorities that more British soldiers For several reasons the the army. He failed threat to the British rulers. Sepoys or should be drafted in intended. This o. Resentment of the to achieve what he Sepoys were soldiers to take up arms the Indian Soldiers: The things. courage to Indian unhappy because of many against the English. () Poor Prospects of Promotion: All the Discontent and Disaffection in he were reserved for Bengal Army: We already told you abos high ranks in the army sepoys could There was a the British only. The nativeof Risaldar or resentment of the Sepoys. not rise above the rank performance another reason also to cause Sepoy's anger Subedar, even though their British. It was and resentment towards the as a soldier was excellent. maximum pay discontent in the Bengal army. a (ii) Low Salary: The could infantry The name 'Bengal Army' was that a Subedar of the minimum pay misnomer, because Bengal had nothing epect was less than the to do with the personnel of the army. were of a raw English recruit. The Sepoysfrom The sepoys and officers of the Bengal required to serve in areas far away Hindus their homes without an additional bhatta army were mainly high-caste Awadh. During (Brahmins and Rajputs) of (allowance). This naturally affected their Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842), they had to cross the Sindhu and go outside India. morale. (iiü)) II1-Treatment or Social Distance they between British Officers and Indian They very much disliked it because Soldiers: The officers treated their soldiers thought that sea-voyage was forbidden by like menial servants. The soldiers, on the their religion. other hand, were experienced men who In 1844, some Bengal regimernts refused to serve in Sindh till extra allowances were had conquered for their masters kingdom given to them. after kingdom. They had conquered Loss of Prestige in Afghan War. Punjab for the British only a few years ago, i.e., in 1848. The feeling of the sepoys The first Afghan War was a complete can be known from the proclamations failure from the British viewpoint. After issued during the Great Revolt. One of an enormous waste of money and loss of the proclamations said: "What has been the human life, the British gained nothing. return for the blood that we shed. Only that Not only were the British troops defeated, the British spoiled our people and degraded the War exposed their weakness too. This Our princes." increased the self-confidence of the Indian Faulty Distribution of Troops: The soldiers, who felt they could chalenge the troops were not properly distributed also. British in India also. The key places like Delhi and Allahabad 6. General Service Enlistment Act: (now called Prayagraj) had no British The General Service Enlistment Act armies. Moreover, at this time, England (1856) provided that all recruits to the was engaged in several( hostilities outside Bengal Army should be ready for service India, the Persian (Iranian) War and the everywhere, whether within or outside Chinese War. The Indian soldiers knew India. This Act caused great alarm in the that the British were in difficulty. They were determined to strike because a very minds of the personnel of the Bengal Army. suitable opportunity was there. CThe Immediate Cause (Introduction of the Enfield Rifles): The immediate Disproportion between Indian cause of the War of Independence was and British Troops: When Dalhousie the introduction of Enfield Rifles in place left India, Company's troops consisted of the old iron made Brown Bess Gurs. of 2,33,000 Indians and 45,322 British The cartridges to be used for the Enfekd Rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. The cow, as we know, is sacred for the Hindus and the Muslims consider pig as unclean. The information about the greased cartridges spread like wildfire. The whole Bengal Army was seized with panic. Although the War did not result in Indian independence, it did not leave India unaffected. Some important results relating to Constitutional and political field were as follows: IEnd of Company's Rule and Changes introduced in the Administrative set-up: The War ended East India Company's rule in India. The British statesmen realised that itwas unwise to leave the Government of so vast a country in the hands of a private  company. Accordingly, an..A. trading Government of India for the Better August, 1858. passed on 2nd 1858 transferred th. Act of rirst, The of India from the Company Government bo India was nOw "to to the Crown.) the name of He. governed by and in Majesty". Secondly, Company's Board Directors Control and the Court of powers were their were abolished. All Minister, known transferred to a Cabinet His of State for India. as the Secretary were to be paid out salary and allowances revenues of India. of the State was Thirdly, the Secretary of Council by the India to be assisted members, Of these consisting of fifteen who be persons more than half were to in India for at least had served or resided ten years. the Civil Fourthly, appointments to made by open Service were to be the competition under rules made by Secretary of State in Council. Lastly, the Governor-General received the additional title of Viceroy', While he remained the Governor-General for the Provinces under the British rule, he came to be known as the Viceroy, i.e., 'Representative of the Crown' in India vis-a-vis the native princes (the Rajas) and Nawabs. Queen's Proclamation incorporating these changes was made public at Allahabad (now known as Prayagraj) on lst November, 1858 by Lord Canning as the first Viceroy and Governor-General of India. Policy towards the Indian Princes and Chiefs: Queen Victoria declared in her Proclamation of 1858 that () the British Government would not annex the Indian States, (i) all the treaties that the princes had concluded with the Company would be honoured, and (ii) their rights of adoption and the succcession were also recognised. At  The First War of Independence (1857) lordanine Lord Canning retained office as the Governor-General and first Viceroy under the Crown. His health had broken down owing to great physical and mental eftorts during the Revolt of 1857 and later because of his new role as Viceroy who dealt with the native princes on behalf of the Crown (the Queen). He Queen Victoria resigned office in 1862. The Court of Directors offered to Queen Victoria their Empire in the East with same time, they could have only a limited these words: "Let Her Majesty appreciate number of troops. the gift-Let her take the vast country Since Nana Saheb had taken an active and the teeming millions of India part in the War and had fled into the under her direct control; but let her jungles of Nepal never to return again, not forget the great Corporation from the office of the Peshwa was abolished. whom she has received them, nor the With the death of Bahadur Shah, who lessons to be learned from its success.' was deported to Rangoon, the Mughal Imperial dynasty founded by Babur nationalism could arise among them. For came to an end. the same reason, supply of Reorganisation of the Army: The newspapers, journals and nationalist publications to 'policy of balance and counter-check' was soldiers was stopped. adopted regarding military administration. Solemn promises made to the The proportion of the British to Indian soldiers was increased. The general People of India: policy in this regard was that the number (YQueen Victoria in her Proclamation of Indian soldiers should not exceed twice of 1858 promised not to interfere with the that of the European troops. religious beliefs of the people of India. Artillery and other effective weapons 0) The Queen also promised equal of warfare were reserved for the British treatment to all her subjects, Indians and troops in India. Europeans. All appointments, declared Mi All key positions in the army were the Queen, would be strictly on the basis reserved exclusively for the British. of education, ability and integrity. ti) Indian soldiers belonging to (uá) An official pardon was granted to dilferent castes and crecds were mixed up pcople, cxcepting such persons as had been In a manner that no sentiment of unity and guilty of the murder of British subjects. 110 Section 8 History The Iroclamation ended with back into confidence. The consequence a promise that the material and moral of the policy of divide and rule' w. advancement of the people would lhat the Princes turned against their own people and a rift started between Hinde henceforth be the main concern of the Government. The Secretary of State was and Muslims. nuind to lay before both Houses of 7. Economic Exploitation: India nou British larliament every year an account became "he field of economic exploitation, not of a single trading concern, i.e., East India of the moral and material progress of India. These solemn promises, however, Company, but of the entire British people" Wene not fulfilled. ()The number of Englishmen in India, Conservative Elements gained both private individuals and members Ground: Queen Victoria had promised that of services, increased. The salary and allowances of the Secretary of State, civil her government would no longer interfere servants and military officers were a large with the social and religious beliefs of the drain on the country's resources. people. Indians welcomed this move, but it had its drawbacks too. During the pre (i) India became a dumping ground for War period a number of measures had goods manufactured in England. (iii) There was a rapid rise in the been taken to reform society. For example, indebtedness of the peasants under the in 1829 Lord William Bentinck issued a regulation declaring Sati illegal. The British rule. The indigo peasants of Bihar revolted on a large scale in 1866-68. Hindu Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 provided that any widow might marry (iv) The British invested their surplus again with the usual ceremonies. Not capital in India in railways, coal-mines, jute mills, shipping, etc. The Indians had wishing to displease people, government to pay heavy interest and dividends on now avoided reformist policies. As a the capital invested in India. result, social progress was impeded and the conservative elements gained ground. (v) The British fought the Bhutan b Policy of Divide and Rule: The War in 1863, the Burma (Myanmar) War British policy was to pacify the Chiefs and in 1885 and a War with Afghanistan in Princes of the native states. They were 1878, whose costs both in men and money Indians had to bea. being converted into loyal supporters of 8. Rise of Nationalism in India: the British Raj. This was done to create a wall of separation between the princes The British soldiers were guilty of the most inhuman atrocities. In the words and "the ordinary masses' of the land. of Jawaharlal Nehru, "they spread terror Further, the strength of the uprising everyohere. Vast numbers were shot down lay in Hindu-Muslim unity. The principal in cold blood; large numbers were shot to leaders-Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope and pieces fronm the mouth of cannon; thousands others--recognised Bahadur Shah, a were hanged front the twayside trees." Such Muslim, as their emperor. Both Hindus barbarous scenes were never forgotten and Muslims had combined against the by the people of India. Popular songs in hated foreigner. The British viewed this development with alarm. Therefore, they praise of Tantia Tope, the Rani of Jhansi tried to create misunderstanding between and others kept the memory of their the Muslims and the Hindus. heroic deeds alive. The Rani of Jhansi Soon after the War the British turned became India's Joan of Arc, whose very against the Muslims. At a later stage, name revived the spirit of patriotism. The War became a "symbol of challenge however, the growing nationalism of the to the mighty British power in India" I Hindus made them unfriendly in the eyes of the British. The Muslims were taken inspired Indians in their struggle against the British Raj.