Difference between revisions of "First War of Indian Independence" - New World Encyclopedia

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The Indian rebellions of 1857 (also known as the Sepoy Mutiny) as known to the British or The First War Of Indian Independence as known to the Indians was a period of uprising in northern and central India against British rule in 1857-1858. It is also known as the Sepoy Rebellion, the Great Mutiny, and the Revolt of 1857. It is widely acknowledged to be the first-ever united rebellion against colonial rule in India.  [[Mangal Pandey]], a Sepoy in the colonial British army, was the spearhead of this revolt.
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The Indian rebellions of 1857 usually referred to by the British as either the Indian Mutiny or as the Sepoy Mutiny but by Indians as The First War Of Indian Independence was a period of uprising in northern and central India against British power in 1857-1858. The term 'mutiny' is appropriate in that the revolt started when Indian soldiers rebelled against their British officers but is inappropriate as a description of the wider rebellion in which many Indians who were not serving under the British participated, and to which the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] lent nominal leadershop.  Technically, the British exercised power as agents of the Moghul Emperor, thus sovereignty was still vested in the Emperor, who could not mutiny against himself. It is widely acknowledged to be the first-ever united rebellion against colonial rule in India.  [[Mangal Pandey]], a Sepoy in the colonial British army, was the spearhead of this revolt. Other main leaders were Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Tantia Tope.  The result of the uprising was that the British felt that they had conquered India, and were entitled to rule.  The Moghul Emperor was banished and Queen [[Victoria of the United Kingdom]] was declared sovereign.  The [[British East India Company]] that had represented the British Government in India, and which acted as agent of the Moghuls, was wound up and repalced by direct control from London through a Governor-General.  Prior to the revolt, some British officials in India saw Indians as equals and dreamt of a long-term partnership between Britain and India to the benefit of both.  Such offials had a symapathetic knowledge of Indian languages and culture.  Subsequently, fewer officials saw value in anything India and many developed a sense of racial superiority, depicting India as a chaotic and dangerous place where the different communities, especially Muslim and Hindu, were only kept from butchering one another by Britain's exercise of power. The rebellion was widely perceived to have been a mainly Muslim uprising, although prominent Hindus also participated.  However, Muslims espcially would find themselves less favored following this incident, with a few exceptions. India's eventual partition into India and Pakistan, based on the 'two nation' theory that her Hindus and Muslims represented two distinct nations whose people could not live together in peace, may be seen as a long-term result of the uprising.
Other main leaders were Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Tantia Tope
 
  
 
== Causes of the Revolt ==
 
== Causes of the Revolt ==
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Prior to the revolt, it is stricrly speaking inaccurate to speak of British rule in India.  The legal status of the East India Company was as agent of the Moghul Emperor with taxation powers and trading privileges.  De facto, however, within the Province of Bengal, they operated as the Government and indeed the senior British offical was entitled "Governor of Bengal". Through a series of treaties with surrounding Indian princes and rulers, the Company extended its power throughout huge tracts of Indian territory.  One cause of the revolt was the Company's policy of annexing Princely states with which they enjoyed a treaty relationship when they decided that the ruler was corrupt, or because they did not recognize the heir to the throne (such as an adopted son, who could succeed under Hindu law but not British law). There was also a rumor that Britain intended to flood India with Christian missionaries, and that pork and beef grease was being used to oil the new Enfield rifle that had been issued to the Indian troops. The latter appears to have been what motivated both Hindu and Muslim sepoys (that is, Indian soldiers of the Company) to revolt.
  
The establishment of the British rule in India had Political, Social and Military consequences.
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In the year 1857, the British Army inducted a new type of rifle, the Enfield, whose cartridge was said to be greased in cow and pig fat. Hindus consider the Cow a sacred animal and rerain from eating beef, while Muslims Consider it an offense to consume pork. The entire Indian faction of the British Army rose in rebellion against the British. Soon, the flames spread and it turned into a full- fledged rebellion.
The Indians had no say in the Government of their own country.They were exploited by the British East India Company, which ignored the miserable conditions of the Indian peasants, while exploiting the rich natural resources of the country to pursue other imperialistic ventures.
 
Although the Indians formed a great part of the British Army,they were given lower positions and payscales than their British counterparts.
 
In the year 1857, the British Army inducted a new type of rifle, the Enfield, whose cartridge was said to be greased in cow and pig fat. Hindus consider the Cow a sacred animal and rerain from eating beef, while Muslims Consider it an offense to consume pork. The entire Indian faction of the British Army rose in rebellion against the British. Soon, the flames spread and it turned into a full- fledged rebellion.  
 
 
 
  
 
== Failure of the Revolt ==
 
== Failure of the Revolt ==
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However, it did shake up the British, who then brought India directly under the Queen's rule, and introduced several reforms.     
 
However, it did shake up the British, who then brought India directly under the Queen's rule, and introduced several reforms.     
  
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[[Category:History]]
 
[[Category:History]]
  
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Revision as of 19:59, 17 January 2007


The Indian rebellions of 1857 usually referred to by the British as either the Indian Mutiny or as the Sepoy Mutiny but by Indians as The First War Of Indian Independence was a period of uprising in northern and central India against British power in 1857-1858. The term 'mutiny' is appropriate in that the revolt started when Indian soldiers rebelled against their British officers but is inappropriate as a description of the wider rebellion in which many Indians who were not serving under the British participated, and to which the Mughal Emperor lent nominal leadershop. Technically, the British exercised power as agents of the Moghul Emperor, thus sovereignty was still vested in the Emperor, who could not mutiny against himself. It is widely acknowledged to be the first-ever united rebellion against colonial rule in India. Mangal Pandey, a Sepoy in the colonial British army, was the spearhead of this revolt. Other main leaders were Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Tantia Tope. The result of the uprising was that the British felt that they had conquered India, and were entitled to rule. The Moghul Emperor was banished and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was declared sovereign. The British East India Company that had represented the British Government in India, and which acted as agent of the Moghuls, was wound up and repalced by direct control from London through a Governor-General. Prior to the revolt, some British officials in India saw Indians as equals and dreamt of a long-term partnership between Britain and India to the benefit of both. Such offials had a symapathetic knowledge of Indian languages and culture. Subsequently, fewer officials saw value in anything India and many developed a sense of racial superiority, depicting India as a chaotic and dangerous place where the different communities, especially Muslim and Hindu, were only kept from butchering one another by Britain's exercise of power. The rebellion was widely perceived to have been a mainly Muslim uprising, although prominent Hindus also participated. However, Muslims espcially would find themselves less favored following this incident, with a few exceptions. India's eventual partition into India and Pakistan, based on the 'two nation' theory that her Hindus and Muslims represented two distinct nations whose people could not live together in peace, may be seen as a long-term result of the uprising.

Causes of the Revolt

Prior to the revolt, it is stricrly speaking inaccurate to speak of British rule in India. The legal status of the East India Company was as agent of the Moghul Emperor with taxation powers and trading privileges. De facto, however, within the Province of Bengal, they operated as the Government and indeed the senior British offical was entitled "Governor of Bengal". Through a series of treaties with surrounding Indian princes and rulers, the Company extended its power throughout huge tracts of Indian territory. One cause of the revolt was the Company's policy of annexing Princely states with which they enjoyed a treaty relationship when they decided that the ruler was corrupt, or because they did not recognize the heir to the throne (such as an adopted son, who could succeed under Hindu law but not British law). There was also a rumor that Britain intended to flood India with Christian missionaries, and that pork and beef grease was being used to oil the new Enfield rifle that had been issued to the Indian troops. The latter appears to have been what motivated both Hindu and Muslim sepoys (that is, Indian soldiers of the Company) to revolt.

In the year 1857, the British Army inducted a new type of rifle, the Enfield, whose cartridge was said to be greased in cow and pig fat. Hindus consider the Cow a sacred animal and rerain from eating beef, while Muslims Consider it an offense to consume pork. The entire Indian faction of the British Army rose in rebellion against the British. Soon, the flames spread and it turned into a full- fledged rebellion.

Failure of the Revolt

The Revolt of 1857 proved to be a failure, as it was confined only to the Northern Part of the country, and was not well synchronised. However, it did shake up the British, who then brought India directly under the Queen's rule, and introduced several reforms.


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