Indian Response to British
Rule
Javab dena
Padega......!
Indian
Response
Traditiona
l
Moder
n
Traditional Response
Civilian
Revolt
Peasant
Revolt
Tribal
Revolt
Natur
e
Leaders
hip
Are
a
Chronolo
gy
Social
Base
British
Attitude
Dhoka
ho
gaya...K
uch
karna
padega
Hamri
zameen
cheen li....!!!!
Traditional Response
Ab hogi aar
paar ki ladai
1857
Revolt
Background
Revolt began at Meerut, 58 km from Delhi, on May 10,
1857
Morning of 11 May 1857. The city of Delhi had not yet
woken up when a band of Sepoys from Meerut, who had
defied and killed the European officers the previous day,
crossed the Jamuna, set the toll house on fire and
marched to the Red Fort
Before the Meerut incident
19th Native Infantry at Berhampur, which refused to use
the newly introduced Enfield rifle and broke out in mutiny
in February 1857
34th Native Infantry Mangal Pande
executed on April 6
Background
General Reason
Reports about the mixing of bone dust in atta (flour)
Introduction of the Enfield rifle
cartridge of the new rifle
bitten off before loading
Grease was reportedly made of
beef and pig fat
Administration did nothing to
allay these fears
Sepoys felt their religion was in grave danger
Background
April 24, ninety men of 3rd Native Cavalry refused to
accept the greased cartridges
May 3,Awadh Regiment defied its officers order on rifle
May 9,eighty-five of them were dismissed, sentenced to
10 years imprisonment
May 10, the soldiers released their imprisoned comrades,
killed their officers and unfurled the banner of revolt
All started moving towards Delhi
Aged and powerless Bahadur Shah Zafar was proclaimed
the emperor of India
Spreading of the revolt to different parts of the country
Background
Participation seen from :
Kings, Queens
Zamindaars
Civilians, Peasants, Workers etc.
Clerics of Muslims
Community
Area of Revolt
Angreezo ko
Hum bhi
bhagao
yahan
ladenge
se
Jai
Jawan...Jai
Angrezo
Kisanse
Reasons for the Revolt
Reasons for the revolt of
1857
Immediate
Reason
Greased
Cartridges
Fundamental
Reason
Politica
l
Economic
&
Administration
Social &
Cultural
Military
Influence of
outside events
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
I want to
Meri Jhansi
rule over
nahin
Whole
Dungi
India
1. Political Causes
EICs Policy of Effective
Control
Subsidiary
Alliance
Policy of Annexation & Doctrine
of Lapse
Extinction of Native Indian States
Feelings of Muslims getting hurt due to ill treatment given
to Bahardur Shah II
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
50%
Zameen
Doogna
interest
pe
nahi rahi
Lagan
paise ab!
hamari
milenge
2.Economic & Administrative Reasons
Land Revenue Settlement
Heavy Taxation Peasant
New Policies Ryotwari,Mahalwari
Talukdars & Zamindars getting Deprived
Confiscation of their estates
Exploitation of peasants by the money lenders
Breaking up of Indian Handicraft Industry due to British
Economic Policies
Unilateral Free Trade Policy
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
2.Economic & Administrative Reasons
Rampant Corruption
Indian Soldiers & Civil
Servants Less Salary
No higher Posts for them
Karl Marx (1853) It was the
British intruder who broke up
the Indian Handloom &
destroyed the spinning wheel
Itna kaam karate
ho...paisa bhi
nahi dete
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
3. Social & Religious
Causes
English Infested with the spirit of Racialism
Indian
We
have
people
WHITE
are
Skin
White
mans
Burden
Policy of Contempt towards Hindus & Muslims
Interference in Customs & Religious Practices
Lex Loci Act 1850
Spreading Christianity Free Hand to Missionaries
Sati, Women Remarriage, Education
Hindu Gods & Goddesses Ridiculed
Taxation on Mosques & temple lands
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
4. Military Causes
Religious Interference
Jai Jawan...Jai
Itna
kaam karate
Kisanbhi
ho...paisa
nahi dete
Discrimination to Indian Soldiers
Low Salary, No High Post, No Pension
Made to Serve away from home without paying extra
Bhatta
Overseas Campaign Eating & Drinking whatever that
comes
into
Crossing
theway
sea Bad for Religion
Sinful for soldiers Once back, not taken into caste &
even their barrack/regiments
Extensive Military Campaigns
Soldier Peasant in Uniform
Would Empathize with the peasants in his village
Reasons for the Revolt
Fundamental Reasons
5.Influence of outside events
British suffered serious losses
First Afghan War (1839-42)
Punjab Wars (1845-49)
Crimean Wars (1854-56)
Santhal rebellion (1855-57)
psychological repercussions
Aavo do Angrezo
ne...Padi dais
aaje to...! :P
Nature of the Revolt
Perceived differently by nationalists & colonial historians
Depending upon their socio-ideological beliefs
Views of Nationalist Historians Constantly Changing
Colonial Historians General Tendency
Deny its patriotic & popular character
Highlight the elements of disunity, disorganisation &
selfish character of the revolt
In doing so, they do not accept the elements of general
discontent & grevieances of the Indian People
accumulated over a period of time as a result of
exploitative nature of British rule
Nature of the Revolt
Sir John Lawrence & Seely
Sepoy Mutiny, Over patriotic
& Selfish
LER Rees It was a war of
religious fanatics. Both
Hindus & Muslims against the
Christians
TR Holmes It was a war
between civilisation &
barbarism
Nature of the Revolt
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan He held
British responsible for the revolt
Accepted general discontent among
people
VD Savarkar First war of Indian
National Independence
RC Majumdar It was neither first
nor national nor war of
Independence
Surendranath Sen It was a war
which started for the protection of
religion but got converted into war
of independence
JL Nehru It was a feudal outburst headed by feudal
chiefs
Causes of Failure of the Revolt
Crucial support of certain sections of Indian public to
British
authorities
Bombay
& Madras Armies remained loyal
Limited territorial and social base
Outburst only in Western Bihar, Awadh, Rohilkhand, Delhi
etc.
Lack of resources as compared to those of the British
Superiority of British Army, Disciplined force, Use of
Modern Means of Communication
Causes of Failure of the Revolt
Feudal in Character, Headed by Feudal Elements
Lack of coordination and a central leadership
Lack of a coherent ideology and a political perspective
Bahadurshah
Nanasaheb
Emperor
Peshwa
Shahenshah bana
diya humko re...!
Hum bhi Raja
banege...!
Leaders of the Revolt
Kanpur, the natural choice
was Nana Saheb
Begum Hazrat Mahal took
over the reigns at Lucknow
At Bareilly, Khan Bahadur, a
descendant of the former ruler
of
Rohilkhand
Royal Ujjaini House, the
revolt was led by Kunwar
Singh, the zamindar of
Jagdishpur
Maulvi Ahmadullah of
Faizabad
Rani Laxmibai, who assumed
the leadership of the sepoys at
Jhansi
Impact of the Revolt
Government of India Act 1858
Power transfer from EIC Crown, Hence British Parliament
Ab no more East
India Co. Ki
Sarkar
Ab ki baar Queen
ki Sarkaar
Impact of the Revolt
Government of India Act 1858
Governor General of India Viceroy Lord
Canning
Offices of Board of Control & Court of Directors were
Naye Rajyo ko
abolished
Hum
British
yahan
India
ke
Instituted office of Secretary of State for
Viceroy
mein nahin
Hain !
India with council of 15 members
Milayenge
Members of the Indian Civil Service to be
appointed on basis of Competition
Land of the zamindars was
reinstated
No more
annexations
Question UPSC Pre 2014
Q. What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victorias
Proclamation (1858)
1. To Disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under British Crown
2. To regulate East India Companys trade with India
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 2
(c) 1 and 3
(d) All of these
Question UPSC Pre 2006
Q. Who was the governor general of India during Sepoy
Mutiny?
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Hardinge
(c) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Lyton
Question UPSC Pre 2005
Q. Which one of the following places did Kunwar Singh, a
prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857 belong to?
(a) Bihar
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Uttarpradesh
Question UPSC Pre 2005
Q. Which one of the following territories was not affected
by the revolt of 1857?
(a) Jhansi
(c) Chittor
(b) Jagdishpur
(d) Lucknow
Indian
Response
Traditiona
l
Moder
n
Freedom Struggle Indian
National Movement
Development of Nationalism
olitics of Association
Formation of Congress
Early Nationalists-Moderates
Development of Nationalism
What is Nation?
What is a State?
What is a Nation-State?
What do you mean by Nationalism?
State
What do you mean by State?
The term State in its modern sense was first used by
Machiavelli (1469-1527), the Italian statesman
The State consists of four elements
(a) the people
(b) the territory on which they live
(c) the government to rule and
regulate the lives of the people
d) sovereignty
Thank You
