Page 47 - SST Class 08

However, there is evidence to show that all q The British government came to know of the
sections of the society took part in it. There were misrule of the company, so the British
rulers, zamindars, peasants, civilians, tribals and government took over the administration of
other people in addition to the sepoys who took India directly. With this, the rule was passed to
part in it. There is evidence that the British had to the British Crown and British Parliament in
attack and destroy villages after villages and kill August, 1858. This ended the rule by the British
scores of villagers. They could not have killed so East India Company and its board of directors.
many of them without their any participation in q A minister in the British cabinet, called the
the revolt. Then, it is a matter of pride that both Secretary of State for India, was appointed
communities, Hindus assisted by a council of 15 members. He was
and Muslims, took made responsible for the smooth
part in it on equal administration of India.
terms and fought
shoulder to shoulder. q The post of Governor General of India was
The initial revolt by changed to Viceroy. Thus, Lord Canning
became the first Viceroy of India.
the 90 sepoys at
Meerut comprised of q Queen Victoria issued a proclamation in 1858,
56 Muslims and the The Revolt of 1857 began from according to which various rights were granted
rest Hindus. Kali Paltan, Meerut to the Indian rulers and people. It assured the
princes that their territories would not be
The revolt was nationalist in form and character,
though some areas remained aloof from it. This annexed and they would enjoy the right to
adopt legal heir to the state.
revolt proved to be the source of inspiration for
the later revolts and freedom movement. Even q The people of India were given the right to
today, we take pride in this revolt. faith by the same proclamation.

In view of the above, we can safely call this revolt q It was proclaimed that the Indians would be
as the First War of Independence . appointed to high posts without any
discrimination on grounds of caste, colour,
Quiz Time
creed, faith or place of birth.
Write True or False :
q A general amnesty was granted to the people
1. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi led the revolt except those who were accused of murdering
in Kanpur. _______ the British.
2. The symbols of British authority were q The Indian army was reorganised and the
destroyed. _______ number of British soldiers was increased.

3. The revolt lacked the unity of purpose. _______ q The revolt aroused in the Indians the national
4. The sepoys rose in revolt in Awadh on sentiments which blossomed into the national
30 April 1857. _______ movement for freedom from the British rule.
5. The revolt at Bareilly was led by q The most important outcome of the revolt was
Khan Bahadur Khan. _______ the revival of the British policy of ‘divide and
rule ’. They perceived that both Hindus and
Muslims participated in the revolt together, so
CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVOLT they made all efforts to sow the seeds of

The Revolt of 1857 was massive in every sense of mistrust and disunity between these two
the word. It shook the very foundation of the communities. This policy resulted in the
company rule in India. The outcome of the revolt creation of the two states of India and Pakistan
can be studied under the following points : at the time of independence. Even now, we
Revolt of 1857-58
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