Revolt Of 1857: The First Indepence War

Pakha etc are also a very distinctive characteristics of Bengal. Terracotta was another example.

In the history of Indian Independence war, Sepoy revolt took a very important place. In 1857 many Indian soldier revolt against the British East India Company’s rule. This revolt is known as the Sepoy Mutiny or Sepoy uprising. Although the uprising was not broke out all over the India but it began with the Bengal precedency in Dumdum.

In the first question I will not support the statement. Although in some point post-pacification revolt against the traditional rule can be seen but according to the old nationalist Historians sepoy uprising was the first nationalistic uprising against the Company’s rule and also the first Independence war.

From the history we can see that uprising was initially started in the Indian soldiers who serve in the Company Army mainly in the Bengal precedency but slowly their after spread in many cantonments. There were many reason behind the revolt such as large recruitment of northern Indian people (Jats, Panjabis, pathans etc) in Bengal precedency, the Doctrine of Lapse policy, not giving high rank to the Indians in the army, use of the Enfield rifle etc. with the one hundred years of Company rule from 1757 to 1857, the sepoy literally understand that they were deprived from their rights in their own country and they were oppressed by the Company.

All those reasons led them to the mutiny. They started with the Bengal Artillery in Dumdum Calcutta. After that they attacked Barrakpur and the situation became very serious. On 10th 11th 30th may 1857 they invade Meerut, Delhi, Lucknow and Bareilly etc and killed English officer with their families They went to the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and create the emperor a nominal leader of rebel sepoy and start a nationalistic uprising against the British rule in the north India. Sepoy was asked to went their district and create revolt to the British rule. During this period some talukdars and Nawabi bureaucrats join the mutiny. At this stage of revolt it seemed that British rule was came to end in the north India because sepoy mutiny was initially successful. They eventually created a goal to free India from the British. After sixth month or more from the mutiny the company successfully recaptured the lost cantonments, barracks and finally ends of mercantile capitalism and early colonial rule. After this the British crown directly took the governance power of British India. Queen Victoria became the queen of India and under her supremacy for next hundred years.

On the other hand it also can be said that this mutiny also led the post-pacification revolt to the traditional rule of landlord.in those time sepoy was asked to their village and raise their hand to those landlords or zamindars who took the British side and fight against the rebels. After the revolt the traditional rule came to an end and the whole India came under the British crown.

So, at last from the above discussion we can said that the sepoy uprising of 1857 was a Nationalistic uprising of Indian although this was took place only in the north India but their goal was achieve independence from the British rule.

In the question of never archiving the aim of the uprising by the Indian sepoy of company army we can say that there were any reasons for which sepoy mutiny or uprising failed. Sepoy mutiny or uprising basically restricted in the north India with the goal of freedom from the colonial rule. Many historians give certain reasons for not lasting the conquest of the Company cantonment by the sepoy uprising.

According to several sources uprising of sepoy was highly localized. Local sepoy of Bengal precedency first started it. Due to improper plan of mutiny and lake of knowledge about the war practice the revolt was became unsuccessful. They did not manage to set how the revolt could be draw in front of the local people of India on the first instance. When they started to attacked the artillery as well as barracks and cantonments there were still many people who did not know about the uprising.

Another major problem was the uprising did not spread to the locals. Although it spread to the north Indian states and kingdoms but the south india was still remain unaware off the uprising or largely undisturbed. It reached only to the marmada River at the south.

Thirdly revolt of 1857 failed to embrace all the sections of society. People from different class either didn’t have any idea about the uprising or they didn’t want to join the uprising by the fear of British. However many other restriction come to those who want to join the revolt such as many native rulers as well as zamindars also refuse to draw revolt against the Company rule and they demotivate the locals to join the revolt and try to suppress the mutiny. Many modern educated people had doubt about the revolt. They had feared about the opposition of rebels bringing social reforms.

The next cause was lack of common cause and different goals. Different soldiers had different goals and due to lack of proper knowledge their main causes were not same. It was the most significant problem for which they never achieve their aim. Most of sepoy in almost every place revolt against the zamindars and money-lenders. All the rebels had a lacked spirit of nationalism.

Another significant reason was British had a very modern and systematic way to suppress the revolt. They had the best resource to use in the revolt but the sepoy had nothing in compare with that. Vast resource and advance transportation system and communications help to subjugate the rebels. On the other hand company had experienced generals such as Havelock, Outram, and Lawrence who make proper plan to solve the rebellion.

In conclusion aim of the uprising never archived for the above the factors which I clearly explain in my words. Thus the sepoy uprising had a great impact in the Indian history and people still remember sepoy uprising as a first Independence war of India.

Lastly the revolt was poorly organized and lacked coordinated planning amongst the leaders. All the sepoys were not enough educated and not enough experienced to conduct an efficient plan to archive the common aim or goal of the uprising of 1857.

In conclusion the sepoy uprising of 1857 was indeed a great history of India which gave inspiration to get freedom from the British rule and in 1947 we got our independence from the British rule.