Revolt of 1857
Indian History · 1857 की क्रांति · 19 facts
No central leadership or unified plan — each center fought independently
Many Indian rulers (Scindia, Holkar, Nizam, Sikhs) supported the British
Limited to North & Central India — South India largely unaffected
British had superior weapons, telegraph, and railways
Middle class and educated Indians did not participate
Bahadur Shah Zafar was too old (82) to provide effective leadership
East India Company rule ended — British Crown took direct control (Govt. of India Act 1858)
Governor General became 'Viceroy' — Lord Canning was the first Viceroy
Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858) — promised religious freedom and no discrimination
Doctrine of Lapse was abolished
Indian Army was reorganized — ratio of British to Indian soldiers increased
Mughal Empire formally ended — Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled to Rangoon
FIRST Viceroy after revolt — Lord Canning (also last Governor General of EIC)
FIRST person to fire in revolt — Mangal Pandey at Barrackpore
LAST Mughal Emperor — Bahadur Shah Zafar (died 1862 in Rangoon)
Revolt started 10 May 1857 at Meerut; Mangal Pandey fired first on 29 March
Immediate cause: Greased cartridges of Enfield rifle (cow + pig fat)
Bahadur Shah Zafar declared nominal emperor at Delhi
Delhi = Bahadur Shah Zafar; Kanpur = Nana Sahib; Lucknow = Begum Hazrat Mahal