INTRODUCTION + On 10" May 1857, the sepoys in the M the infantry and s nee Swiftly spread to the cavatry and then to the city. + The sepoys then went on to capture the bel . oe : ie bell ofarms where the arms and ammunition were kept, and proceeded to attack the British: + Cuemineq Gonenne® l¢ British: to ransack and burn their bungalows and property. 8 a ings like the record office, jail, court, post office, treasury, etc., were de: so and plundered. The telegraph line to Delhi was eut, + On iI" May, the sepoys arrived at the Red Fort. ein Delhi, the sepoys were joined by the common people. The British were killed and the rich in Delhi were attacked and looted. + The revolt took a legitimate form in Delhi when it received the support of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah. * The news of Delhi’s fall to the rebels and Bahadur Shah’s support quickly spread across the Gangetic valley. Soon, cantonment after cantonment started rising up in mutiny against ig y. y a8 the British. tof the Revolt of 1857, the term revolt refers only to the uprising of the civilian peasants, rajas and jagirdars). The mutiny involved only the sepoys. a ees eerut cantonment broke out in revolt. It started among (zamindars, PATTERN OF THE REBELLION * As the news of the mutiny spread from arms. ; * Everywhere, the sepoy action began wit sounding the bugle. * Proclamations in Hindi, Urdu . enee ae Sel with the joining ofthe common oe inthe revolt, «In major cities like Lucknow; Kanpur end Bareilly, moneylenders and the rich were also pack d, and their houses footed. They were looked upon as oppressors and allies of the British. ‘one town to the next, the sepoys there picked up ith a signal like the firing of the evening gun or Urdu and Persian were made in cities, calling upon both Hindus and inate the firangis244 Flying Colours History eevee Soon, the mutiny transformed itself into a rebellion with a general defiance of all forms o¢ authority and hierarchy. In the following months of May and June, the British had no ¢lue as to Ihow to tackle the rebels. British rule seemed to have fallen like a house of cards. There was communication between the sepoy lines of various cantonments, In early May, the 78 Awadh Irregular Cavalry refused to use the new cartridges, Sepoys and their emissaries carried information from one station to the other. ‘The similarity in pattem of the mutiny in different places and the evidence found, sugges some sort of planning and coordination. For example, Captain Hearsay of the Awadh Military Police had been offered protection during the mutiny. The 41* Native Infantry was also stationed at Awadh who insisted that Hearsay be either killed like all the white officers or be delivered as a prisoner to them. The Military Police however, turned down both proposals, Hence, it was decided that the problem will be solved by a panchayat composed of native officers drawn from each regiment. ‘According to Charles Ball, such panchayats were a nightly occurrence in the Kanpur sepoy lines. ‘The incident of Hearsay indicates at the collective nature of some decisions, especially when they shared certain commonalities among themselves. For example, many of them belonged to the same caste, shared a common lifestyle, and lived in the lines. In search of leadership and organisation to fight the British, the sepoys turned to individuals who had been leaders before the British conquest. Apart from the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah, leadership roles were also provided by ‘Nana Sahib (the suecessor of Peshwa Baji Rao I) from Kanpur and Rani Lakshmi Bai from Jhansi. Like the others, a local zamindar Kunwar Singh from Arrah in Bihar was also forced to join the revolt under popular pressure. In Lucknow, the populace hailed Birjis Qadr, the young son of the deposed ruler of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah as their leader. Apart from the nobility and aristocracy, the message of rebellion was also carried by common men and women, in some case, by religious men too. In Lucknow, after the annexation of Awadh in 1856, there were several religious leaders and selfstyled pee es roe the destruction of British rule, There were also local leaders like Shah M SA pects: ean i ee eri fal who urged peasants, zamindars and the tribals Shah Mal mobilised the villagers of pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh Gonoo, a tribal cultivator of Singhbhum in Chotanagpur Plateau le Cee tribals of the region. izpur Plateau led the rebellion of the Kel Religious men like Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah also ; i played an i tr of 1857. He fought in the Battle of Chinhat in which the British pa siete ep were defeated. Many people believed he was invincible and had magical cm. He came to be known for his courage and power, magical powers. He calluous and Prophecies aye 7 Reeve sal auch TUMOUF Was tha maj i oe peprest tied es Bs SOF the et insirng people rng the revolt, Ono i re, despite ary Enfield Ritle were ca ca origin of this rumour can be tra fempts by the British t uted with cow and pig fat 10 explain otherwise. However, the srahmin sepoy for a dri Sed 10 8 tow. ii Posed Wiel a f Poy for a drink of water “Taste Mhalasi in Dum Dum whe hud asked! a retorted that the se from hi: . a and pi Ba te ul S000 Lose his eats eS SO hl se the Mal in cow and pig fat. This led to a wi ste as he would have to bite cartridyes coated + Another TUMOUF Was that the despread fear among the EpoyE. M Briti sestoy iS son tha had hatched a gigantic conspiracy to luslims—apparently the British had mixed the using atta, Tumours caused the sepoys There was also the fe, ici 4 in sehaipa CES the British wanted toconvert Indians to Christianity, rule will come to an end om he seems ate sites. However, it as the prophecy (British : on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey on 23” June 1857) that provided the reinforcement to the call for action against British rule, « These rumours reflected the minds of the people who believed them. ‘They reflected their fears, apprehensions, convictions and faiths + These rumours make sense when seen in the context of social reform policies pursuied by the British since the late 1820s—like the introduction of western education, ideas and institutions ‘The British also set up English-medium schools, colleges and universities in certain parts of the country. Other social reform policies like the ban on sati and child marriage, and allowing the remarriage of widows acted as the basis for the fear and apprehension reflected in such rumours. + Apart from such reform policies, the British also annexed several kingdoms like Awadh, Jhansi and Satara on grounds of misgovernance and the policy of Doctrine of Lapse (i aruler died without an heir, the adopted son was not acknowledged as a ruler, and the kingdom was annexed). : r . * After annexation of Kingdoms, the Britishintroduced their: own administration, rules, revenue systems, methods of land settlements, etc., which had a profound impact on the enue systems, s people of north India. * All these factors combined to create and believed as sacred, were being TP! * The fears were further aggravated by the the fear and apprehension that all that they cherished laced by a system that was alicn and oppressive. activities of the Christian missionaries AWADH IN REVOLT hee a * In 1856, the kingdom of Awadh wit niseover ver, happened in stages. The system of Subsidiary S01, According to the torms of this alliance, the nnexed by the British under Governor General Lord Dalhousie on grounds of * The conqu Alliance was imposed246 Flying Colours History Nawab had to disband his troops and act according to the instructions of the British Resideny at his court. This created a certain level of dependence of the Nawab on the British for ‘matters of law and order in his kingdom, Also, he could no longer assert his control over the rebellious chiefs and salugdars in his kingdom. * Awadh was also looked upon as a region ideal for the production of cotton and indigo ang also a principal market in upper India due to its location, * The conquest of Awadh completed a long process of territorial annexation which had begun with the conquest of Bengal. © Subsidiary Alliance was a system which had been introduced in 1798 by Lord Wellesley. The terms of this Alliance were: © itwouldbe the responsibility of the British to protect the ally from all internal and extemal threats. © a British armed contingent would be stationed in the territory of the ally. © the resources for maintaining the contingent would haye to be provided by the ally, © the ally could enter into agreements with other rulers or engage in warfare only with the permission of the British. The annexation of Awadh led to the dethroning of its ruler Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who was then exiled to Calcutta, © Awadh’s annexation created great discontentment against the British. There was great emotional upheaval across the kingdom which was coupled with economic upheaval as well. Removal of the Nawab also led to the dissolution of his court and its culture. A whole range of musicians, dancers, artisans, poets, cooks, retainers, administrative officials, ete., Jost their livelihood, + In Awadh, a chain of grievances connected the princes, raltiqdars, sepoys and the peasants. + Firangi raj had come to be associated with the end of the world in which all things valued, respected and held dear were breaking down. * In Awadh, the revolt became an expression of popular resistance to an alien order. + The annexation also dispossessed the falugdars of Awadh. * The ‘alugdars were a group of people who had held control over land and power for generations. Under the Nawab, they maintained armed retainers, built fortsand even enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy as long as they accepted the suzerainty of the Nawab and paid the revenue of their ralug. * After annexation, the British were unwilling to tolerate the were disarmed and their forts destroyed, ¢ Under the British revenue settlement, the Summa talugdars was further undermined. * The Summary Settlement was based on the with no permanent stakes in the land. The Settle! possible, Power of the salugdars. They ry Settlement of 1856, the authority of the | i umption that the ralugdars were interlopets ‘ment Went on to remove falugdars wherevet246 Flying Colours History Nawab had to disband his troops and act according to the instructions of the British Resideny at his court. This created a certain level of dependence of the Nawab on the British for ‘matters of law and order in his kingdom, Also, he could no longer assert his control over the rebellious chiefs and salugdars in his kingdom. * Awadh was also looked upon as a region ideal for the production of cotton and indigo ang also a principal market in upper India due to its location, * The conquest of Awadh completed a long process of territorial annexation which had begun with the conquest of Bengal. © Subsidiary Alliance was a system which had been introduced in 1798 by Lord Wellesley. The terms of this Alliance were: © itwouldbe the responsibility of the British to protect the ally from all internal and extemal threats. © a British armed contingent would be stationed in the territory of the ally. © the resources for maintaining the contingent would haye to be provided by the ally, © the ally could enter into agreements with other rulers or engage in warfare only with the permission of the British. The annexation of Awadh led to the dethroning of its ruler Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who was then exiled to Calcutta, © Awadh’s annexation created great discontentment against the British. There was great emotional upheaval across the kingdom which was coupled with economic upheaval as well. Removal of the Nawab also led to the dissolution of his court and its culture. A whole range of musicians, dancers, artisans, poets, cooks, retainers, administrative officials, ete., Jost their livelihood, + In Awadh, a chain of grievances connected the princes, raltiqdars, sepoys and the peasants. + Firangi raj had come to be associated with the end of the world in which all things valued, respected and held dear were breaking down. * In Awadh, the revolt became an expression of popular resistance to an alien order. + The annexation also dispossessed the falugdars of Awadh. * The ‘alugdars were a group of people who had held control over land and power for generations. Under the Nawab, they maintained armed retainers, built fortsand even enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy as long as they accepted the suzerainty of the Nawab and paid the revenue of their ralug. * After annexation, the British were unwilling to tolerate the were disarmed and their forts destroyed, ¢ Under the British revenue settlement, the Summa talugdars was further undermined. * The Summary Settlement was based on the with no permanent stakes in the land. The Settle! possible, Power of the salugdars. They ry Settlement of 1856, the authority of the | i umption that the ralugdars were interlopets ‘ment Went on to remove falugdars wherevete major section of the sepoys had been recruited from Awadh As 2 result, the peasant easily found their way into the sepoy lines. ¢ relationship between the scpoys and the white officers also underwent change. In the 20s, white officers would maintain friendly relations with the sepoys and even partake n leisurely activities with them. However, from the 1840s, the officers started treating the ys as racially inferiors. Abuse and physical violence became common and the distance the ‘nursery of the Bengal Army’. The fears and grievances of the sepoys regarding the cartridges, leaves. misbehaviour of officers reached the villages as well. As a result, when the sepoys took up arms against the : of ungrateful and barbaric people. ss rebels would also mean silencing their voice. ; Benet cite thus, apart from a few ishtahars and proclamations be ae aa hing much can be found that would inform us about the oe of the rebels. about the revolt of 1857 are based on accounts of the fost of what has ee ene Le the officials rather than about the rebels. — arelaracgperee = pealed to all sections of the population. They addressed re at indus and Muslims.SE _Desa cotinine REPRESSION ‘The ishishurs ylorified the eoexistence of communities in the Mughal Eoypire. ‘The rebellion became a war in which both communities had equally to gain and howe However, there wore efforts on the part of the British tocreate divisions, overall, the religions dlvisions between the Hindus and Mustims during the uprising were hardly noticeable, One oF the main sourees that provide an insight into the rebel’s perspective was the Azampary Proclamation of 25% August 1857, 7 5. a ‘The Azamgath Proclamation completely rejected everything associated with British rule oF firany! raj. ‘The British were looked upon as untrustworthy. Their annexations and the ‘Various treaties that they had broken were condemned, . ‘The land revenue settlements that had dispossessed the landholders, the foreign commengy ‘that had ruined the artisans and the weavers were also among the major reasons that enraged the people against the British, ’ Oyerall, the rebels wanted to restore the world with which they were familiar, ‘The proclamation also reflected the fear that the British wanted to destroy the caste and religions of the Hindus and Muslims, In many places the rebels attacked al] that appeared as allies of the British. In the villages, moneylender’s houses were ra ked and account books bumt, Following the collapse of British rule, the rebels attempied to establish some kind of structure ‘of authority and administration. Such attempts show that the rebels wanted to restore the pre-British world under the Mughal Empire. They went back to the culture of the court. Appointments were made for certain posts and arrangements were made to collect land revenue and pay the troops. Alongside, plans were also made to fight the war against the British. Chains of command were also laid down in the army. Also. orders were given to stop plunder and loot. However, the administrative structure established by the rebels were mainly aimed at meeting the demands of the war. A series of laws were passed by the British in 1857 that would help them to quell the revolt © The whole of north India was placed under martial law. © Military officers and ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion. © [twas stated that for rebellion, death would be the only punishment, Reinforcements were brought in from Britain. ‘The capture of Delhi was considered important. In order to re i, Calcutta moved towards north India while another force movie ne ee a “ Attempts to reconquer Delhi began in June 1857. Both sides incurred heavy losses, The cilY was. bely ee in September since the concentration of rebels from all over north Indi was at L.«With the beginning of not dealing with g mer muon in Awadh, aecordin the British 2 10. a Brie, 8 UPrisin Soon realised that they wer yas in rebellion, tsh Official, Fone yt MURe popular suppor. For eaarie + The PrOBTeSS Of the British 3/4 OF the adult male population village by village where the cenatest in the Gan + Apart from using military le Were also hose et M8 SOW as they had to capture military power, the Bris by promising to, th the British also tr while the loyal onan their estates, Ths me a Sees rewarded, holders being disposed IMAGES OF THE REVOLT « Historians have primarih used Britis ofthe eee Dused British accounts to discuss the revok of 1857 and the actions Official accounts can be found from diaries and letters, autobiographies Rebels and tte Ray 249 military officers and colonial administrators in their and official histories. The memos, ie ae ae eports made by the British tell us about their changing perspective These he ang poe also tell us about the fears and anxieties of the British and the perceptions of the rebels, te. of the tae were also published in British newspapers that provoked demands for retribution and revenge. Another important source of information on the revolt of 1857 are pi produced by the British and Indians. Such representations included paintings, poster, etchings, pencil drawings, carfoons and bazaar prints. British images provoke a variety of emotions and reactions, Some British images also commemorated the British heroes who seve thm and repressed the rebels. For example, the Relief of L cknow by tee ees iy 859. Henry Lawrence, the Commissioner of Lucknow had alee oe Leen pee and taken refuge in the heavily fortified Residency. However, areca wes led ae ‘nued to be defended under the command of Colonel Inglis, On but the Resideney continue © ary Havelock arrived, cut through the rebel forces, and 25" Sepiember James Outram Mr Gays later Colin Campbell, the new Commander of reinforced the British garrisons. Tw a Pere besieged British forces in India, came (0 Oo me a story of survival, heroie resisianoe In British aceounts the Sieee Of MT inting celebrated the moment of Colin and the vietory of British power. Ps jorial representations garril the British heroes, i, Campbell, Outram and Havelock he Britis he centre are vund draw our eyestowards the centre, The heroes stand ds of those Siw sp the foreground and the damaged Residency in it, with shadows cll-lt, wil o Eg 7 3 } e S na ground that is W230 _Fiying Colours History the background. ‘The dead and injured in the foreground are testimony to the Suffering during the stege. while the triumphant figures of horses in the middle ground emphasise the fact thy British power and control had been re-established. * For the people in Britain, such images provided reassurance. t showed the end of ty febellion and the victory of the British against the rebels, * Newspaper reports also helped shape the feelings and attitudes towards the events, * Cenain les of violence against women and children provoked demands in Britain for Fevenge and retribution, Demands were made on the British government to protect the honour of innosent women and ensure safety of the helpless children. Such sentiments Were also reflected on canvases that depicted trauma and suffering. For example, fn Memoriam by Joseph Noel Paton, In his painting, Paton depicted English women and children huddled in a circle, looking helpless and innocent, seemingly waiting for the inevitable, i.c., dishonour, violence and death, * Paintings like Paton’s stired up the spectator’s imagination and provoked their anger and fry Although the rebels were not present in the painting, they were depicted as brutish and violent. * While Paton’s painting depicted women as helpless and innocent, there were also sketches in which women were depicted as heroes who were defending themselves against the attack of the rebels. * Inall British representations, the rebels were represented as villains. * Visual representations and newspaper report on the revolt created an atmosphere in Britain in which violent repression and vengeance was deemed a necessity. Such expression was found in numerous cartoons and pictures in the British press, * The demands for retribution and vengeance found expression in images in posters and images in popular journals showing various ways of executing the rebels, * While there were demands for execution and vengeance upon the rebels, pleas of clemency towards the rebels were ridiculed + Goyemor General Canning proposed that a gesture of leniency and a show of merey towards the sepoys would help in winning back their loyalties. However, this only invited ridicule in the press, On the national scene of the 20" century, the Reyolt of 1857 acted as an inspiration. The Revolt of 1857 was celebrated as the first war of independence in which all seations of the Indian people came together to fight against British rule. * The leaders of the revolt were presented as heroic figures who led the country into ball rousing the people to righteous indignation against oppressive imperial rule, 7 # Heroic poems were also composed about the valour of the Rani Lakshmi Bai, who, foul for the freedom of her motherland, * Rani of Jhansi was represented as musculine figure chasing the enemy, slaying Bdioh WM soldiers and valiantly fighting till her last. ¢ In popular prints Rani Lakshmi Bai was usually depicted as a wie 4 to resist injustice and alien rule. symbol determinatie®and represe tations s during Teflect nS Which they were mong tSEPtONS ofthe people who produced them »e important and What they ww, luiced. The: me Y Wanted to Y record what their makers thought to jese images and representatign’ > S89. e ' S al hile in Britain, based on the pe SO played a role in shaping sensibilities Rebels a j the tn ore nple, o e, Presentati, For examp! iyst violent forms of repressing th ‘Ons and depictions, the public dem le rebels, in nati See * In nationalist imagination, the rebels were heroes. Seen oe by Wellesley in Awadh ah deposed; Awadh annexed st-3 Summary revenue settlements introduced in Awadh ~ [10 May Mutiny starts in Meent = | [11-12 May Delhi garrisons revolt; Bahadur Shah accepts nominal 20-27 May Sepoys mutiny in Aligarh, Etawah, Mainpuri, Etah 30 May Rising in Lucknow | [May-June Mutiny tums intoageneralrevolt ofthe people ——~* [30 June British suffer defeat in the battle of Chinhat 25 Sept British forces under Havelock and Outram enter the July Shah Mal killed in battle E i i [June | Rani Jhansi killed in battle | Py aera QUESTIONS ———_ _ —_—_— \Multiple Choice Questions «_statty started the revolt. he group that initially star (b) Emperors sak (a) Sepoys , +e peamchasats juged a soial reform measure that abolished one of the social "1829, the British introduced * * ‘Vils of Indian society. Identity (o) Sat '®) Child Marriage (d) Untouchability 1 © Dowry Empire on te grounds of — Ay ¢ Britis! yn-payment of taxes Wadh was annexed to the Bf ler (b) 10 y ( Sl uring gression against the British forces a) 6, eighbo' (d) aggression ag conspiracy with am! ‘S) misgovernance's and epresentations Rebels and the Raj 257 nd the times during which they ot the Perceptions of 1 pe important and what they he people who produced them luce Wanted to 4d. They record what their makers thought to , These images and Tepresentations ; Convey, . also ‘ while in Britain, based on the eee a role in shaping sensibilities. For example. ions wnost violent forms of repressing the and depictions, the public demanded for the Tebels, in nationalist ima: + IN Nationalist Imagination, the rebels were heroes. Subsidi: i ? sidiary Alliance introduced by Wellesley in Awadh — iiss _ Nawab Wajid Ali Shah deposed; Awadh annexed peer Summary revenue settlements introduced in Awadh | 10 May Mutiny starts in Meerut | 11-12 May Delhi garrisons revolt; Bahadur Shah accepts nominal 20-27 May Sepoys mutiny in Aligarh, Etawah, Mainpuri, Etah b: 30 May Rising in Lucknow BY May-June Mutiny turns into a general revolt of the people 30 June British suffer defeat in the battle of Chinhat 25 Sept British forces under Havelock and Outram enter the July Shah Mal killed in battle 1858 | June Rani Jhansi killed in battle