2. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
INTRODUCTION
THE REVOLT OF 1857 WAS A LARGE SCALE REBELLION
AGAINST BRITISH RULE THAT SWEPT ACROSS NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL INDIA IN A SERIES OF VIOLENT UPRISINGS.IF IT
HAD SUCCEEDED IT WOULD HAVE MARKED THE END OF
COLONIAL RULE IN INDIA.BUT AFTER BATTLING THE REBELS
FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS,THE BRITISH MANAGED TO CRUSH
THE REVOLT.THEY WENT ON TO RULE INDIA FOR ANOTHER
90 YEARS.BUT THE REVOLT OF 1857 HAD SUCH FAR
REACHING CONSEQUENCES THAT SOME HISTORIANS REFER TO
IT AS THE FIRST WAR OF INDIAN INDEPENDENCE.
3. Importance of Revolt
In modern Indian history the revolt of 1857
is to much impotent because it is the first
revolution which started in on national
level. Different community of India
participated in this revolt .
4. Different Opinion Regarding Revolt
1.Desiarley-
“It was the national Revolt”
2.John Selay-
The revolt of 1857 was sipoy mutiny
3. T. R. Homes-
Struggle between civilized and civilized person “
4.Vinayak Damodar Sawerkar-
“The revolt of 1857 was first national in
dependence”
5. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
CAUSES FOR THE REVOLT OF 1857
ECONOMIC CAUSES
1. The zamindari system was introduced by the british and the
pleasants were exploited by them.They were often tortured or
jailed when the peasants failed to pay the taxes.
2. The landlords also were insecured and lands were confiscated
when the taxes did not match the assigned goals.
3. The interest of India were not the first priority of the
government.The british came in India for economic profit,which
was the main priority.No measures were taken to improve the
conditions of the peasants and the artisians.
4. The annexation of Indian states was followed by large scale
unemployment and economic distress as a large number of court
officials and other lost their means of earning.All poets,artisians
etc working under these rulers lost their jobs.
6. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
POLITICAL CAUSES
1. Lord Dalhousie caused widespread resentment among the Indian rulers
and their subjects by aggressively expanding his state and annexing
native Indian states.
2. He annexed the states of satara nagpur and jhansi by applying the
doctrine of lapse.
3. Nana Sahib was denied a pension after his father’s death.He was the
son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
4. Bahadur Shah’s successors was denied the right to live at the Red Fort.
5. He annexed Awadh,accusing the government of maladministration and
shocking the nawab who was a faithfully and the people of India.
6. The british did not obey the treaties sometimes and they were broken
according to the need of the british and the nawabs at that time could
not trust any treaty at all.
7. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
SOCIAL CAUSES
1. Social reforms by the britishers were hated by the Indians who
took it as a mark of british interference in the political affairs of
India.
2. The efforts of missionaries to convert people to cristianity also
angered the Indians.
3. The introduction of western education undetermined the position of
the traditional teachers and teaching methods in India.
4. The british judicial system introduced the principal of equality
which determined the presence of caste system in India.
5. The british looked down upon Indians and followed a policy of
racial discrimination and separated themselves as SUPERIORS from
the Indian society.Lord Wellesley described Indians as
vulgar,ignorant,rude,familiar and stupid.
8. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
MILITARY CAUSES
1. The sepoys had helped the british to establish their empire in India
but were not awarded or promoted at all.On the contrary,they were
treated with contempt.
2. There was a discrimination between the Indian and the british
soldiers.
3. An Indian soldier got much less salary as compared to a Western
soldier.
4. The senior british officers did not pay any respect to the Indian
soldiers at all.
5. The Indian soldiers were much more in number as compared to
the british soldiers.In 1856 the number of Indian troops was up to
5 times as compared to the british troops.This also encouraged the
sepoys to rise against the british.
9. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
SPREAD OF REVOLT
The revolt spread to other parts of northern and
central India.The main centres were Kanpur, Arrah,
Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi, Gwalior and Barrackpore.
Revolts also took place in parts of Bengal, Rajasthan,
Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
The revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana
Sahib,the adopted son of the last peshwa,Baji Rao
II.With the help of of Nana Sahib’s able commanders
Tantia Tope and Azimullah,he attacked the british.In
Bihar , Kunwar Singh led the revolt.In Jhansi,the revolt
was led by Rani Lakshmibai.
10. IMPORTANT CENTER OF REVOLT
1.MERRUT 8.ALLAHABAD
2.DELHI 9. GOWALIAR
3.LUCKNOW 10.JHASHI
4.KANPUR
5.BARELY
6. FAIZABAD
7.DANAPUR
11. IMPORTANT LEADER
1.MANGAL PANDAY 10.NANA SAHAB
2.BHADUR SHHA JAFAR
3.KHAN BAHADUR
4.BABU KUWAR SINGH
5. LAXMI BAI
6.TATYA TOPE
8.LIYAKAT ALI
9.BEGAM HAJARAT MAHAL
12. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE
REVOLT
Lack of unity and cohension.
The rising was not widespread.
No common aims and ideals.
Lack of discipline, resources, and
organisations.
13. THE GREAT INDIAN REVOLT
RESULTS OF THE REVOLT
a) The English East India Company’s rule came to
an end.
b) The administration of India was taken over by
the british crown.
c) The board of directors and the board of control
were abolished.
d) The Indian army was thoroughly reorganised.
e) The policy of ruthless conquests in India was
given up.
