The Spread of Rebellion | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

The Spread of Rebellion

After the British were defeated in Delhi, it took nearly a week for news to spread. Soon, a wave of mutinies erupted.

Spread of Rebellion

• Regiment after regiment revolted and joined forces at key locations like Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
• People in towns and villages also rose against the British, rallying around local leaders, zamindars, and chiefs who wanted to assert their authority.
• Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao living near Kanpur, gathered troops and drove the British from the city, declaring himself Peshwa under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.
• In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was named the new Nawab and recognised Bahadur Shah Zafar's authority.
• His mother, Begum Hazrat Mahal, actively helped organise the resistance against the British.
• In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the sepoys and fought alongside Tantia Tope, Nana Saheb's general.

Widespread Rebellion

• The British encountered strong resistance from the rebel forces, suffering defeats in several battles.
• This led many to believe that British rule had completely collapsed, encouraging popular uprisings, especially in Awadh.

Rise of New Leaders

• New leaders emerged, such as Ahmadullah Shah, a maulvi from Faizabad, who inspired many and raised a large force to fight the British in Lucknow.
• In Delhi, many ghazis, or religious warriors, gathered to eliminate the British.
• Bakht Khan, a soldier from Bareilly, led a significant force in Delhi, becoming a crucial military leader in the rebellion.
• In Bihar, Kunwar Singh, an older zamindar, joined the sepoys and battled the British for months.
• Leaders and fighters from across India united in the struggle.

The Company Fights Back

Counterattack: Alarmed by the uprising, the Company decided to suppress the revolt aggressively.

• They brought reinforcements from England and enacted new laws to easily convict rebels.
• Delhi was retaken from the rebels in September 1857.

Arrest of The Last Mughal Emperor

• Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment.
• His sons were executed in front of him, and he was imprisoned with his wife, Begum Zinat Mahal, in Rangoon in October 1858.
• Zafar died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862.

Long Battle

• Recapturing Delhi did not end the rebellion; people continued to resist.
• The British fought for two years to quell the widespread uprising.
• Lucknow fell in March 1858, and Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858.
• Tantia Tope escaped to central India, waging a guerrilla war with support from tribal and peasant leaders.
• He was eventually captured, tried, and executed in April 1859.

Shifting Loyalties

• Victories against the British had previously encouraged rebellions, but defeats now led to desertions.
• The British sought to regain the loyalty of the people by offering rewards to loyal landholders.
• They assured that their territories would not be annexed.
• Rebels were promised safety if they submitted and had not killed any British.
• Despite this, many sepoys, rebels, nawabs, and rajas were tried and executed.

Aftermath

By the end of 1859, the British had regained control, but they could no longer rule as they had before.

Important Changes Introduced by the British

• The British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 transferring powers from the East India Company to the British Crown for better management of Indian affairs.
• A British Cabinet member was appointed as Secretary of State for India, responsible for governance, with an advisory council called the India Council.
• The Governor-General was now titled Viceroy, representing the Crown directly.
• Ruling chiefs were assured their territories would not be annexed and could pass their kingdoms to their heirs, but they had to recognise the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.
• The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced, increasing the number of European soldiers, with a shift in recruitment focus to Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans.
• The British confiscated many Muslim properties, suspecting them of being significantly involved in the uprising.
• They decided to respect local religious and social customs.
• Policies were implemented to protect landlords and zamindars, securing their rights over their lands.

Historical Context After 1857

• All ruling chiefs were reassured that their territories would not be annexed in the future.
• They could pass their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons.
• However, they had to acknowledge the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.
• This meant Indian rulers had to hold their kingdoms as subordinates to the British Crown.

Changes in the Army Composition

• The number of Indian soldiers in the army would be reduced.
• More European soldiers would be recruited.
• Recruitment would focus on Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans, rather than soldiers from Awadh, Bihar, and central and southern India.

Impact on the Muslim Community

• The land and property of Muslims were largely confiscated.
• They were treated with suspicion and hostility.
• The British viewed them as significantly responsible for the uprising.
• Referring to it merely as a ‘Paik Uprising’ would be an understatement.

Respect for Cultural Practices

• The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the Indian people.

Protection Policies for Landlords

• Policies were established to protect landlords and zamindars.
• These policies aimed to ensure their rights over their lands.