Revolt of 1857
National Movement · 1857 का विद्रोह · 18 facts
Revolt of 1857 started on May 10, 1857 in Meerut when Indian sepoys refused to use greased cartridges and revolted against British officers.
Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Infantry who refused to use the greased cartridges on March 29, 1857 at Barrackpore — he was hanged on April 8, 1857.
Immediate Cause of 1857 Revolt: introduction of the Enfield rifle whose cartridges were rumored to be greased with pig and cow fat (offensive to both Muslims and Hindus).
Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie, 1848-56) was a major political cause — under this, states without natural heirs could not adopt and were annexed by the British.
States annexed under Doctrine of Lapse: Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849), Nagpur (1854), Jhansi (1853) — Rani Lakshmibai strongly protested.
Delhi fell to British forces in September 1857 — Bahadur Shah Zafar (the last Mughal Emperor) was captured, tried, and exiled to Rangoon (Burma) where he died in 1862.
Lucknow Siege — British Residency in Lucknow was besieged from June to November 1857. Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh led the revolt in Lucknow.
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi — one of the greatest leaders of 1857. She died fighting on June 18, 1858 at Gwalior. The British called her the 'most dangerous leader of the mutiny'.
Nana Sahib (Dhondu Pant) led the revolt in Kanpur, Tantia Tope organized military operations in central India, and Kunwar Singh led the revolt in Bihar (Arrah).
Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown — India came under direct rule of the British monarch.
Queen Victoria's Proclamation (November 1, 1858) promised non-interference in Indian religious and social customs and equal treatment of Indians in government service.
1857 was called 'Sepoy Mutiny' by British historians (like Lawrence and Seeley) and 'First War of Independence' by VD Savarkar in his 1909 book.
Economic causes of 1857: British policies destroyed Indian handicrafts and traditional industries; one-sided free trade ruined Indian weavers and artisans.
Social causes of 1857: introduction of Western education, Christian missionaries preaching conversion, and the Widow Remarriage Act created fears among Indians.
Military causes of 1857: General Service Enlistment Act (1856) required sepoys to serve overseas (forbidden by Hindu religion); racial discrimination in salaries and promotions.
Revolt of 1857 failed due to lack of unified command, lack of modern weapons, limited geographical spread, betrayal by Sikh rulers of Punjab and Hyderabad Nizam.
After 1857, the number of Indian soldiers was reduced and the proportion of British soldiers was increased to prevent another revolt — ratio maintained at 1:3.
Tantia Tope (Ramchandra Panduranga), the military commander of Nana Sahib, was captured through betrayal and hanged in April 1859 — he fought till the end.