Brief Summary
This YouTube video by RWA SSC EXAMS, नवीन शर्मा सर discusses the 1857 Revolution in India. It covers the causes of the revolt, including economic exploitation, administrative changes, religious and social factors, political grievances, and military issues. The video also highlights key figures and events, such as Mangal Pandey's role, the Meerut uprising, and the leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar. The summary also touches upon the reasons for the revolt's failure and its impact on the administration of India.
- Economic exploitation by the British East India Company
- Socio-religious reforms and their impact on Indian sentiments
- Key figures like Mangal Pandey, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and Rani Laxmibai
- The revolt's failure due to lack of unified leadership and strategy
Intro
नवीन शर्मा सर welcomes everyone and expresses happiness at the positive responses from students. He acknowledges the various challenges students might be facing, including economic hardships, but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a spirit and passion for building a future. He assures them that their efforts will eventually lead to success and happiness.
Introduction to the 1857 Revolution
The lecture starts with a new topic: the 1857 Revolution. The discussion will span two classes, covering the 1857 struggle, earlier peasant movements, and key figures like Governors and Viceroys (Lytton and Ripon). The course will then move towards Indian nationalism, the formation of the Congress, and the freedom struggle. The speaker highlights how British policies led to the economic exploitation of India, turning it into a looted and hollowed nation. The expansionist desires of the British East India Company instilled fear among Indian rulers, leading to widespread resentment and eventual revolt.
Statements About the 1857 Revolution
The speaker shares different perspectives on the 1857 Revolution. V.D. Savarkar called it the "First War of Independence." R.C. Majumdar stated it was "neither the first, nor national, nor a war of independence." L.E.R. Rees, a British historian, described it as a conflict between religious fanatics and Christians. T.R. Holmes viewed it as a struggle between civilization and barbarism. Outram and Taylor considered the revolt a conspiracy. V.D. Savarkar also noted that British officers used derogatory terms for prophets and Hindu deities during parades, which further fueled the soldiers' anger.
Indian and British Soldiers
At the time of the 1857 revolution, the Indian soldiers in the British army numbered around 225,000, while the British soldiers numbered only 45,000. Despite the higher number, Indian soldiers were recruited for lower positions.
Religious Views
The speaker explains that the British officers were biased towards Indian religions. They considered themselves more civilized, following the "White Man's Burden" theory, and labeled those who opposed their exploitation as barbarians. The British viewed the revolution as a Muslim conspiracy.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Economic Factors
The speaker discusses the economic reasons behind the 1857 Revolution. The British East India Company destroyed Indian trade and industries. Before the British, India produced about 24-25% of the world's GDP, with thriving industries and trade. The British imposed minimal taxes on raw materials exported from India but levied high taxes on finished goods imported back into India. For example, a 3.5% tax was levied on cotton and silk clothes exported from India, while a 10% tax was levied on cotton, 20% on silk, and 30% on woolen clothes imported back to India. This policy led to unemployment and resentment among Indian artisans and traders.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Administrative Factors
The speaker explains the administrative reasons for the 1857 Revolution. The British removed the privileges of jagirdars and talukdars, making them against the British rule. The replacement of Persian with English in courts alienated the local population.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Religious and Social Factors
The speaker discusses the religious and social reasons for the 1857 Revolution. The abolition of Sati and the introduction of the Widow Remarriage Act were seen by some as interference in their customs. The Jail Act of 1845, which mandated communal cooking in jails, was opposed due to caste beliefs. The arrival of Christian missionaries, permitted by the 1813 Act, led to criticism of Hindu and Muslim religions. These missionaries opened schools where the Bible was compulsory, aiming to convert people to Christianity. Despite Bentinck's 1833 Act stating that eligibility should be the basis for service, educated Indians were often denied high positions.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Social Discrimination
The speaker highlights the social discrimination faced by Indians. They were barred from British restaurants and clubs, and were expected to show respect to every British officer, facing violence if they didn't.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Political Factors
The speaker discusses the political reasons for the 1857 Revolution. Wellesley's Subsidiary Alliance and Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse caused resentment among Indian rulers. The Doctrine of Lapse, in particular, prevented rulers from adopting heirs, leading to annexation of their territories. The disrespect shown to respected individuals, such as the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, also fueled anger. Canning declared that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal Emperor and ordered him to vacate the Red Fort. The speaker notes that the Mughals, unlike the British, did not drain wealth from India, which made them more acceptable to the local population. The speaker also mentions the ban on pensions for many respected rulers.
Statements of British Officials
Charles Napier, a British official, stated that if given power for 12 years, he would eliminate all Indian rulers and make Nepal a British territory.
Reasons for the 1857 Revolution: Military Factors
The speaker discusses the military reasons for the 1857 Revolution. The imposition of taxes on postal services for Indian soldiers, after the Post Office Act of 1854, caused discontent. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits to serve anywhere, including overseas, which was against the religious beliefs of many soldiers. A rumor spread that the British were planning to convert everyone to Christianity.
The Cartridge Controversy
The speaker explains the immediate cause of the 1857 Revolution. The British military decided to replace the Brown Bess rifle with the Enfield rifle. The new cartridges for the Enfield rifle were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, which was offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. This rumor was confirmed later.
Mangal Pandey's Revolt
The 19th Regiment protested against the use of the new cartridges, leading to the regiment's disbandment. Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment in Barrackpore revolted on March 29, 1857, and was subsequently arrested and hanged on April 8, 1857.
The Meerut Uprising
On April 24, 1857, news of Mangal Pandey's actions reached Meerut. Eighty-five soldiers out of ninety refused to use the new cartridges and were court-martialed on May 9, 1857. They were sentenced to ten years in prison and publicly humiliated. This incident sparked a revolt in Meerut on May 10, 1857, which is considered the beginning of the 1857 Revolution.
Key Figures in the Meerut Revolution
Nagar Kotwal Dhan Singh Gurjar opened the gates of the Meerut jail, freeing the imprisoned soldiers. He also disconnected the telegraph service to prevent the British from communicating. The rebels marched to Delhi to seek leadership from Bahadur Shah Zafar. Baba Sahamal Jat organized a panchayat of 84 villages and sent a group to Delhi.
Bahadur Shah Zafar Declared Leader
On May 11, 1857, the rebels reached Delhi and, on May 12, 1857, declared the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader. Bahadur Shah Zafar, though hesitant, wrote letters to local rulers seeking their support.
British Response and Local Leaders
The British responded by mobilizing their forces. Canning noted that if the Scindia family had joined the revolt, the British would have been forced to leave. Baba Shahmal Jat was killed on July 21, 1857, and his head was displayed to create fear. Rao Umrao Singh Gurjar led the farmers in the Bulandshahr district but was hanged on September 17, 1857. The British labeled the Gurjar community as rebellious and dangerous.
Suppression of the Delhi Revolt
The real command was in the hands of Bakht Khan. British officers Nicholson and Hudson were sent to suppress the revolt. Nicholson was killed. Bahadur Shah Zafar fled to Humayun's tomb but was captured and sent to Rangoon, Burma, where he died in 1862. His sons were killed in Delhi.
Lucknow Revolt
In Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Birjis Qadir led the revolt. The revolt started on June 4, 1857. Begum Hazrat Mahal was also known as Mahak Pari. Campbell suppressed the revolt with the help of the Gorkha regiment.
Jhansi Revolt
Rani Lakshmibai led the revolt in Jhansi. Her husband's name was Gangadhar Rao. Her adopted son was Damodar Rao. She was born in Varanasi. She died in Gwalior, where her samadhi is located. Dalhousie annexed Jhansi in 1854. Rani Lakshmibai initially resided in the Rani Mahal. She formed a women's brigade and, with the help of Tatya Tope, attacked and captured Gwalior in June 1857.
Role of Scindia Family
Gwalior was under the Scindia family, who were allied with the British. The Scindia family did not support Rani Lakshmibai, leading to Canning's statement that if the Scindias had joined the revolt, the British would have been forced to leave. Hugh Rose suppressed the revolt. Rani Lakshmibai died on June 17, 1858, in Gwalior.
Other Revolts
In Kanpur, Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope led the revolt, with Nana Sahib declaring himself Peshwa. Campbell suppressed the revolt. In Allahabad, Liaquat Ali led the revolt and declared himself Nawab. Colonel Neill suppressed the revolt with extreme brutality. In Bihar, Kunwar Singh led the revolt in Jagdishpur. Taylor and Major Vincent Eyre suppressed the revolt. In Faizabad, Maulvi Ahmadullah, also known as Dunka Shah, led the revolt. The British placed a ₹50,000 reward on his head. Raja Jagannath betrayed him, and he was killed. Neill was sent to suppress the revolt but was unsuccessful.
Other Local Revolts and Key Figures
Khan Bahadur Khan led the revolt in Bareilly and declared himself Nawab. Sheikh Ramzan led the revolt in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Devi Singh led the revolt in Mathura. Rao Tula Ram led the revolt in Haryana. Maniram led the revolt in Assam.
Sign and Key Figures of the Revolution
Azimullah Khan, known as the unsung hero of the 1857 Revolution, wrote the song "Hum Hain Malik Iske Hindustan Hamara." The symbol of the 1857 Revolution was the lotus and bread. Lord Canning was the Viceroy during the revolt. The British Prime Minister was Palmerston. Mirza Ghalib was the poet during the revolt. Michael Essen provided a lively description of the 1857 Revolution.
Reasons for the Failure of the Revolution
The main reason for the failure of the 1857 Revolution was the lack of unified leadership and a coordinated strategy. The revolt was suppressed by June 20, 1858, in Gwalior.
Aftermath of the Revolution
The 1858 Act led to the end of the British East India Company's rule, and the British Crown took direct control of India. The speaker emphasizes that the British started to divide Indians along religious and caste lines to prevent future uprisings.
