Indian Response to British Rule

Javab dena Padega......!

Indian Response

Traditional Modern

Traditional ResponseNature

Civilian Revolt

Peasant Revolt

Tribal Revolt

Leadership

Area

Chronology

Social Base

British Attitude

Hamri zameen cheen li....!!!!

Dhoka ho gaya...Kuch

karna padega

Traditional ResponseAb hogi aar paar ki ladai

1857 Revolt

Background

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

Revolt began at Meerut, 58 km from Delhi, on May 10, 1857

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 Pandeexecuted on April 6

Background

Introduction of the Enfield rifle

cartridge of the new rifle

bitten off before loading

Reports about the mixing of bone dust in atta (flour)

Grease was reportedly made of beef and pig fat

Administration did nothing to allay these fears

Sepoys felt their religion was in grave danger

General Reason

BackgroundApril 24, ninety men of 3rd Native Cavalry refused to accept the greased cartridgesMay 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 IndiaSpreading of the revolt to different parts of the country

Background

Kings, Queens

Participation seen from :

Zamindaars

Clerics of Muslims Community

Civilians, Peasants, Workers etc.

Angreezo ko bhagao yahan seHum bhi ladenge

Angrezo seJai Jawan...Jai Kisan

Area of Revolt

Reasons for the Revolt

Greased Cartridges

Reasons for the revolt of 1857

Political

Immediate Reason Fundamental Reason

Economic & Administration

Social & CulturalMilitary

Influence of outside events

Subsidiary Alliance

Fundamental Reasons

1. Political Causes

EIC’s Policy of Effective Control

Feelings of Muslims getting hurt due to ill treatment given to Bahardur Shah II

Extinction of Native Indian States

Reasons for the Revolt

Policy of Annexation & Doctrine of Lapse

I want to rule over Whole

India

Meri Jhansi nahin Dungi

Heavy Taxation Peasant

Fundamental Reasons2.Economic & Administrative Reasons

Land Revenue Settlement

Confiscation of their estatesTalukdars & Zamindars getting Deprived

Reasons for the Revolt

New Policies Ryotwari,Mahalwari

Exploitation of peasants by the money lenders

Breaking up of Indian Handicraft Industry due to British Economic Policies

Unilateral Free Trade Policy

Doogna Lagan

Zameen nahi rahi hamari ab!

50% interest pe paise milenge

Indian Soldiers & Civil Servants Less Salary

Fundamental Reasons2.Economic & Administrative Reasons

Rampant Corruption

Reasons for the Revolt

No higher Posts for them

Karl Marx (1853) It was the British intruder who broke up the Indian Handloom & destroyed the spinning wheel

Itna kaam karate ho...paisa bhi nahi dete

Policy of Contempt towards Hindus & Muslims

Fundamental Reasons3. Social & Religious Causes

English Infested with the spirit of Racialism

Reasons for the Revolt

Interference in Customs & Religious PracticesLex Loci Act 1850

Spreading Christianity Free Hand to Missionaries

Sati, Women Remarriage, Education

Hindu Gods & Goddesses RidiculedTaxation on Mosques & temple lands

We have WHITE Skin

Indian people are White man’s Burden

Discrimination to Indian Soldiers

Fundamental Reasons4. Military CausesReligious Interference

Reasons for the Revolt

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 wayCrossing the sea Bad for ReligionSinful for soldiers Once back, not taken into caste & even their barrack/regimentsExtensive Military CampaignsSoldier Peasant in UniformWould Empathize with the peasants in his village

Itna kaam karate ho...paisa bhi nahi dete

Jai Jawan...Jai Kisan

First Afghan War (1839-42)

Fundamental Reasons5.Influence of outside eventsBritish suffered serious losses

Reasons for the Revolt

Punjab Wars (1845-49)Crimean Wars (1854-56)Santhal rebellion (1855-57)

psychological repercussions

Aavo do Angrezo ne...Padi dais aaje

to...! :P

Views of Nationalist Historians Constantly Changing

Perceived differently by nationalists & colonial historians

Depending upon their socio-ideological beliefs

Nature of the Revolt

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 RevoltSir 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 RevoltSir Syed Ahmed Khan He held British responsible for the revoltAccepted 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

Limited territorial and social base

Crucial support of certain sections of Indian public to British authorities

Lack of resources as compared to those of the British

Bombay & Madras Armies remained loyal

Outburst only in Western Bihar, Awadh, Rohilkhand, Delhi etc.

Superiority of British Army, Disciplined force, Use of Modern Means of Communication

Causes of Failure of the RevoltFeudal in Character, Headed by Feudal Elements

Lack of a coherent ideology and a political perspective

Lack of coordination and a central leadership

Bahadurshah Emperor Nanasaheb Peshwa

Shahenshah bana diya humko re...!

Hum bhi Raja banege...!

Leaders of the Revolt

Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the reigns at Lucknow

Kanpur, the natural choice was Nana Saheb

At Bareilly, Khan Bahadur, a descendant of the former ruler ofRohilkhandRoyal Ujjaini House, the revolt was led by Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of JagdishpurMaulvi Ahmadullah of Faizabad

Rani Laxmibai, who assumed the leadership of the sepoys at Jhansi

Impact of the Revolt

Power transfer from EIC Crown, Hence British ParliamentGovernment of India Act 1858

Ab no more East India Co. Ki Sarkar

Ab ki baar Queen ki Sarkaar

Impact of the Revolt

Governor General of India Viceroy Lord Canning

Offices of Board of Control & Court of Directors were abolished

Instituted office of Secretary of State for India with council of 15 members

Members of the Indian Civil Service to be appointed on basis of Competition

Government of India Act 1858

Land of the zamindars was reinstated

No more annexations

Hum yahan ke Viceroy Hain !

Naye Rajyo ko British India mein nahin Milayenge

Question UPSC Pre 2014Q. 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

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) Only 2

(c) 1 and 3

(d) All of these

2. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India

Question UPSC Pre 2006Q. Who was the governor general of India during Sepoy Mutiny?

(a) Lord Canning

(b) Lord Hardinge

(c) Lord Dalhousie

(d) Lord Lyton

Question UPSC Pre 2005Q. Which one of the following places did Kunwar Singh, a prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857 belong to?

(a) Bihar

(b) Rajasthan

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Uttarpradesh

Question UPSC Pre 2005Q. Which one of the following territories was not affected by the revolt of 1857?

(a) Jhansi

(b) Jagdishpur

(c) Chittor

(d) Lucknow

Indian Response

Traditional Modern

Freedom Struggle Indian National Movement

Development of Nationalism

Politics of Association

Formation of CongressEarly Nationalists-Moderates

Development of Nationalism

What is a State?

What is a Nation-State?

What do you mean by Nationalism?

What is Nation?

StateWhat 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

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