Chapter 1: The First War of Independence, 1857

Introduction

• British conquest and rule in India led to resentment among Indians.
• Frequent local revolts before 1857, but they were scattered and isolated.
• Culmination in the First War of Independence in 1857, involving millions of peasants, artisans, and soldiers.

Causes of the First War of Independence

• Period of British dominance: 1757-1857.
• British policies negatively impacted Indian society:
  • Displacement of ruling classes.
  • Peasant deprivation of land rights.
  • Artisans lost livelihoods.
  • Exclusion of Indians from higher administrative posts.
  • Cultural/religious practitioners lost patrons as Indian rulers lost authority.
  • Discontent among Indian soldiers due to low pay and poor treatment.
• Accumulated grievances exploded into a mass uprising by 1857.

Types of Causes

• Political Causes
• Socio-religious Causes
• Economic Causes
• Military Causes

Political Causes

Policy of Expansion

• Continuous British territorial expansion since the Battle of Plassey (1757).
• Various methods:
  • Outright wars (e.g., Battle of Buxar, Anglo-Mysore Wars, Third Anglo-Maratha War).
  • Subsidiary Alliance (introduced by Lord Wellesley): Indian rulers gave up autonomy and financial control in exchange for British protection.
  • Doctrine of Lapse (implemented by Lord Dalhousie): Territories without legitimate heirs were annexed (e.g., Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur).
  • Pretext of misrule (e.g., annexation of Awadh in 1856).

Disrespect Shown to Bahadur Shah

• Restrictions and eventual removal of imperial titles hurt Muslim sentiments.

Treatment of Key Figures

• Nana Sahib's denied pension, estrangement from Pune.
• Rani Lakshmi Bai's denied heir under Doctrine of Lapse.
• Wider resentment among Indian rulers.

Absentee Sovereignty

• British rule from England felt detached and exploitative; revenues drained to England.

Socio-religious Causes

Interference with Social Customs

• Reforms like abolition of Sati (1829), Widow Remarriage Act (1856), and education for girls were unpopular.

Apprehensions about Modern Innovations

• Introduction of railways and telegraphs misunderstood and led to rumors undermining caste and religious structures.

Reality of Racial Discrimination

• British officers exhibited racism and arrogance.
• Muslims especially targeted as unfaithful and cruel.
• Racial discrimination led to alienation from British rule.