When People Revolt

Policies and the People

Nawabs lose their power

• Since the mid-eighteenth century, nawabs and rajas gradually lost their authority and honour.
• Residents were stationed in their courts, reducing their freedom.
• Their armed forces were disbanded, and revenues and territories were taken away step by step.
• Many ruling families tried to negotiate with the Company, but were ignored.
• In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh.
• In 1856, Awadh was taken over to ensure "proper administration".
• In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal emperor.

The peasants and the sepoys

• Peasants and zamindars were angry due to high taxes and harsh revenue collection methods.
• Many peasants lost their lands after failing to repay loans to moneylenders.
• Indian sepoys were unhappy with pay, allowances, and service conditions.

→ New rules hurt their religious beliefs, like crossing the sea meaning loss of caste and religion.

→ Sepoys were influenced by peasants’ anger and grievances.

Responses to reforms

• Laws were passed to abolish sati and allow widow remarriage.
• English-language education was promoted.
• Christian missionaries were allowed to function freely and own property.
• In 1850, a law allowed Indian converts to Christianity to inherit ancestral property.

Through the Eyes of the People

A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Rebellion

• In May 1857, a massive rebellion broke out, threatening Company rule.
• Started with sepoy mutiny in Meerut, but soon included people from many sections of society.

From Meerut to Delhi

• On 29 March 1857, Mangal Pandey was hanged for attacking officers at Barrackpore.
• At Meerut, sepoys refused to use cartridges suspected to be greased with cow and pig fat.
• On 9 May, 85 sepoys were jailed for 10 years for disobedience.
• On 10 May, soldiers freed their comrades, killed British officers, and declared war on the British.
• On 11 May, Meerut sepoys reached Delhi and were joined by the local regiments.

→ They entered the Red Fort and declared Bahadur Shah Zafar their leader.

→ Zafar accepted and wrote to all rulers to form a confederacy to fight the British.

The rebellion spreads

• Regiments from various regions mutinied and joined forces in places like Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
• People from villages and towns joined, led by zamindars and local leaders.

→ Key leaders included:

• Nana Saheb in Kanpur
• Birjis Qadr in Lucknow
• Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi
• Kunwar Singh in Bihar
• Bakht Khan in Bareilly

→ The rebels defeated British forces in several places.

The Company Fights Back

• British reinforcements arrived from England.
• New laws made it easier to punish rebels.
• British forces reoccupied storm centres one by one.

→ In September 1857, Delhi was recaptured.

→ Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried and sent to Rangoon with his wife Zinat Mahal in October 1858.

→ He died in prison in November 1862.

→ Lucknow was taken in March 1858.

→ Rani Lakshmibai was killed in June 1858.

→ Tantia Tope was captured and executed in April 1859.

• To win loyalty, the British rewarded loyal landholders with rights over their land.
• Hundreds of rebels and leaders were tried and executed.

Aftermath

• By end of 1859, British control over India was restored.
• Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown.

→ A Secretary of State in British Cabinet was appointed for Indian governance.

• Ruling chiefs were promised no more annexation and allowed to pass kingdoms to heirs (even adopted sons).
• Indian rulers remained subordinates to the British Crown.
• Indian soldiers in the army were reduced; European soldiers increased.
• Muslims’ property was widely confiscated and they were treated with hostility.
• British pledged to respect Indian religious and social customs.
• Landlords and zamindars were given security of land rights.

MCQs

1. In what way did the Christian missionaries help the British East India Company? From the statements given below, choose the one that is not TRUE with respect to the missionaries.

(a) The Christian missionaries functioned freely and even owned land and property.

(b) The Christian missionaries did not encourage education of women.

(c) An Indian converted to Christianity could inherit the property of ancestors

(d) The Christian missionaries converted the people as Christians

► (b) The Christian missionaries did not encourage education of women.

2. Which one of the following options is derived from the Persian word Sipah meaning infantry soldier?

(a) Soldier

(b) Commander in chief

(c) Warrior

(d) Sepoy

► (d) Sepoy

3. Which one of the following best describes a Resident with respect to British India?

(a) An official who administers oath to the soldiers.

(b) A local money lender collecting revenue

(c) A senior British Government administrative official positioned in a local place and controlling the happenings of the kingdom.

(d) A local landlord to keep a check on the land revenue

► (c) A senior British Government administrative official positioned in a local place and controlling the happenings of the kingdom.

4. Name the Indian soldier who tried to rebel against the British at Barrackpore, but was arrested and hanged to death on 8th April 1857.

(a) Nana Saheb

(b) Bahadur Shah Zafar

(c) Tantia Tope

(d) Mangal Pandey

► (d) Mangal Pandey

5. What was the new amendment in the law in 1856 passed by the East India Company?

(a) Every new person who took up employment in the Company's army had to agree to serve overseas if required.

(b) Every new person who took up employment in the Company's army will be paid only a low salary

(c) Every new person who took up employment in the Company's army had to collect the revenues set by the British.

(d) Every new person who took up employment in the Company's army had to pay a tax.

► (a) Every new person who took up employment in the Company's army had to agree to serve overseas if required.

6. By the mid 18th century, what actually happened to the Nawabs and Rajas in India?

(a) The East India Company started constructing their empire with the help of Nawabs and Rajas.

(b) They lost their authority and honour, residents stationed in many kingdoms

(c) They became more popular and extended their kingdom

(d) Many Nawabs and Rajas were dead after a major war with the British.

► (b) They lost their authority and honour, residents stationed in many kingdoms

7. Who was Subedar Sitaram Pande?

(a) Sitaram Pande was a sepoy who attacked Lieutenant Baugh with a sword and almost killed him

(b) Sitaram Pande was a Resident appointed by the British in the Bengal region.

(c) Sitaram Pande was the self proclaimed ruler who pleaded with the British to give his father's pension when the latter died.

(d) Sitaram Pande was a sepoy who helped the British to suppress the rebellion even though his own son was killed by the British in front of his eyes.

► (d) Sitaram Pande was a sepoy who helped the British to suppress the rebellion even though his own son was killed by the British in front of his eyes.

8. Name the ruler of Kanpur who called himself Peshwa?

(a) Nana Saheb

(b) Balaji Rao I

(c) Baji Rao II

(d) Bahadur Shah Zafar

► (a) Nana Saheb

9. What did the East India Company do from the coins minted by the Company?

(a) The name of the Mughal emperor was removed from the coins.

(b) The name India was removed from the coins

(c) The name of the Governor general was removed from the coins

(d) The name of the British King was removed from the coins

► (a) The name of the Mughal emperor was removed from the coins.

10. Name the able commander-in-chief of Nana Saheb who led the revolt in Kanpur.

(a) Maulvi Ahmadullah

(b) Tantia Tope

(c) Bahadur Shah Zafar

(d) Mangal Pandey

► (b) Tantia Tope

11. In 1824, when the sepoys were asked to go to Burma by sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order. Why?

(a) It was widely believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste.

(b) There was a belief that the sepoys will not be paid if they go to Burma.

(c) It was believed that Burma was a non-friendly country and hence did not welcome foreigners.

(d) It was widely believed that they were taken as prisoners and will be put in a jail there.

► (a) It was widely believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste.

12. A sequence of events that happened on 9 May 1857 are given below in a jumbled up order. Pick up the correct order from the given set of statements.

(i) Other soldiers stationed at Meerut revolted and British officers release the imprisoned soldiers.

(ii) A group of soldiers mutinied and walked out of their military barracks

(iii) The released soldiers kill the British officers and after marching to Delhi proclaim the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India

(iv) The soldiers were dismissed and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for refusing to use the greased cartridges

(a) (ii), (iv), (iii), (i)

(b) (i), (ii), (iv), (iii)

(c) (iii), (iv), (i), (iii)

(d) (ii), (iv), (i), (iii)

► (d) (ii), (iv), (i), (iii)

13. Who helped Colin Campbell to rescue the British holed up in the residency of Lucknow?

(a) Kunwar Singh

(b) Nana Saheb

(c) Bahadur Shah Zafar

(d) Gurkha regiment

► (d) Gurkha regiment

14. Who wrote the book Majhe Pravaas?

(a) Lalu Bakshi

(b) Bayjabai Shinde

(c) Vishnubhatt Godse

(d) Moropant Tambe

► (c) Vishnubhatt Godse

15. In 1856, which Governor General decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal King and none of his descendants would be recognized as Kings hereafter?

(a) Lord Cornwallis

(b) Lord Canning

(c) Warren Hastings

(d) William Bentick

► (b) Lord Canning

16. Why did the countryside peasants and zamindars resent the British?

(a) They resented the British colonization.

(b) They resented the Succession policy of the British

(c) They resented the racial discrimination policy of the British by denying high rank jobs to Indians

(d) They resented high taxes and the rigid methods of revenue collection and many lost the lands to the money lenders.

► (d) They resented high taxes and the rigid methods of revenue collection and many lost the lands to the money lenders.

17. What did Lord Dalhousie announce after the death of King Bahadur Shah Zafar?

(a) The British set fire to the royal palace and killed all the family members.

(b) The family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place to live in.

(c) The family members were imprisoned and Company annexed the state of Delhi

(d) The family can continue staying in Red Fort and his son would be crowned as the next king

► (b) The family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place to live in.

18. Among the following Residents of British India, who was forced to take refuge in a residency and killed by the forces of Begum Hazrat Mahal?

(a) John Nicholson

(b) Sir Henry Lawrence

(c) John Lawrence

(d) Henry Havelock

► (b) Sir Henry Lawrence