Vir Savarkar hailed it 1st War of Indian Independence.
a. Political causes - discontent and disaffection manifested in form of revolts. Anti-British feelings were particularly strong in those regions which were unjustly annexed to British empire. Doctrine of Lapse, by Lord Dalhousie, gave discontent and alarm among native places.
b. Economic causes - huge drain of wealth, destruction of industry and increasing land revenue became common feature of late 18th century. Textile industry, artisans and craftsmen were left unemployed due to British trade policies without alternative growth of new industrial forms.
Plantation system caused incalculable misery for Indian peasants as Englishmen acquired and plantations in India.
c. Social causes - arrogant behavior of Englishmen, activities of Christian missionaries alarmed Hindus and Muslims.
d. Military causes - Indian sepoys resented their low salary and poor prospects of promotion, dissatisfaction with abolition of batta (foreign allowance).
e. Immediate cause - was the rumor that new cartridges whose end had to be bitten off before loaded into rifle was composed of fat taken from cows and pigs. Sepoys believed govt was deliberately trying to destroy religious and cultural identity.
f. Timeline of revolt
i. March 1857 - Mangal Pandey refused to use the cartridges and attacked and killed his officer; was hanged. Regiment disbanded and sepoys held guilty of rebeliion
ii. By May 1857, another regiment 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry was sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to use greased cartridges. Sepoys broke out in open rebellion, attacked prison and released their fellow sepoys and headed to Delhi. Proclaimed BSZ as Emperor of India.
iii. Delhi - real control by General Bhakt Khan, recaptured by Sep 1857
iv. Kanpur - led by Nana Sahab, supported by Tantia Tope and Azimullah. Kanpur captured by Campbell.
v. Lucknow - Begum of Oudh led the resistance, Lawrence dies and Campbell suppresses the revolt.
vi. Jhansi - widowed queen of Gangadhar whose kingdom was taken by Doctrine, joined Tantia Tope who defeated by Hugh Rose. Rani of Jhansi died in battle.
vii. Bihar - Kunwar Singh, disgruntled zamindar.
g. Causes for failure
i. Failed to embrace whole of India. Sections such as moneylender, merchants, modern educated Indians were against the revolt. Lack of intellectuals support was a serious setback
ii. Resources of British empire were far superior, rebels lacked a concerted plan and central organization.
iii. Better equipment and new scientific inventions - telegraph system - enabled British to maneuver troops according to their needs.
h. Significance
i. Revolt though completely suppressed, exhibited popular character and brought disgruntled sections to rise. Common people rose up in arms fighting with whatever they could muster.
ii. Hindu-Muslim unity in the revolt
iii. Changes in character of Indian administration; Queen takes over and Viceroy appointed. Queen's Proclamation is called Magana Carta of Indian people (place: Allahabad).
Watershed moment - end of British paramountcy and beginning of growth of Indian nationalism
a. Political causes - discontent and disaffection manifested in form of revolts. Anti-British feelings were particularly strong in those regions which were unjustly annexed to British empire. Doctrine of Lapse, by Lord Dalhousie, gave discontent and alarm among native places.
b. Economic causes - huge drain of wealth, destruction of industry and increasing land revenue became common feature of late 18th century. Textile industry, artisans and craftsmen were left unemployed due to British trade policies without alternative growth of new industrial forms.
Plantation system caused incalculable misery for Indian peasants as Englishmen acquired and plantations in India.
c. Social causes - arrogant behavior of Englishmen, activities of Christian missionaries alarmed Hindus and Muslims.
d. Military causes - Indian sepoys resented their low salary and poor prospects of promotion, dissatisfaction with abolition of batta (foreign allowance).
e. Immediate cause - was the rumor that new cartridges whose end had to be bitten off before loaded into rifle was composed of fat taken from cows and pigs. Sepoys believed govt was deliberately trying to destroy religious and cultural identity.
f. Timeline of revolt
i. March 1857 - Mangal Pandey refused to use the cartridges and attacked and killed his officer; was hanged. Regiment disbanded and sepoys held guilty of rebeliion
ii. By May 1857, another regiment 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry was sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to use greased cartridges. Sepoys broke out in open rebellion, attacked prison and released their fellow sepoys and headed to Delhi. Proclaimed BSZ as Emperor of India.
iii. Delhi - real control by General Bhakt Khan, recaptured by Sep 1857
iv. Kanpur - led by Nana Sahab, supported by Tantia Tope and Azimullah. Kanpur captured by Campbell.
v. Lucknow - Begum of Oudh led the resistance, Lawrence dies and Campbell suppresses the revolt.
vi. Jhansi - widowed queen of Gangadhar whose kingdom was taken by Doctrine, joined Tantia Tope who defeated by Hugh Rose. Rani of Jhansi died in battle.
vii. Bihar - Kunwar Singh, disgruntled zamindar.
g. Causes for failure
i. Failed to embrace whole of India. Sections such as moneylender, merchants, modern educated Indians were against the revolt. Lack of intellectuals support was a serious setback
ii. Resources of British empire were far superior, rebels lacked a concerted plan and central organization.
iii. Better equipment and new scientific inventions - telegraph system - enabled British to maneuver troops according to their needs.
h. Significance
i. Revolt though completely suppressed, exhibited popular character and brought disgruntled sections to rise. Common people rose up in arms fighting with whatever they could muster.
ii. Hindu-Muslim unity in the revolt
iii. Changes in character of Indian administration; Queen takes over and Viceroy appointed. Queen's Proclamation is called Magana Carta of Indian people (place: Allahabad).
Watershed moment - end of British paramountcy and beginning of growth of Indian nationalism
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