1857 War - Leaders and Result | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
   
 
  
The events that led to the Revolt began on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore. Mangal Pandey (a 
sepoy) refused to use the greased cartridges and single-handedly attacked and killed his officer. 
He was hanged. The regiment to which he belonged was disbanded and sepoys guilty of 
rebellion punished. The British instead of diffusing the explosive situation, paved the way for a 
mighty crisis by the above act 
The Sepoys brokeout into open revolt a Meerut in April 1857. They refused to touch the 
greased cartridges. They were court martialled and sentenced to ten years rigorous 
imprisonment. The regiments in Meerut rose in open revolt on 10 May 1857. They broke and 
opened the prison. They released the imprisoned soldiers. Then they marched to Delhi on 11 
May and brought it under their control. They proclaimed the reluctant Bahadur Shah II, the old 
king of Delhi, as the Emperor. 
Very soon the rebellion spread throughout northern and central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, 
Kanpur, Banares, in parts of Bihar, Jhansi and other places. 
 
 
 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
1857 REVOLT 
 
 
Page 2


 
   
 
  
The events that led to the Revolt began on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore. Mangal Pandey (a 
sepoy) refused to use the greased cartridges and single-handedly attacked and killed his officer. 
He was hanged. The regiment to which he belonged was disbanded and sepoys guilty of 
rebellion punished. The British instead of diffusing the explosive situation, paved the way for a 
mighty crisis by the above act 
The Sepoys brokeout into open revolt a Meerut in April 1857. They refused to touch the 
greased cartridges. They were court martialled and sentenced to ten years rigorous 
imprisonment. The regiments in Meerut rose in open revolt on 10 May 1857. They broke and 
opened the prison. They released the imprisoned soldiers. Then they marched to Delhi on 11 
May and brought it under their control. They proclaimed the reluctant Bahadur Shah II, the old 
king of Delhi, as the Emperor. 
Very soon the rebellion spread throughout northern and central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, 
Kanpur, Banares, in parts of Bihar, Jhansi and other places. 
 
 
 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
1857 REVOLT 
 
 
 
   
 
1857 Revolt - Delhi 
The leadership at Delhi was nominally in the hands of Bahadur Shah II, but the real control was 
exercised by General Bakht Khan. On the side of the British the combined effort of Nicholson, 
Wilson, Baird Smith and Neville Chamberlain enabled the recapture Delhi by September 1857. In 
Delhi, Emperor Bahadur Shah II was arrested and deported to Rangoon(Burma or Myanmar), 
where he remained in exile till he died in 1862. 
1857 Revolt - Kanpur 
At Kanpur the revolt was led by Nana Saheb, adopted son of Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa. Nana 
Saheb expelled the English from Kanpur with the help of the sepoys and proclaimed himself the 
Peshwa. Supported by two Army Leaders one was Tantia Tope, the other was Azimullah. Kanpur 
was recaptured by the British commander Sir Colin Campbell. 
1857 Revolt - Lucknow 
The principal person responsible for the revolt in Lucknow was the Begum of Oudh - Begum 
Hazrat Mahal. After her husband Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been exiled to Calcutta, she took 
charge of the affairs in the state of Awadh and seized control of Lucknow 
With the assistance of the sepoys, the zamindars and peasants, the Begum organized revolt. Sir 
Colin Campbell, who suppressed the revolt. 
1857 Revolt - Jhansi 
Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, the widowed queen of Gangadhar Rao played a heroic role in this 
revolt.  Rani and Tantia Tope saw the capture of Gwalior. 
Sir Hugh Rose defeated Tantia Tope and stormed Jhansi on 3 April 1858. The Rani of Jhansi died 
as soldier on 17 June 1858.  Tantia Tope was captured and hanged on charges of rebellion and 
murder in the massacre of Kanpur. 
1857 Revolt - Bihar 
Kunwar Singh, a ruined and discontented zamindar of Jagdishpur near Oudh, was the chief 
organiser of the revolt in Bihar. Kunwar Singh sustained a fatal wound in the battle and died on 
27 April 1858 at Jagdishpur. 
1857 Revolt –Failure? 
Revolt of 1857 though completely suppressed had shaken the very foundations of British rule in 
India - Revolt exhibited the popular character.  It brought together the disgruntled sections of 
society to rise against the British rule. The common people rose up in arms often fighting with 
spears and axes, bows and arrows. Another significant aspect of the 1857 Revolt was the Hindu-
Muslim unity. 
Page 3


 
   
 
  
The events that led to the Revolt began on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore. Mangal Pandey (a 
sepoy) refused to use the greased cartridges and single-handedly attacked and killed his officer. 
He was hanged. The regiment to which he belonged was disbanded and sepoys guilty of 
rebellion punished. The British instead of diffusing the explosive situation, paved the way for a 
mighty crisis by the above act 
The Sepoys brokeout into open revolt a Meerut in April 1857. They refused to touch the 
greased cartridges. They were court martialled and sentenced to ten years rigorous 
imprisonment. The regiments in Meerut rose in open revolt on 10 May 1857. They broke and 
opened the prison. They released the imprisoned soldiers. Then they marched to Delhi on 11 
May and brought it under their control. They proclaimed the reluctant Bahadur Shah II, the old 
king of Delhi, as the Emperor. 
Very soon the rebellion spread throughout northern and central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, 
Kanpur, Banares, in parts of Bihar, Jhansi and other places. 
 
 
 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
1857 REVOLT 
 
 
 
   
 
1857 Revolt - Delhi 
The leadership at Delhi was nominally in the hands of Bahadur Shah II, but the real control was 
exercised by General Bakht Khan. On the side of the British the combined effort of Nicholson, 
Wilson, Baird Smith and Neville Chamberlain enabled the recapture Delhi by September 1857. In 
Delhi, Emperor Bahadur Shah II was arrested and deported to Rangoon(Burma or Myanmar), 
where he remained in exile till he died in 1862. 
1857 Revolt - Kanpur 
At Kanpur the revolt was led by Nana Saheb, adopted son of Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa. Nana 
Saheb expelled the English from Kanpur with the help of the sepoys and proclaimed himself the 
Peshwa. Supported by two Army Leaders one was Tantia Tope, the other was Azimullah. Kanpur 
was recaptured by the British commander Sir Colin Campbell. 
1857 Revolt - Lucknow 
The principal person responsible for the revolt in Lucknow was the Begum of Oudh - Begum 
Hazrat Mahal. After her husband Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been exiled to Calcutta, she took 
charge of the affairs in the state of Awadh and seized control of Lucknow 
With the assistance of the sepoys, the zamindars and peasants, the Begum organized revolt. Sir 
Colin Campbell, who suppressed the revolt. 
1857 Revolt - Jhansi 
Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, the widowed queen of Gangadhar Rao played a heroic role in this 
revolt.  Rani and Tantia Tope saw the capture of Gwalior. 
Sir Hugh Rose defeated Tantia Tope and stormed Jhansi on 3 April 1858. The Rani of Jhansi died 
as soldier on 17 June 1858.  Tantia Tope was captured and hanged on charges of rebellion and 
murder in the massacre of Kanpur. 
1857 Revolt - Bihar 
Kunwar Singh, a ruined and discontented zamindar of Jagdishpur near Oudh, was the chief 
organiser of the revolt in Bihar. Kunwar Singh sustained a fatal wound in the battle and died on 
27 April 1858 at Jagdishpur. 
1857 Revolt –Failure? 
Revolt of 1857 though completely suppressed had shaken the very foundations of British rule in 
India - Revolt exhibited the popular character.  It brought together the disgruntled sections of 
society to rise against the British rule. The common people rose up in arms often fighting with 
spears and axes, bows and arrows. Another significant aspect of the 1857 Revolt was the Hindu-
Muslim unity. 
 
   
 
The revolt failed to succeed due to effective suppression by the British. The various causes of 
failure are 
? Lack of unity and wide spread 
? Lack of Modern Weapons and Techniques 
? Lack of powerful Leadership 
Lack of unity and wide spread: There was no unity among the rebels. The ideas of nationalism 
and unity had not yet developed. There was no common purpose among the rebels.  
? The Sepoys of Bengal wanted to revive the medieval glories of the Mughals. 
? Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope tried to re-establish the Maratha power.  
? Rani Lakshmi Bai fought to regain her lost State.  
The revolt was not widespread. It took place only in the Northern and Central parts of India. 
Even Bombay, the Punjab, Sind, Rajastan and South India remained quiet.The British got the 
loyalty of the Sikhs, Afghans and the Gurkha regiments. The Gurkhas actually helped the British 
in suppressing the revolt. 
Lack of Modern Weapons and Techniques: The sepoys who joined with the civilians could not 
face the well organized and well-disciplined army of the British. The lack of resources both in 
trained men and money made the rebels to give up the struggle on many occasions.  The 
Telegraphic system and Postal communications helped the British to speed up their operations. 
Lack of powerful Leadership : There was lack of good leaders on the part of the Indians. There 
was no organization and planning. The rebel leaders were no match to the British Generals.  
Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope and Nana Saheb were courageous but they were not good 
generals. Finally the English mastery of the sea enabled them to get timely reinforcement from 
England. 
Results of the 1857 Revolt 
After the revolt, the English East India Company’s rule came to an 
end. The administration of India was taken over by the British Crown. 
By a special Act, both the Board of Directors and the Board of control 
were abolished. In their place the office of the Secretary of State for 
India was created. The Indian army was thoroughly reorganized. The 
policy of conquests in India was given up. 
Queen Victoria’s Proclamation 
British Parliament passed Government of India Act of 1858 - Act for 
the Good Government of India. It put an end to the rule of the East 
India Company. The British Crown took over the administration.  The Governor–General of India 
Page 4


 
   
 
  
The events that led to the Revolt began on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore. Mangal Pandey (a 
sepoy) refused to use the greased cartridges and single-handedly attacked and killed his officer. 
He was hanged. The regiment to which he belonged was disbanded and sepoys guilty of 
rebellion punished. The British instead of diffusing the explosive situation, paved the way for a 
mighty crisis by the above act 
The Sepoys brokeout into open revolt a Meerut in April 1857. They refused to touch the 
greased cartridges. They were court martialled and sentenced to ten years rigorous 
imprisonment. The regiments in Meerut rose in open revolt on 10 May 1857. They broke and 
opened the prison. They released the imprisoned soldiers. Then they marched to Delhi on 11 
May and brought it under their control. They proclaimed the reluctant Bahadur Shah II, the old 
king of Delhi, as the Emperor. 
Very soon the rebellion spread throughout northern and central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, 
Kanpur, Banares, in parts of Bihar, Jhansi and other places. 
 
 
 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
1857 REVOLT 
 
 
 
   
 
1857 Revolt - Delhi 
The leadership at Delhi was nominally in the hands of Bahadur Shah II, but the real control was 
exercised by General Bakht Khan. On the side of the British the combined effort of Nicholson, 
Wilson, Baird Smith and Neville Chamberlain enabled the recapture Delhi by September 1857. In 
Delhi, Emperor Bahadur Shah II was arrested and deported to Rangoon(Burma or Myanmar), 
where he remained in exile till he died in 1862. 
1857 Revolt - Kanpur 
At Kanpur the revolt was led by Nana Saheb, adopted son of Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa. Nana 
Saheb expelled the English from Kanpur with the help of the sepoys and proclaimed himself the 
Peshwa. Supported by two Army Leaders one was Tantia Tope, the other was Azimullah. Kanpur 
was recaptured by the British commander Sir Colin Campbell. 
1857 Revolt - Lucknow 
The principal person responsible for the revolt in Lucknow was the Begum of Oudh - Begum 
Hazrat Mahal. After her husband Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been exiled to Calcutta, she took 
charge of the affairs in the state of Awadh and seized control of Lucknow 
With the assistance of the sepoys, the zamindars and peasants, the Begum organized revolt. Sir 
Colin Campbell, who suppressed the revolt. 
1857 Revolt - Jhansi 
Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, the widowed queen of Gangadhar Rao played a heroic role in this 
revolt.  Rani and Tantia Tope saw the capture of Gwalior. 
Sir Hugh Rose defeated Tantia Tope and stormed Jhansi on 3 April 1858. The Rani of Jhansi died 
as soldier on 17 June 1858.  Tantia Tope was captured and hanged on charges of rebellion and 
murder in the massacre of Kanpur. 
1857 Revolt - Bihar 
Kunwar Singh, a ruined and discontented zamindar of Jagdishpur near Oudh, was the chief 
organiser of the revolt in Bihar. Kunwar Singh sustained a fatal wound in the battle and died on 
27 April 1858 at Jagdishpur. 
1857 Revolt –Failure? 
Revolt of 1857 though completely suppressed had shaken the very foundations of British rule in 
India - Revolt exhibited the popular character.  It brought together the disgruntled sections of 
society to rise against the British rule. The common people rose up in arms often fighting with 
spears and axes, bows and arrows. Another significant aspect of the 1857 Revolt was the Hindu-
Muslim unity. 
 
   
 
The revolt failed to succeed due to effective suppression by the British. The various causes of 
failure are 
? Lack of unity and wide spread 
? Lack of Modern Weapons and Techniques 
? Lack of powerful Leadership 
Lack of unity and wide spread: There was no unity among the rebels. The ideas of nationalism 
and unity had not yet developed. There was no common purpose among the rebels.  
? The Sepoys of Bengal wanted to revive the medieval glories of the Mughals. 
? Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope tried to re-establish the Maratha power.  
? Rani Lakshmi Bai fought to regain her lost State.  
The revolt was not widespread. It took place only in the Northern and Central parts of India. 
Even Bombay, the Punjab, Sind, Rajastan and South India remained quiet.The British got the 
loyalty of the Sikhs, Afghans and the Gurkha regiments. The Gurkhas actually helped the British 
in suppressing the revolt. 
Lack of Modern Weapons and Techniques: The sepoys who joined with the civilians could not 
face the well organized and well-disciplined army of the British. The lack of resources both in 
trained men and money made the rebels to give up the struggle on many occasions.  The 
Telegraphic system and Postal communications helped the British to speed up their operations. 
Lack of powerful Leadership : There was lack of good leaders on the part of the Indians. There 
was no organization and planning. The rebel leaders were no match to the British Generals.  
Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope and Nana Saheb were courageous but they were not good 
generals. Finally the English mastery of the sea enabled them to get timely reinforcement from 
England. 
Results of the 1857 Revolt 
After the revolt, the English East India Company’s rule came to an 
end. The administration of India was taken over by the British Crown. 
By a special Act, both the Board of Directors and the Board of control 
were abolished. In their place the office of the Secretary of State for 
India was created. The Indian army was thoroughly reorganized. The 
policy of conquests in India was given up. 
Queen Victoria’s Proclamation 
British Parliament passed Government of India Act of 1858 - Act for 
the Good Government of India. It put an end to the rule of the East 
India Company. The British Crown took over the administration.  The Governor–General of India 
 
   
 
was also called as Viceroy. It meant the representative of the Crown. Queen Victoria was the 
ruler of Britain at that time. A proclamation was issued in her name. Lord Canning, the Viceroy 
read it out at a Durbar held at Allahabad on 1 November 1858. 
The Queen’s Proclamation is described as the Magna Carta of the Indian people. It assured 
some privileges to Indians.  
? Earlier treaties of East India Company with the Princes.  
? The right of adoption was given to the Indian princes. The policy of annexation was 
ended.  
? All Indians would be eligible to enter the administrative services on the basis of their 
education and ability, irrespective of race and creed. 
? Unconditional pardon was granted to the rebels except those who had been responsible 
for the murder of the British during the revolt.