Page 41 - SST Class 08
P. 41
Revolt of 1857-58 6
q Revolts by rulers and zamindars q Revolts by religious groups
q Revolt by sepoys q Revolt of 1857-58
q Occurrence of the Revolt, 1857 q Spread of the revolt
q Regional focus : Awadh q Suppression of the revolt
q Causes of failure of the revolt q Participation of the elite and peasants
q Nomenclature : Mutiny or First War of Independence q Consequences of the revolt
q Role of Vernacular and British press
Introduction Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and
Haryana. The revolt by poligars (landlords in
By the year 1856, the British conquest of India was
South India) was supported by peasants, who rose
almost complete. They had to wage wars and play
diplomacy in order to bring more and more under the leadership of Kattabomman and Pyche
Raja . The British either gave some concession to
territories under their control. Revolts continued to
pacify them or suppressed them violently.
occur in different times and at different places. You
have already read about the tribal and peasant
revolts in the earlier lessons. Besides the tribals and REVOLTS BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS
peasants, the other revolts were undertaken by the The revolts by religious groups occurred because
rulers (including landlords), religious groups and they felt that the British were interfering into their
sepoys. Many of these revolts were large, but the religion. The laws relating to the abolition of the
revolt that occurred in 1857 was the most massive Sati custom, child marriage and legalisation of
of all, and it shook the foundations of the rule of widow remarriage were perceived as a threat to
the British East India Company and sealed its fate the religion. As a result, the religious groups rose
for all times to come. in revolt, such as the Sanyasis in Bengal, the
Wahabis in Bareilly, Bihar and Bengal; and Faqirs
REVOLTS BY RULERS AND ZAMINDARS in eastern India. In addition to these, religious
groups openly supported other rebellions.
The revolts by rulers and zamindars were caused
due to their dissatisfaction with the British because REVOLTS BY SEPOYS
they had been dispossessed of their lands and
authority. As these people were a source of The Indian sepoys formed the largest group in the
livelihood for a large number of people, other British army, but they were prejudiced against on
people too supported them. many counts, which we shall learn a little later. As
However, the objective of a result of discontentment, many revolts occurred
these revolts was limited, so such as in Bengal in 1764, at Vellore (in Tamil
they remained localised. There Nadu) in 1806, at Barrackpore (in Bengal) in 1824
were about 40 such revolts up and again at this place in 1844. These revolts too
to 1856, which occurred remained localised in nature. The sentiments were
chiefly in the states of Bengal, waiting to be aroused at the national level, and
Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kottabomman this chance came in 1857.
Revolt of 1857-58
41
