The revolt of 1857

The presentation helps students of understand the causes , and effects of the revolt. It is enhanced with pictures.

1. THE REVOLT OF 1857 NAZIMA TAHSEEN. K ACADEMIC COORDINATOR – PRIMARY VELAMMAL BODHI CAMPUS – VELLORE TAMILNADU , INDIA. Email – [email protected] Posted - 22.8.2018

2. SEPOYS REVOLT

3. ECONOMIC CAUSE After Industrial revolution , India merely became supplier of raw material, and buyer of finished machine made goods. Hence Indian artisans lacked job and money. Local artisans and craftsmen were discontented.

4. SOCIAL CAUSE •The practice of sati was abolished. Child marriage, female infanticide and polygamy were not allowed. • Widow remarriage act was passed.

5. SOCIAL CAUSE •European criminals were given little or no punishment. Hindus and Muslims were forced into Christianity – By chaplains – Christian official responsible for religious need. Hindu converts to christianity were allowed to inherit property.

6. POLITICAL CAUSES • Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and the Doctrine of lapse had made the Indian rulers angry and insecure.

7. The Muslim feelings had been badly hurt when after the death of Bahadur Shah II, the successor’s were not allowed the regal titles and Mughal palaces(Red fort).

8. • The Rani of Jhansi Laxmi Bai was not allowed to make her adopted son a legal heir. Raja Gangadhar Rao

9. Nana Sahib the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was not allowed to continue as the ruler.

10. Military causes New recruits had to travel across the sea. It was forbidden as per Hindu belief.(General Service Enlistment Act) The Indian sepoys were deprived of high salaries and promotions. The highest post for an Indian was that of the Subedar .

11. MBE & OBI Example of Indian at military during british

12. IMMEDIATE CAUSE Enfield Rifles – Cartridges were rumoured to be greased with animal fat. Pig and Cow - Muslims and Hindus were against. Cover of cartridges – to be bitten off by teeth before loading. Soldiers refused to touch

13. Mangal Pandey – A sepoy at 34 th native infantry fired at Sergeant major – Executed.

14. EVENTS On 9th May, the soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned Sepoys . •They attacked and killed British officers. They set fire to the buildings. •The Sepoys of Meerut rode all night of 10th MAY to reach Delhi in the early hours of next morning.

15. •The soldiers forced their way in to the Red Fort, convinced Bahadur Shah Zafar and proclaimed him as their leader. Regiments mutinied and took off to join other troops at nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow .

16. Seige at Delhi British reinforcement under John Nicholson, after six days of fighting , recaptured Delhi. Bahadur Shah was recaptured and exiled to Burma.

17. Rebellion Spread Nanasaheb Peshwa gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison in Kanpur. He proclaimed himself the Peshwa .

18. Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt at Lucknow.Her son Birjis Qadra was made the Nawab .

19. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel Sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope.

20. • Ahmadullah Shah a maulvi from Faizabad prophesied that the rule of the British would come to an end. • Bakht Khan, a soldier from Bareilly, took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi. In Bihar an old zamindar , Kunwar Singh, joined the rebel Sepoys and battled with the British for many months.

21. Company fights back Delhi was recaptured from the rebel forces in September 1857. Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. • His sons were shot dead before his eyes. • He and his wife Begum Zeenat Mahal were sent to prison in Rangoon in October 1858. He died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862

22. • The Britishers had to fight for two years to suppress the massive forces of popular rebellion. • Lucknow was taken in March 1858. • Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858. • Tantia Tope was captured , tried and killed in April 1859.

23. The British had regained control of the country by the end of 1859, but they could not carry on ruling the land with the same policies any more. • Some important changes were introduced by the British.

24. The British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 and transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs. • A member of the British Cabinet was appointed Secretary of State of India and made responsible for all matters related the governance of India.

25. • He was given a council to advise him, called the India council. • The Governor General of India was given the title of Viceroy, that is, a personal Representative of the Crown.

26. All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including there adopted sons. • They were made to acknowledge the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.

27. The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army would be reduced and the number of European solders would be increased. It was also decided that instead of recruiting soldiers from Awadh , Bihar, central India and south India, more soldiers would be recruited from among the Gurkhas , Sikhs and Pathans .

28. The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the people of India.

29. Failure of the revolt The revolt was localized and was poorly planned. • The leaders lacked military skills. Sikh soldiers of Punjab remained loyal to British. • The native indian states did not join the revolt(Hyderabad).

30. Presented by Nazima Tahseen K Mcom.,Mphil.,B.Ed.,GNIIT.,PGDCA ., MA(Eng).,MA(His).,BA( Hin )