The revolt in India was caused by a mix of colonial rule, economic issues, political problems, and military factors:
- Colonial Rule: The way the British ruled India played a big part in causing the revolt.
- Economic Causes: The British imposed heavy taxes, kicked people off their land, had unfair trade policies against Indian goods, destroyed traditional craft industries, and didn't promote modern industry. This hurt farmers, artisans, and small landowners.
- Political Causes: The British were greedy and didn't involve Indians in governing their own country. They also interfered in the social and religious lives of the Indian people.
- Military Causes: The soldiers (sepoys) were unhappy for economic, psychological, and religious reasons. They also had a history of revolts.
All these factors together led to the Indian revolt against British rule.
● Centres of Revolt and Leaders
Delhi - General Bakht Khan
Kanpur - Nana Saheb
Lucknow - Begum Hazrat Mahal
Bareilly - Khan Bahadur
Bihar - Kunwar Singh
Faizabad - Maulvi Ahmadullah
Jhansi - Rani Laxmibai
Baghpat - Shah Mal
● The British Resistance
Delhi - Lieutenant Willoughby, John Nicholson, Lieutenant Hudson
Kanpur - Sir Hugh Wheeler, Sir Colin Campbell
Lucknow - Henry Lawrence, Brigadier Inglis, Henry Havelock, James Outram, Sir Colin Campbell
Jhansi - Sir Hugh Rose
Benaras - Colonel James Neill
● Causes of Failure
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
Lack of coordination and a central leadership.
Lack of a coherent ideology and a political perspective
● Nature
R.C. Majumdar and S.N. Sen— “Not an organised ‘national’ revolt”
R.C. Majumdar— “Neither first, nor National War of Independence”
V.D. Savarkar—“War of independence”
Eric Stokes—“Elitist in character”
Lawrence and Seeley—“Mere sepoy mutiny”
T.R. Holmes—“A conflict between civilisation and barbarism”
James Outram—“A Mohammedan conspiracy making capital of Hindu grievances”
Percival Spear—Three phases of the revolt
Conclusion: Not quite the first war of independence but sowed the seeds of nationalism and quest for freedom from alien rule.
● Effect
Crown took over; Company rule abolished. Queen’s Proclamation altered administration.
Army reorganised. Racial hatred deepened. White Mutiny.
