The Revolt of 1857 (सन् 1857 की क्रांति) - CBSE Notes Class -8th

The Revolt of 1857

➥ The Revolt of 1857 is considered the first major rebellion against British rule in India.

➥ It started on May 10, 1857, in Meerut and spread across North and Central India.

Causes of the Revolt

1. Immediate Cause:

   ➝ The introduction of greased cartridges in Enfield rifles offended both Hindus and Muslims as the cartridges were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat.

2. Economic Causes:

   ➝ Heavy taxation and exploitation of farmers by the British.

   The destruction of Indian industries and the drain of wealth to Britain.

3. Political Causes:

   ➝ The British Doctrine of Lapse led to the annexation of Indian states, angering Indian rulers.

   Indian rulers lost their autonomy under British rule.

4. Religious and Social Causes:

   ➝ British interference in Indian customs and religious practices, including efforts to spread Christianity.

   The abolition of practices like Sati and child marriage angered conservative sections of society.

5. Administrative Causes:

   ➝ The British administration was seen as oppressive and disrespectful towards Indian traditions and leaders.

Symbols of the Revolt

➦ Lotus and bread were passed between sepoys (Indian soldiers) as symbols to unite the people against the British.

Major Leaders and Regions

1. Delhi:

   ➜ The revolt in Delhi was led by Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor. The rebel soldiers declared him the leader after capturing Delhi.

2. Kanpur:

   ➜ Led by Nana Sahib, who was supported by Tatya Tope.

3. Lucknow:

   ➜ Led by Begum Hazrat Mahal, who fought against the British to restore her son's rule.

4. Jhansi:

   ➜ Rani Lakshmibai played a prominent role in the revolt. She was known for her bravery and resistance against British forces, led by Captain Hugh Rose.

5. Bihar:

   ➜ The revolt was led by Veer Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur.

6. Assam:

   ➜ Led by Diwan Maniram Dutt, who fought against the British.

Major Centers of the 1857 Revolt and Prominent Rebel Leaders

Rebel Centers and Leaders

Center	Rebel Leader	Date of Revolt	Suppressor
Delhi	Bahadur Shah II, Bakht Khan (Military Lead)	May 11, 1857	Nicholson, Hudson
Lucknow	Begum Hazrat Mahal, Birjis Qadr	June 4, 1857	Colin Campbell
Jhansi/Gwalior	Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope	June 4, 1857	General Hugh Rose
Kanpur	Nana Sahib, Tatya Tope (Military Lead)	June 5, 1857	Colin Campbell
Allahabad	Liaqat Ali	June 6, 1857	Colonel Neill
Faizabad	Maulvi Ahmadullah	June 1857	Colonel Neill
Jagdishpur	Kunwar Singh, Amar Singh	June 12, 1857	William Taylor, Vincent Eyre
Bareilly	Khan Bahadur Khan	June 1857	Vincent Eyre
Fatehpur	Azimullah	1857	General Reynard

Failure of the Revolt

1. Lack of Unity:

   ➥ There was no centralized leadership or plan among the rebels.

2. Limited Participation:

   ➥ The revolt was largely confined to North India. Many parts of India, especially the educated middle class and landlords, remained neutral or sided with the British.

3. Superior British Resources:

   ➥ The British had a stronger army and more resources to suppress the revolt.

Consequences of the Revolt

1. End of East India Company Rule:

   ➥ The revolt led to the end of the East India Company's rule in India. The Government of India Act, 1858 transferred the control of India to the British Crown.

2. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation:

   ➥ On November 1, 1858, Queen Victoria declared that India would be ruled directly by the British Crown.

   ➥ Indians were promised equal treatment under British law, though this was rarely implemented.

3. Military Reorganization:

   ➥ The Peel Commission was formed to reorganize the Indian Army. Indians were no longer trusted in key military positions.

4. Appointment of a Viceroy:

   ➥ Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India after the revolt.

Different Views on the Revolt

1. V.D. Savarkar:

   ➥ Called the revolt the First War of Indian Independence.

2. R.C. Majumdar:

   ➥ Disagreed and argued that the revolt was not a national movement nor a war for independence.

3. S.N. Sen:

   ➥ Considered the official historian of the Indian independence movement.

Support for the British

➥ Some Indian rulers, like the Scindia dynasty of Gwalior, remained loyal to the British and helped suppress the revolt.

Important Figures

• Bahadur Shah Zafar: The last Mughal ruler who was declared the symbolic leader of the revolt.
• Nana Sahib: Leader of the revolt in Kanpur.
• Rani Lakshmibai: Queen of Jhansi, a prominent figure in the revolt.
• Tatya Tope: Nana Sahib’s commander and key military leader.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal: Led the revolt in Lucknow.
• Veer Kunwar Singh: Led the revolt in Bihar.

Books on the 1857 Revolt

Book	Author
The Great Rebellion	Ashok Mehta
The First War of Independence	Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Eighteen Fifty-Seven	S.N. Sen
The Causes of the Indian Revolt	Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857	R.C. Majumdar
History of the Indian Mutiny	T.R. Holmes
Rebellion-1857	D.R. Holmes

It was said that Rani Lakshmibai was "the only man among the rebels of 1857," according to General Hugh Rose.

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These CBSE notes offer a comprehensive overview of the Revolt of 1857, helping students understand its causes, key events, and consequences.- @pratapsanjaysir