The revolt of 1857, Nature, Causes, Outbreak ,Results and effects

The revolt of 1857 shook the British empire to its foundation . Through it started  as a military revolt , the causes were deeply rooted in the nature of the British rule in India.  

by Kashish Rajput

^{Causes of the revolt}  

Causes of the revolt of 1857 may be studied under the following heads . 

 1 . Social and religious causes 

• Laws that interfered with the religion and customs of the people 
• Fears of religious conservation  
• Responses to the reforms done by the British   
• Indignities hurled at Indians  
• Apprehension about English education  

2. Economic causes  

• Ruin of trade and handicrafts  
• Improvement of the cultivators  
• India reduced to an agriculture colony of the british  
• Inhuman treatment meted out to indigo cultivators  
• Drains of wealth  

3. Political Causes  

• Erosion of nawabs power  
• Discourtesy to the mughals  
• Treatment meted out to nana saheb 
• Doctrine of lapse  
• Annexation of Awadh  

4. Military Causes  

• Low salary and poor prospects of promotions  
• Glut of unemployed soldiers  
• General services enlistment act  

5. Immediate Causes  

• The Enfield rifle  

Outbreak of the revolt  

On 29 march 1857 , Mangal Pandey , a brahmin sepoy ,  openly revolted and killed a british officer . This resulted in an open revolt at Meerut , Delhi , Kanpur and other places . 

Events at Meerut  

On 6 may 1857 , 85 sepoys to touch the cartridge’s on the parade ground . They were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment . On 10 , may 1857 , all the sepoys at Meerut broke into open revolt . They rushed to the jail and released all the prisoners . They were killed the British officers and burnt their houses .  

Events at Delhi  

The Meerut sepoys reached Delhi on the morning of 11 May . They produced to the cantonment where the local troops joined them .  

These soldiers forced their ways into the palace of BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR and proclaimed him as their leader .  

Events at Kanpur  

At Kanpur , Nana Saheb , the adopted son of bajirao II , was directing all the operations . 

Events in Centeral india  

Rebels in central India found very able leaders in Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai of jhansi . The revolt broke out at jhansi in early june in 1857 . The fortess of jhansi at that time had about 10,000 bundelas and nearly 2,000 sepoys . Sir Hgh Rose laid siege to the fortess of jhansi in March 1858 . 

Events at other parts of india 

In bihar , the revolt was led by Rajput Kunwar Singh , the onwer of the vast estates at Arrah and Jagdispur in Patna .  

Suppression of the revolt  

Thee revolt spread like wildlife in northern and central India . Unserved by the large scale of the upheaval , the company decided to suppress the revolt with all its might .  

Causes of the failure of the revolt  

• Lack of planning and coordinating among the rebels  
• Lack of efficient leadership  
• Superior equipment and resorces of the british 
• Non – participation of several section of the society  
• Indiscipline among soldiers   

Results and effects of the revolt 

• End of company rule and changes introduced in the administrative set – up  
• Policy towards the Indians princes and chiefs  
• Reorganizations of the army  
• Solemn promises made to the people of India 
• Rise of nationalism in India  

Nature of the revolt  

The nature of the revolt of 1857 has been a matter of controversy among historians VD Savarkar was the first nationalist to call the revolt of 1857 as the FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE . Subash Chandra Bose also referred to it by the same name . Ashok Mehta was also convinced about the national character of the revolt .