REVOLT OF 1857 – 

INTRODUCTION :

The revolt of 1857 was one of the most significant uprisings that took place against the colonial power in the 19th century . Recognizing the significant contribution to challenging the exploitative rule if the British East India Company over the region , VD Savarkar referred to it as India’s First War of Independence .

The revolt began on 10th of May,1857, when Indian soldiers were working in the East India Company rebelled at Meerut . This uprising drew its strength from several elements of discontent against British rule .

There were a plethora of political, administrative , socio-cultural , economic, religious, cultural and immediate factors which eventually culminated in this landmark event .

IMMEDIATE CAUSE :-

The immediate cause of this revolt was the introduction of the Enfield rifle y the company . The sepoys based in India believed that the cartridge of the ammunition used for the gun is greased with either cow fat or pig fat. As the cow was worshipped by Hindus and the pig was considered unclean and a sin to be consumed by Muslims. In February 1857, the 19th  Native Infantry at Berhampore West Bengal which refused to use the newly imported Enfield Rifle and mutinied , was dissolve. Mangal Pandey , a sepoy in Barrackpore, refused to use the cartridge and attacked his superior officers in march 1857. On April 8 , he was executed by hanging . On may 9 , 85 soldiers in Meerut were sentenced to ten years in prison for refusing to use the new rifle. On May 10, soldiers released their imprisoned comrades , killed their officers and unfurled the banner of revolt. They set off for Delhi .

MAJOR CAUSES : 

1. Political causes – Ineffective policies like subsidiary alliances and doctrine of lapse revealed the British greed of increasing its own wealth or power . The Awadh soldiers who were a major part of the Bengal army were disappointed with the falling of Awadh to the East India Company due to the reason of maladministration of 1856. With Marathas , the Britisher refused to pay pension to Nana Saheb – 2 who was the adopted son of Baji Rao – 2 . The British never maintained their promises of honoring the Mughal emperors.

2. Economic causes – 

• Artisans and handicrafts men
• Ruin of Indigenous Industries
• Ruin of the Mercantile class
• Pressure on land
• Peasantry
• Discontent among zamindars
• Economic Drain

3. Socio – Religious causes – 

• Racial overtones
• Activities of Christian missionaries
• Socio-religious reform Social legislation to destroy their religion and culture .

SUPPRESSION OF THE REVOLT : 

The revolt was finally suppressed. The British captured Delhi on September 20,1857  after prolonged and bitter fighting . Bahadur Shah was taken prisoner. The royal princes were captured and butchered on the spot , publicly shot at by Lieutenant Hudson. Thus, the great house of Mughals was finally and completely extinguished . One by one, all the great leaders of the revolt of 1857 fell. Lord Canning declared peace on July 8, 1858 , fourteen months after the outbreak at Meerut .