Chapter 5 – When People Revolt – 1857 and After Notes

Content Structure

1. Policies and the People
- 1A. Nawabs lose their power
- 1B. The peasants and the sepoys
- 1C. Responses to reforms
2. Through the Eyes of the People
3. A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Uprising
- 3A. From Meerut to Delhi
- 3B. The uprising spreads
4. The Company Fights Back
5. Aftermath

1. Policies and the People

The East India Company made rules that affected different groups of people.
These rules had different effects on kings, queens, farmers, landlords, tribal people, and soldiers.
Some people suffered because of these rules.
When the rules caused harm or hurt their feelings, people opposed them.
People resisted in different ways depending on their situation.

1A. Nawabs lose their power

(i). Kings and Nawabs Lost Power

Since the mid-1700s, Indian kings and nawabs started losing their power.
The British slowly took their land, money, and respect.
British officers controlled their courts, removed their armies, and reduced their freedom.

(ii). Rulers Tried to Save Their Rights

Rani Lakshmibai (Jhansi) wanted the British to accept her adopted son as the next ruler after her husband’s death.
Nana Saheb (son of Peshwa Baji Rao II) asked for his father’s pension.
The British refused, as they felt powerful and in control.

(iii). The British Took Over Awadh

In 1801, the British forced Awadh into a subsidiary alliance.
In 1856, they took full control, saying the king was ruling poorly.

(iv). The End of the Mughal Empire

The British wanted to end Mughal rule.
They removed the Mughal king’s name from coins.
In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie said that after Bahadur Shah Zafar’s death, his family would have to leave the Red Fort.
In 1856, Governor-General Canning declared that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king.
His descendants (future family members) would only be called princes, not kings.

1B. The peasants and the sepoys

(i). Problems for Farmers and Landowners

Farmers (peasants) and landowners (zamindars) had to pay high taxes.
Many couldn’t repay loans and lost their land, which they had farmed for generations.

(ii). Problems for Indian Soldiers (Sepoys)

Indian soldiers working for the British were unhappy because:
- Their salaries and working conditions were poor.
- Some new British rules hurt their religious beliefs.

(iii). Crossing the Sea Was Against Beliefs

Many Indians believed that crossing the sea would make them lose their religion and caste.
In 1824, the British ordered sepoys to go to Burma by sea, but they refused and wanted to go by land.
The British punished them severely.
In 1856, the British made a new rule that all new soldiers must agree to travel overseas if needed.

(iv). Anger Spreads Among Soldiers

Many sepoys came from villages.
When farmers became angry about taxes, soldiers also became angry and started resisting the British.

1C. Responses to reforms

The British wanted to change Indian society

They made laws to stop sati (a practice where widows burned themselves after her husband dead) and to allow widows to remarry.
They promoted English education in India.
After 1830, the British allowed Christian missionaries to work freely and own land.
In 1850, the British made a new law to make it easier for Indians to become Christians.
- It also allowed converts to inherit their family property.
Many Indians felt the British were destroying their religion, traditions, and way of life.
However, some Indians supported changes in social customs.

2. Through the Eyes of the People

The list of eighty-four rules

Given here are excerpts from the book Majha Pravaas, written by Vishnubhatt Godse, a Brahman from a village in Maharashtra. He and his uncle had set out to attend a yajna being organised in Mathura. Vishnubhatt writes that they met some sepoys on the way who told them that they should not proceed on the journey because a massive upheaval was going to break out in three days. The sepoys said: the English were determined to wipe out the religions of the Hindus and the Muslims … they had made a list of eighty-four rules and announced these in a gathering of all big kings and princes in Calcutta. They said that the kings refused to accept these rules and warned the English of dire consequences and massive upheaval if these were implemented … that the kings all returned to their capitals in great anger … all the big people began making plans. A date was fixed for the war of religion and the secret plan had been circulated from the cantonment in Meerut by letters sent to different cantonments

There was soon excitement in every regiment

Another account we have from those days is the memoirs of Subedar Sitaram Pande. Sitaram Pande was recruited in 1812 as a sepoy in the Bengal Native Army. He served the English for 48 years and retired He helped the British suppress the uprising though his own son was a rebel and was killed by the British in front of his eyes. On retirement he was persuaded by his Commanding Officer, Norgate, to write his memoirs. He completed the writing in 1861 in Awadhi and Norgate translated it into English and had it published under the title From Sepoy to Subedar. Here is an excerpt from what Sitaram Pande wrote: It is my humble opinion that this seizing of Oudh filled the minds of the Sepoys with distrust and led them to plot against the Government. Agents of the Nawab of Oudh and also of the King of Delhi were sent all over India to discover the temper of the army. They worked upon the feelings of sepoys, telling them how treacherously the foreigners had behaved towards their king. They invented ten thousand lies and promises to persuade the soldiers to mutiny and turn against their masters, the English, with the object of restoring the Emperor of Delhi to the throne. They maintained that this was wholly within the army’s powers if the soldiers would only act together and do as they were advised. It chanced that about this time the Sarkar sent parties of men from each regiment to different garrisons for instructions in the use of the new rifle. These men performed the new drill for some time until a report got about by some means or the other, that the cartridges used for these new rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. The men from our regiment wrote to others in the regiment telling them about this, and there was soon excitement in every regiment. Some men pointed out that in forty years of service, nothing had ever been done by the Sarkar to insult their religion, but as I have already mentioned the sepoys’ minds had been inflamed by the seizure of Oudh. Interested parties were quick to point out that the great aim of the English was to turn us all into Christians, and they had therefore introduced the cartridge to bring this about since both Mahommedans and Hindus would be defiled by using it. The Colonel sahib believed that the excitement, which even he could not fail to see, would pass off, as it had done before, and he recommended I go to my home.

3. A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Uprising

(i) Struggles Between Rulers and People

It is common for people to fight against their rulers when they are treated unfairly.
Sometimes, many people join together, and the government loses control.
To succeed, people must plan, communicate, take action, and be confident.

(ii) The 1857 Rebellion in India

In 1857, a big rebellion started in northern India.
The British East India Company had ruled India for 100 years before this happened.
The fight began in May 1857 when Indian soldiers (sepoys) in Meerut refused to follow British orders.

(iii) Many People Join the Fight

The rebellion spread to many places.
People from different backgrounds joined the fight against British rule.
Some say this was the biggest armed rebellion against colonial rule in the 1800s.

Mutiny – When soldiers as a group disobey their officers in the army.

3A. From Meerut to Delhi

(i) Mangal Pandey’s Act of Rebellion

On April 8, 1857, Mangal Pandey, a young soldier, was hanged for attacking British officers in Barrackpore.

(ii) Sepoys Refuse to Use New Cartridges

In Meerut, some sepoys refused to use new cartridges because they believed they were coated with cow and pig fat, which hurt their religious beliefs.
On May 9, 1857, 85 sepoys were punished—they were dismissed from service and sent to 10 years in jail for disobeying orders.

(iii) Sepoys in Meerut Rebel

On May 10, 1857, Indian soldiers in Meerut freed the jailed sepoys.
They killed British officers, took weapons, burned buildings, and declared war on the British (firangis).
The soldiers wanted to end British rule, but they needed a leader.

(iv) Soldiers Declare Bahadur Shah Zafar as Leader

The sepoys from Meerut rode overnight and reached Delhi on May 11, 1857.
The soldiers in Delhi also joined the rebellion, killing British officers and seizing weapons.
They gathered at the Red Fort and demanded Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar lead them.
At first, the emperor was hesitant, but the soldiers forced him to agree.
He sent letters to all rulers, asking them to unite against the British.

(v) Impact of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Decision

The Mughal dynasty had once ruled a vast part of India.
Many small rulers and chieftains had ruled their lands under the Mughal Empire before the British came.
They now hoped that if the Mughals ruled again, they could regain their power too.

(vi) British Shock and Fear

The British did not expect the revolt to grow so much.
They thought the anger over cartridges would fade soon.
But when Bahadur Shah Zafar supported the rebellion, it inspired more people to join.
Seeing a chance for change gave Indians new hope, courage, and confidence to fight the British.

Firangis – Foreigners the term reflects an attitude of contempt.

3B. The uprising spreads

(i) The Rebellion Spreads

After the British lost in Delhi, there was no fighting for a week because news traveled slowly.
Soon, more soldiers and people started fighting against the British.

(ii) Soldiers and People Join the Fight

Indian soldiers (sepoys) left their camps and joined the fight in Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
People in villages and towns also rose up and followed local leaders, zamindars, and chiefs.

(iii) Important Leaders of the Rebellion

Nana Saheb (adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao)
- Lived near Kanpur and gathered armed forces.
- Drove the British out of Kanpur and declared himself Peshwa under Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Birjis Qadr (son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah)
- Declared Nawab of Lucknow and supported Bahadur Shah Zafar.
- His mother, Begum Hazrat Mahal, led the rebellion against the British.
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
- Fought alongside rebel soldiers and joined Tantia Tope, the general of Nana Saheb.
Rani Avantibai Lodhi of Ramgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
- Led an army of 4,000 soldiers against the British to protect her kingdom.

(iv) The British Struggle

The British were outnumbered and lost many battles. People thought British rule was ending and gained confidence to join the fight.
In Awadh, many villages rebelled.
On August 6, 1857, a British officer, Tytler, sent a message saying
- The British were tired from non-stop fighting.
- Every village was fighting against them.
- Zamindars (landowners) had joined the battle.

(v) More Leaders Join the Fight

Ahmadullah Shah (a Maulvi from Faizabad)
- Predicted that British rule would soon end.
- Gathered many supporters and fought in Lucknow.
Religious warriors (Ghazis) in Delhi
- Came together to drive out the British.
Bakht Khan (a soldier from Bareilly)
- Led a large army in Delhi and became an important military leader.
Kunwar Singh (an old zamindar from Bihar)
- Joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British for many months.

(vi) The Rebellion Grows

People from all over India joined the fight.
The British struggled as more soldiers and leaders joined the uprising.

4. The Company Fights Back

(i) The British Fight Back

The British were shocked by the huge rebellion.
They brought more soldiers from England and made new laws to punish rebels easily.
They attacked the main rebel cities to regain control.

(ii) Delhi is Recaptured

In September 1857, the British took back Delhi.
The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was sent to jail for life in Rangoon (now Myanmar) with his wife, Begum Zinat Mahal.
He died in jail in November 1862.

(iii) The Rebellion Continues

Even after Delhi fell, Indians kept fighting the British.
The British had to fight for two more years to stop the rebellion.

(iv) Defeat of Important Leaders

Lucknow was captured in March 1858.
Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858.
Rani Avantibai won a battle in Kheri, but later, surrounded by the British, she chose to die.
Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and fought using guerrilla warfare.
He was later caught and killed in April 1859.

(v) The British Regain Control

As Indian leaders lost battles, some rebels gave up.
The British tried to win back people’s support by offering rewards.
Loyal landowners were promised they could keep their lands.
Rebels who surrendered and had not killed British people were told they would be spared.
However, many sepoys, rebels, nawabs, and rajas were captured and hanged.

5. Aftermath

By 1859, the British had full control over India again. But they changed their policies to avoid another rebellion.

(i) British Government Takes Control

In 1858, the British removed the East India Company and gave control to the British Crown.
A British minister (Secretary of State for India) was put in charge of Indian affairs.
The Governor-General was now called the Viceroy, representing the British Queen.

(ii) Indian Rulers Could Keep Their Kingdoms

The British promised that Indian kings would not lose their land.
They could pass on their kingdoms to their children or adopted sons.
But they had to accept the British queen as their superior.

(iii) Changes in the Army

The number of Indian soldiers was reduced, and more British soldiers were added.
Instead of recruiting from Awadh, Bihar, Central India, and South India, the British chose Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans for the army.

(iv) Muslims Were Punished

The British took away land and property from many Muslims.
They believed Muslims were mainly responsible for the 1857 rebellion and treated them with suspicion.

(v) Respect for Indian Traditions

The British promised to respect Indian religions and social customs.

(vi) Protection for Landowners

Zamindars and landlords were given security over their lands so they would support British rule.

These changes started a new chapter in India’s history after 1857.

6. The Khurda Uprising

(i) What Was Khurda?

Khurda was a rich kingdom in Orissa with many villages.
King Mukunda Dev II lost land and temple rights to the Marathas.
He asked the British for help, but they refused after taking Orissa in 1803.
Angry, he joined local chiefs and Marathas to fight back but was removed from power.

(ii) British Rule in Khurda

After taking over Khurda, the British forced local soldiers (Paiks) out of service, making life difficult for them.
They increased taxes heavily, forcing many people to leave between 1805 and 1817.
The British also sold land to rich Bengali landlords, which made life harder for local people.
They ignored natural disasters and forced farmers to pay high taxes even when crops failed.

(iii) Buxi Jagabandhu Leads the Fight

Buxi Jagabandhu, the military chief of Khurda, lost his land and became homeless.
He survived on donations for two years before deciding to fight back.
More problems made people angrier:
- New silver coins made tax payments harder.
- Food and salt became too expensive due to British control.
- British police were corrupt and cruel.

(iv) The Uprising Begins (March 29, 1817)

On March 29, 1817, the Paiks attacked a British police station in Banpur, killed over 100 men, and took government money.
The revolt spread as landowners and farmers joined.
Taxes were stopped, and the British could not control the revolt.
On April 14, 1817, Buxi Jagabandhu and his army captured Puri and declared Mukunda Dev II as their ruler.
Even the priests of Jagannath Temple supported the rebellion.

(v) The British Fight Back

The British declared martial law to stop the rebellion.
They arrested the king and his son and sent them to Cuttack jail.
The British army attacked, killing many Paiks.
Some escaped into jungles, while others surrendered.
By May 1817, the British took back control, but the rebellion continued in small areas.

(vi) The End of the Rebellion (1825)

Buxi Jagabandhu kept fighting with local leaders until May 1825, when he finally surrendered.
The British changed their rules to calm the people.
- Lowered salt prices.
- Improved police and justice systems.
- Removed corrupt officials.
- Returned land to landlords.
- Allowed the king’s son to manage the Jagannath Temple with British support.

(vii) Why Was This Important?

This was Orissa’s first big fight against the British.
The British had to change their policies because of it.
It was not just a Paik Rebellion, but a big movement for freedom.