Indian Response to British Rule

Javab dena Padega......!

 Indian Response

Traditional Modern
Traditional Response Dhoka ho
gaya...Kuch
karna
Nature padega

Civilian Revolt Leadership

Area
Peasant Revolt
Chronology

Tribal Revolt Social Base Hamri zameen

cheen li....!!!!
British
Attitude
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 Hum
Angreezo ko
bhagaobhi yahan
ladenge
se
Participation seen from : Jai Angrezo se Kisan
Jawan...Jai

Kings, Queens

Zamindaars

Civilians, Peasants, Workers etc.

Clerics of Muslims Community

Area of Revolt
Reasons for the Revolt
Reasons for the revolt of 1857

Immediate Reason Fundamental Reason

Greased Cartridges Political

Economic &
Administration
Social & Cultural
Military
Influence of outside
events
Reasons for the Revolt I want to rule
Meri Jhansi
over Whole
nahin Dungi
Fundamental Reasons India

1. Political Causes
EIC’s 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 Zameen
50%Doogna
rahi
nahi
interest
hamari
Lagan
paise milenge
pe
ab!
Fundamental Reasons
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 Itna kaam karate
ho...paisa bhi nahi dete
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
Reasons for the Revolt Indian
We haveare
Fundamental Reasons people
WHITE Skin
White man’s
3. Social & Religious Causes Burden

English Infested with the spirit of Racialism

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 Itna kaam karate
Jai Jawan...Jai Kisan
ho...paisa bhi nahi dete
Fundamental Reasons
4. Military Causes
Religious Interference
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 way
Crossing the 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 Aavo do Angrezo
ne...Padi dais aaje
to...! :P
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
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 Emperor Nanasaheb Peshwa

Shahenshah bana diya Hum bhi Raja banege...!

humko re...!
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 Ab ki baar Queen ki
Co. Ki Sarkar 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 abolished
Naye Rajyo ko
Hum yahan ke
Instituted office of Secretary of State for India with British India mein
Viceroy Hain !
council of 15 members nahin 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 Victoria’s 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 Company’s trade with India

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2 (c) 1 and 3
(b) Only 2 (d) All of these
Question UPSC Pre 2006
Q. Who was the governor general of India during Sepoy Mutiny?

(a) Lord Canning (c) Lord Dalhousie

(b) Lord Hardinge (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 (c) Madhya Pradesh

(b) Rajasthan (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

Traditional Modern
Freedom Struggle Indian National
Movement
Development of Nationalism

Politics 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