SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857

Hello Viewers Today’s We are going to Share SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857 Solutions in English Medium. SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857 Notes PDF Download. SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857 Question Answer. Which you Can Buy PDF Notes SEBA Class 9 Elective History Extra Solutions PDF Download for using direct Download Link Given Below in This Post.

SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857

Today’s We have Shared in This Post SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 5 The Revolt of 1857. NCERT Class 9 Elective History Extra Question Answer in English. I Hope, you Liked The information CBSE Class 9th Elective History Additional Notes. If you liked SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Solutions then Please Do Share this Post With your Friends as Well.

The Revolt of 1857

ADDITIONAL QUESTION ANSWER

[A] VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. When did Vasco da-Gama reach Calicut in India? 

Ans. Vasco-da-Gama reached Calicut in India in 1498.

2. Which battles sealed the fate of French power in India? 

Ans. The Carnatic wars fought between the British and the French sealed the fate of the French in India.

3. Who is considered to the founder of British rule in India?

Ans. Robert Clive is considered to be the founder of British rule in India.

4. Which battle laid the foundation of British rule in India? 

Ans. The British victory in the battle of Plassey in 1757 laid the foundation of British rule in India.

5. Which Indian rulers fought against the British in the battle of Buxar in 1764?

Ans. The Indian rulers who fought against the British in the battle of Buxar in 1764 were Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab Shuja- ud-Daula of Oudh and the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II.

6. When did the battle of Buxar take place? 

Ans. The battle of Buxar took place in the year 1764.

7. Which Governor-General introduced Subsidiary alliance? 

Ans. Lord Wellesley introduced Subsidiary alliance.

8. Which Governor-General contributed most for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. Lord Dalhousie contributed most for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857. 

9. Which act made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India?

Ans. The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India.

10. Who was the first Governor-General of India? 

Ans. Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India

11. Which governor-general introduced the policy of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’?

Ans. Lord Dalhousie introduced the policy of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.

12. Who was Nana Saheb? 

Ans. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of Baji Rao II of Marathas.

13. Name two states which were annexed by Lord Dalhousie on the grounds of maladministration.

 Ans. Lord Dalhousie annexed the states of Oudh and Berar on the grounds of maladministration.

14. When was Assam occupied by the British? 

Ans. Assam was occupied by the British in 1826 by the treaty of Yandaboo. 

15. When did the British end the rule of Ahom kings in Assam?

Ans. The British ended the rule of Ahom kings in Assam in 1838. 

16. Who and when displaced the Nawab of Oudh?

Ans. The Nawab of Oudh was displaced by Lord Dalhousie in 1856.

17. Name a British Governor-General who introduced several social reforms in India?

Ans. Lord William Bentinck introduced several social reforms in India. 

18. Which cause is considered to be the most important cause for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The economic cause is considered to be the most important cause for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857.

19. Which Governor-General introduced Permanent Settlement in Bengal? 

Ans. Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement in Bengal.

20. What led to the exploitation of ryots of Bengal? 

Ans. The introduction of Permanent Settlement in Bengal led to the exploitation of ryots in Bengal.

21. What was the immediate cause for the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The immediate cause for the revolt of 1857 was the order to use greased cartridges.

22. When and where did the revolt of 1857 begin?

Ans. The revolt of 1857 began at Meerut on 9th May, 1857.

23.. When was Bahadur Shah declared the emperor of Hindustan?

Ans. Bahadur Shah II was declared the emperor of Hindustan by the Sepoys in the midnight of 11th May, 1857. 

24. Who organised the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?

Ans. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Baji Rao II organised the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur.

25. Name the British military officers who captured Kanpur from the rebels during the revolt of 1857?

Ans. General Havelock and Col. Nail captured Kanpur from the rebels during the revolt of 1857.

26. Who was the main leader of the revolt of 1857 in Oudh?

Ans. The main leader of the revolt of 1857 in Oudh was Hajrat Mahal.

27. Who helped Hajrat Mahal in her fight against the British during the Sepoy Mutiny? 

Ans. Maulavi Ahmadullah of Faizabad helped Hajrat Mahal during her fight against the British during the Sepoy Mutiny.

28. What was the distance between Meerut and Delhi? 

Ans. The distance between Meerut and Delhi was 65 km.

29. Who was Konwar Singh? 

Ans. Konwar Singh was the ex-zamindar of Jagadishpur in Bihar.

30. In which battle was Konwar Singh defeated by the British?

Ans. Konwar Singh was defeated by the British in the battle of Arhar.

31. Who was the leader of the revolt of 1857 in Central India? 

Ans. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi was the leader of the revolt of 1857 in Central India.

32. Name two individuals who helped Rani Lamxi Bai of Jhansi in her fight against the British. 

Ans. Tantia Tope and Shadjada Firoz Shah helped Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi in her fight against the British. 

33. Who was Kadir?

Ans. Kadir was the son of Begum Hajrat Mahal.

34. Who was the chief organiser of the revolt of 1857 in Assam? 

Ans. Maniram Dewan was the chief organiser of the revolt of 1857 in Assam.

35. When did Maulavi Ahmadullah die?

Ans. Maulavi Ahmadullah died in June, 1858. 

36. How long did the Ahoms rule Assam?

Ans. Ahoms ruled Assam for about 600 years. 

37. Name the Ahom prince who rose against the British in 1828.

Ans. An Ahom prince named Gomdhar Konwar rose against the British in 1828.

38. Who was Kandarpeswar Singha?

Ans. Kandarpeswar Singha was the grandson of Purandar Singha, the Ahom ruler.

39. When was Maniram Dewan and Peoli Borua were hanged to death by the British? 

Ans. Maniram Dewan and Peoli Borua were hanged on 26th February, 1858.

40. Who and when described the revolt of 1857 as ‘planned war of national independence’? 

Ans. In 1909, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar described the revolt of 1857 as ‘planned war of national independence’.

41. When did the British government directly take over the administration of India?

Ans. The British government took over the administration of India on 2nd August 1858.

42. When did the rule of East India Company in India come to an end?

Ans. The rule of East India Company in India came to an end on 2nd August 1858. 

43. Who formed the ‘Indian Association’ and when was it formed?

Ans. Surendranath Banerjee formed the ‘Indian Association’ in 1876.

44. What administrative policy was followed by the British after the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. The British followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’ after the revolt of 1857.

45. Which Indian described the revolt of 1857 as ‘ planned war of national independence’?

Ans. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar described the revolt of 1857 as ‘planned war of national independence.”

[B] SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What is the importance of the arrival of Vasco-da-Gama to India in 1498?

Ans. The landing of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut in India in 1498 is a landmark event because it opened the sea route via the Cape of Good Hope of Africa to India. It marks the beginning of the colonisation of India by various powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, French and the English. It boosted European trade and commerce while India was drained of its wealth leading to numerous socio-economic problems in the country. 

2. What is the importance of the British victory at Plassey in 1757?

Ans. The British victory at Plassey in 1757 is an important event as it laid the foundation of British rule in India. It made East India company a political power. Their victory in Bengal enabled them to gather immense wealth and with the help of this wealth they were able to conquer the rest of India.

3. How did Governor General Lord Canning enter Delhi? 

Ans. On 14th September, 1857, with the help of Brigadier Nicholson and British General Archdale Wilson, Governor General Lord Canning entered Delhi through the door of Kashmir.

4. When was Assam occupied by the British? When did they completely take over the administration of Assam?

Ans. The British occupied Assam by the treaty of Yandaboo signed on 26th Feb.1826. They initially established their rule in lower Assam and installed an Ahom king in upper Assam. However in 1838, the Ahom king was deposed and the British completely took over the administration of Assam into their hands.

5. Name some of the social reforms introduced by the British. Name the British Governor-general who was noted for the introduction of such reforms.

Ans. The British introduced some noteworthy social reforms such as abolition of sati system, abolition of child marriage, banning of female infanticide, introduction of widow remarriage, etc. Lord William Bentinck was noted for the introduction of many of such social reforms.

6. Who was Maffat Mills? Why was he sent to Assam?

Ans. Maffat Mills was a British officer who was sent to Assam to make a report on the socio-economic condition of the region about which the British did not have much idea. He submitted his report which gave a detailed description of the socio-economic condition of Assam during that period. 

7. Mention some of the literary contributions of Maniram Dewan.

Ans. Maniram Dewan was a great literary figure of Assam. He is famous for his books such as Buranji-Vivek-Ratna’. ‘Barabhuyan-Charitra’, Bhakta Pradip’ etc. He also helped Anandaram Dhekialphukan to publish his book ‘Asomia Lorar Mitra’. He also helped the publication of another famous Assamese work named ‘Arunodoy’.

8. What were the main demands of Maniram Dewan to the British?

Ans. The main demands of Maniram Dewan to the British were the following:

(i) He wanted to obtain the same economic concessions which the European Tea planters obtained from the government.

(ii) He wanted a reduction in the revenue of Rs. 500/- which he had to pay to the government. 

(iii) He wanted the replacement of British administration with the old Ahom administration.

9. How did the planned revolt of Maniram Dewan against the British end? 

Ans. The planned revolt of Maniram Dewan and his friends against the British could not materialise. Before they could do it the British came to know about it. A certain police daroga named Haranath Parvatia Borua captured one of the secret letters written by Maniram to Kandarpeswar Singha outlining the action-plan of the revolt against the British. Both Maniram Dewan and Peoli Borua were caught and hanged to death on 26th Feb. 1858. Many of the other leaders were imprisoned for life. Some of them were sent to Kalapani prison in the Andaman islands.

10. What are the different views regarding the nature of the revolt of 1857?

Ans. There are three views regarding the nature of the revolt of 1857. 

These are the following:

(i) It was a war of independence.

(ii) It was a Sepoy mutiny. 

(iii) It was neither a war of independence nor Sepoy mutiny. It got its importance only during the later stage.

11. What are the reasons given to support the view that the revolt of 1857 was the first War of Indian independence?

Ans. A majority of the Indian historians are of the view that the revolt of 1857 was basically a war of Indian independence. Vir Savarkar, Ashok Mehta, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, etc. strongly supported this view. 

The following arguments have been put forward in support of this view:

(i) The uprising could not have spread so fast and so rapidly had not the general public supported it.

(ii) In the revolt, both the Muslims and Hindus joined hands to oust the British.

(iii) At some places even women put on men’s attire and took part in the fighting. 

(iv) The trial of thousands of civilians after the end of the revolt shows that it was a general uprising.

12. What are the reasons given to support the view that the revolt of 1857 was a merely a Sepoy mutiny?

Ans. Historians such as John Lawrence, Kaye, Malleson, Trevelyan, P.E. Roberts, John Seeley etc. have called the revolt as a mutiny of Sepoys. 

The following reasons have been put forward to support this view:

(i) The mutiny was spearheaded mostly by Sepoys. They formed the bulk of the mutineers. 

(ii) Wherever the mutiny spread it was led by the Sepoys. They were in the forefront of the agitation.

(iii) It was the Sepoys who made Bahadur Shah II the new emperor of India. 

(iv) During the mutiny, there seems to have been a council of soldiers headed by Bakht Khan. This council tried to organise the revolt on All-India-basis.

12. What are the arguments given to support the view that the revolt of 1857 was not a Sepoy mutiny alone?

Ans. Many historians refuse to accept the fact that the revolt of 1857 was purely a mutiny of the Sepoys. Unquestionably, the revolt began as a military uprising, but it was not everywhere confined to the army alone. Soon the leadership passed into the civilian hands which played a major and positive role in the uprising. In fact, the rebels came from almost every section of the population. The trial of thousands of ordinary men and women during 1858-59 shows that the mutineers were not Sepoys alone.

4. Name some of the individuals and states that remained loyal to the British during the revolt of 1857. 

Ans. During the revolt of 1857 many individuals and regions remained loyal to the British. This included Golab Singh, the king of Kashmir, Dinakar Rao, a minister of Gwalior, Salar Jung, a minister of Hyderabad etc. The Gorkhas and the Sikhs supported the British during this revolt.

15. Mention three changes made by the Govt. of India Act, 1858.

Ans. Three changes made by the Govt. of India Act, 1858 were the following: 

(i) The British crown directly took over the administration of India from the hands of the East India company. 

(ii) The post of the Secretary of state assisted by a council of 15 members was created to look after the administration of India

(iii) The Governor-General was made the representative of the British government in India. Hence, he came to be known as the Viceroy.

16. Mention three indirect effects of the revolt of 1857.

Ans. Three indirect effects of the revolt of 1857 were the following:

(i) The British army in India was completely restructured so as to prevent any further mutiny.

(ii) The revolt boosted the spirit of nationalism in the country. 

(iii) After the revolt of 1857, the British started the policy of ‘divide and rule’ which increased communalism in India. 

17. What were the economic factors which contributed to the outbreak of the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. The most important cause for the revolt of 1857 was the economic grievances of the people. The ruthless and heartless economic exploitation of India by the British, strangling of native industries by the dumping of cheap foreign goods, heavy taxation, defective land revenue settlements, unemployment caused as a result of the decline of native industries and the absorption of native states etc. were the economic factors which contributed to the revolt of 1857.

18. What are the main political causes that led to the Great uprising of 1857?

Ans. The main political causes that led to the Great Uprising of 1857 were:

(i) Ruthless policy of conquest and expansion followed by different British Governor-Generals.

(ii) Dalhousie’s policy of annexation by way of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.

(iii) Stopping of Pension to Nana Saheb.

(iv) Annexation of Oudh on grounds of mis-government. 

(v) Ill-treatment of Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, etc.

19. What were the main social and religious causes that led to the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. The main social and religious causes that led to the revolt of 1857 were:

(i) Reaction against various social reforms introduced in India by the British.

(ii) Reaction against the work of Christian missionaries.

(iii) Impact of railways and telegraph. 

(iv) Racial discrimination practised by the British.

(v) Discrimination in Government jobs. 

20. What were the main military causes that led to the Great Uprising of 1857?

Ans. The main military causes that led to the Great Uprising of 1857 were:

(i) Deplorable condition of service of the Sepoys.

(ii) General Services enlistment Act, 1856 by which they had to go abroad for service. 

(iii) The Sepoys were a part of Indian society and so they were affected by the ill-feelings against the British.

(iv) Arrogance of the British officers.

(v) British reverses in the wars. 

(vi) Annexation of Oudh making hundreds of soldiers jobless, etc.

21. How was the revolt of 1857 different from the earlier ones?

Ans. The revolt of 1857 was different from the earlier ones in the following aspects:

(i) It spread more quickly and was wider in its extent than the former ones.

(ii) People belonging to different caste, religion and race joined the revolt.

(iii) It affected all sections of society.

(iv) It led to the transfer of rule from the hands of the company. to the British crown.

(v) Soldiers also joined in the revolt unlike the former revolts. 

(vi) It was more organised than the former revolts.

22. What was the immediate cause for the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. The immediate cause for the revolt of 1857 was the order to use greased cartridges which were supposed to have contained the fat of pigs and cows. The Sepoys refused to obey the order. When they were compelled to do so they broke out in rebellion against their masters at Meerut on 9th May, 1857.

23. When and how did the revolt of 1857 begin? 

Ans. The hanging of Mangal Pandey at Barrackpore on 8th April, 1857 infuriated the men of 3rd Native Cavalry stationed at Meerut who following the example of Mangal Pandey refused to obey the order to use the greased cartridges which were supposed to have contained the fat of pigs and cows. As a result, eighty-five of them were dismissed and were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. This sparked off a general mutiny among the Sepoys stationed at Meerut who broke out in open rebellion on 9th May, 1857.

24. Why did the growing middle class not support and take part in the Great Uprising of 1857?

Ans. The middle class which consisted of shopkeepers, traders, government servants and small industrialists did not take part in the revolt of 1857 due to the following reasons:

(i) They greatly benefited from British rule and activities.

(ii) The important leaders were rulers, princes whose lands were annexed by the British. The middle class was not much affected by the British policies.

(iii) The middle class were greatly influenced by western ideas. They believed that only the British could modernise India.

(iv) Leaders of revolt were against social reforms while the middle class supported the British’s attempt to modernise India.

25. Why did the Sepoys take the initiative in organising the revolt of 1857?

Ans. One of the primary causes for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857 was the grievances of the Indian Sepoys. They were not allowed to wear caste, sectarian marks, beards or turbans. They were poorly paid and miserably treated by the British officers. The annexation of Oudh in 1856 infuriated a good number of Sepoys as large number of Sepoys belonged to Oudh. Finally, the order to use greased cartridges which were supposed to have contained the fat of pigs and cows made them rise up in arms against the British.

26. What is the importance of the incident of Mangal Pandey in the outbreak of the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The importance of Mangal Pandey incident lies in the fact that it anticipated the outbreak of the revolt of 1857. The Sepoys and the national leaders at that time had planned a national rebellion on 31st May, 1857. But the hanging of Mangal Pandey on 8th April, 1857, the first Sepoy to disobey the order to use greased cartridge which is said to have contained the fat of pigs and cows, forced the Sepoys at Meerut to break out in rebellion on 9th May, 1857.

7. Who was Nana Saheb?

Ans. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of the last Maratha Peshwa, Baji Rao II. He had been denied pension and was expelled to Kanpur by the British. He therefore, joined the Sepoys to throw the British out from India. He organised the revolt at Kanpur and forced the British out from the city. His outstanding courage and patriotism became an epic story for the succeeding generations.

28. Who was Hajrat Mahal?

Ans. Hajrat Mahal was the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Oudh. The annexation of Oudh on grounds of misgovernment by Lord Dalhousie was a blow to her and she was determined to throw the British out from her territory. Therefore when the Sepoys broke out in open rebellion in May, 1857 she offered her services and led the revolt in Lucknow. Her courage and patriotism was unmatched and she became one of the heroines of the Mutiny.

29. Who was Mangal Pandey?

Ans. Mangal Pandey was the first Sepoy to disobey the British order to use the greased cartridges which is said to have contained the fat of pigs and cows. Angered by this attack on his religion he refused to obey the order and attacked his higher officers for which he was hanged by the British on 8th April, 1857. The incident compelled the Sepoys to break out in open rebellion on 9th May, 1857 earlier than planned.

30. What are the important results of the revolt of 1857? 

Ans. The important results of the revolt of 1857 were: 

(i) It brought an end to the rule of East India Company. India came directly under the British crown after the revolt. 

(ii) Policy of annexation was given up.

(iii) It ended the Mughal rule.

(iv) Indians were assured of religious freedom. 

(v) It led to the reorganisation of the army.

(vi) Social reforms were given up.

(vii) It led to increased racial hatred. 

(viii) It widened the gap between Hindus and Muslims.

(ix) It gave inspiration to the freedom struggle movement later.

31. What is the significance of the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The greatest significance of the revolt of 1857 was that it was the first major attempt on the part of the Indians to stand up against British might. Although the revolt ended in failure yet it assumed a lot of significance as it became an epic struggle and a source of inspiration for the succeeding generations. Secondly, the British crown directly took over the administration of India from the East India Company ushering a new era of British imperialism and colonialism.

32. Was the revolt of 1857 a National War of Independence? 

Ans. There have been divergent views regarding the exact nature of the revolt of 1857. Majority of the European writers considered it as a mutiny of the discontented Sepoys while many of the Indian historians were of the view that it was a war of national Independence. Currently, the most accepted opinion is that of Dr Sen and Dr R.C. Majumdar who hold the view that the revolt of 1857 was neither wholly a war of national independence nor merely a military revolt. It got its importance only during the later stages particularly during the freedom struggle movement.

33. What were the administrative changes brought about after the revolt of 1857?

Ans. Soon after the revolt of 1857, the British government took over the administration of India from the hands of English East India company. The Board of control and the Court of Directors which exercised supervision over the Indian affairs were abolished and in their place the office of the Secretary of the state was created. He was to be assisted by a council of 15 members. Henceforth, the Governor-General came to be known as Viceroy as he was the personal representative of the British crown.

[C] LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What were the main results of Sepoy Mutiny? 

Ans. The revolt of 1857 is viewed as one of the most glorious events in the annals of our history. There is no other event in our history which has had so much of influence on our freedom struggle movement as this episode. Therefore it is an event of great significance. The main results of the revolt were the following.

(i) Constitutional changes: Soon after the revolt the British parliament passed an Act named ‘Government of India Act’, on August 2nd, 1858, by which the administration of India was directly taken over by the British crown. A new administrative system consisting of a Secretary of state with a council of 15 members called India Council was created to supervise the Indian administration on behalf of the crown.

(ii) Increased racial antagonism: Racial bitterness was perhaps the worst legacy of the Revolt of 1857. It aroused and increased racial ill-will between the British and the Indians. The British began to look upon the Indians with suspicion while the Indians began to distrust the English.

(iii) Reorganisation of the army: One of the inevitable consequences of the revolt was that the British government completely reorganised the army. The number of British officers was increased and the troops were reconstituted on the basis of religion, provinces and caste with a view to foster discord and antagonism among the various races and castes.

(iv) Queen’s proclamation: The government realised the mistake of antagonising the rulers of Indian states. It was now decided to seek their support and make them the second line of defence in the continuance of British rule in India. By the Queen’s proclamation they were assured of their power and status.

(v) Higher services reserved for Europeans: Another significant result of this revolt was that after the Mutiny all the higher posts of the government came to be reserved for the Europeans. The Englishmen began to distrust the Indians and doubted their loyalty. Hence responsible posts were denied to them.

(vi) Social impact: The British realised that one of the primary causes for the outbreak of the revolt was their interference in the customs and religious practices of the natives. The revolt marked the end of such interference. Hence, all attempts at progressive social reforms were given up.

(vii) Beginning of economic exploitation: After the Revolt of 1857 the British rulers gave up the policy of aggression and territorial expansion. They now devoted greater attention to economic exploitation of Indian resources. They were now more interested in making India a market for Industrial England than making her a mere political colony.

(viii) Inspired Indians: One of the greatest contributions of this mass upheaval was that the events of 1857 became a source of inspiration for the succeeding generations of Indians. The revolt became an epic event evoking great deal of nationalism and national fervour.

2. What was Lord Dalhousie’s contribution for the outbreak of Sepoy Mutiny?

Ans. The eight years of Dalhousie’s Governor-Generalship (1848- 1856) were important years in the history of East India Company. He was an imperialist who brought every nook and corner of India under the British control. In spite of this great achievement there is no Governor-General who created so much ill-feelings towards the British as he had done. He was greatly responsible for the outbreak of the revolt of 1857.

(i) Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and conquests: The native rulers greatly resented the policy of annexation and conquests adopted by Lord Dalhousie. Dalhousie’s annexation on the basis of the policy of doctrine of lapse caused suspicion and uneasiness in the minds of almost all ruling princes. The annexation of Satara, Jaipur, Sambalpur, Bhagat, Udaipur, Jhansi and Nagpur created a lot of enemies. Oudh was annexed on the pretext of misgovernment. The royal titles granted to the rulers of Carnatic and Tanjore were taken away. Dalhousie’s suspension of pension to the Maratha chief alienated the Marathas.

(ii) Ill-treatment of Mughal emperor: Another contribution of Dalhousie to the revolt of 1857 was his ill-treatment to Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughul emperor. His harsh treatment to the old emperor and the stringent conditions placed on his successor, Faquir-ud-din shocked and alienated the Muslims and they therefore waited for an opportunity to strike at the British.

(iii) Contribution of Dalhousie’s Reforms: A considerable section of the Indian people were suspicious of the social reforms which Lord Dalhousie had introduced in India. Many of them felt that the purpose of such reforms was to destroy the sanctity of their ancient customs and purity of their religion. His prohibition of Sati and legislation of Widow remarriage produced discontentment among the masses: The presence of Christian missionaries in the army created further suspicion. Even his constructive reforms such as, introduction of Telegraph, Railways, irrigational canals, etc. were viewed with suspicion.

(iv) Created unemployment: By the introduction of New Land revenue system, hundreds of people were left jobless. As a result of the new land settlements many Zamindars, talukdars, hereditary landlords lost their estates. The native army of the Zamindars were disbanded leaving hundreds unemployed. The decline of Indian trade as the result of the British economic policy made numerous others jobless. The annexation of several states on one pretext or other threw hundreds on the road. These were the men who stood in the forefront of the agitation of 1857.

(v) Poor treatment of Indian Sepoys: The dissatisfaction of the Indian Sepoys increased all the more during the time of Lord Dalhousie. They were given pittance pay and given no opportunities for promotion. During his time, several regional mutinies of the Indian Sepoys occurred. The free postage so long enjoyed by the Sepoys was withdrawn by him. By several of his acts he embittered the Bengal army who later took up the banner of revolt against the British.

Thus, Dalhousie had very well prepared the ground and now only a pretext was required for the great upheaval. The greased cartridge served as the immediate cause for the outbreak and precipitated the crisis. However, the discontent and resentment which were really responsible for the trouble were already in stock as the result of the wrong and misguided policies of Dalhousie.

3. What was the nature of the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The revolt of 1857 is looked upon as one of the most glorious events of our history. Some call it ‘Sepoy Mutiny’. Others name it as the ‘First War of Independence’. However, you name it and whatever you may attribute the reasons for it, it was the first major attempt on the part of the Indians to throw British out of India.

Different views regarding the nature: The following three views have been held with regard to the nature of the revolt of 1857.

(i) It was a Sepoy Mutiny.

(ii) It was a war of Indian Independence.

(iii) It was neither wholly a war of National Independence nor merely a Sepoy Mutiny. Its importance came during later stages.

(i) It was a Mutiny of Sepoys: Historians such as John Lawrence, Kaye, Malleson, Trevelyan, P.E. Roberts, John Seeley etc. have termed the revolt as a mutiny of Sepoys. The following reasons have been put forward to support this view

(a) The mutiny was spearheaded mostly by Sepoys. They formed the bulk of the mutineers.

(b) Wherever the mutiny spread it was led by the Sepoys. They were in the forefront of the agitation.

(c) It was the Sepoys who made Bahadur Shah II the new emperor of India. 

(d) During the mutiny there seems to have been a council of soldiers headed by Bakht Khan. This council tried to organise the revolt on All-India-basis.

However, the view that it was purely a military revolt is not based on solid facts. Unquestionably the revolt began as a military uprising, but it was not everywhere confined to the army alone. Soon the leadership passed into the civilian hands which played a major and positive role in the uprising. In fact the rebels came from almost every section of the population. Hundreds of men and women took part in the revolt. Even women dressed in men’s dress took part in the fight. The trial of thousands of ordinary men and women during 1858-59 shows that the mutineers were not Sepoys alone.

(ii) It was the First War of Indian Independence: A majority of the Indian historians are of the view that the revolt of 1857 was basically a war of Indian Independence. Vir Savarkar, Ashok Mehta, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, etc. strongly supported this view. Vir Savarkar in his famous book ‘A War of Indian Independence’ strongly advocates this view. For many it was a national war for freedom. 

The following arguments have been put forward in support of this view.

(a) The uprising could not have spread so fast and so rapidly had not the general public supported it.

(b) In the revolt, both the Muslims and Hindus joined hands to oust the British.

(c) At some places even women put on men’s attire and took part in the fighting.

(d) The trial of thousands of civilians during the trial of 1858- 59 shows that it was a geheral uprising.

However, not all historians support this view. According to Dr. R.C. Majumdar, a renowned historian it was not a war of independence. According to him ‘nationalism’ in India hadn’t risen yet. India was still a ‘geographical expression’. He maintains that the revolt took different colour at different places. It lacked certain basic qualities of a national movement. There was no national leader or specific objective. Even the Sepoys who mostly spearheaded the uprising had no national objectives but only hoped to obtain some material gains. Therefore, it cannot be called a National War of Independence.

(iii) It was neither wholly, a war of National Independence nor merely a Sepoy Mutiny: Recently two distinguished Indian historians, Dr R.C. Majumdar and Dr S.N.Sen who have made exhaustive study of all available records have come to the conclusion that the revolt of 1857 was neither wholly a national war of Independence nor merely a military revolt. According to both the scholars, India in 1857-58 was still a ‘geographical expression’ and the feeling of Indianness’ hadn’t born yet. The leaders of the rebellion were no national leaders. Bahadur Shah Il was no national king. Even Nana Saheb, Rani of Jhansi, Wajid Ali Shah and even the Sepoys fought to obtain some material benefits. None of them fought to make their country free and independent from the British domination. The majority of Indians remained mere spectators and some of them even allied with the British to put down the uprising. Thus the view of Dr. R.C. Majumdar and Dr. Sen seems to be the correct opinion. The revolt of 1857 was not purely a military revolt nor was it wholly a national war of independence. Its national character came much later during the freedom struggle movement.

[D] SHORT NOTES ON

1. Queen’s Proclamation: In order to clarify the new British policy after taking over the administration of British India by the crown and to outline its relations with the native rulers, zamindars and the people of India, the British monarch, Queen Victoria, issued a proclamation which was read at the Royal Durbar held at Allahabad on 1st November 1858. This proclamation came to be known as the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858. 

The main aspects of this proclamation were the following:

(i) Queen’s Proclamation announced the takeover of Indian administration from the company. 

(ii) Lord canning appointed the first Viceroy and Governor- General of India.

(iii) All civil and military officers of the company confirmed in their offices under the crown.

(iv) All treaties and engagements with princes of Indian states would be respected. 

(v) Policy of extension of British territories in India abandoned.

(vi) Policy of religious neutrality and non-interference in religious beliefs of Indians lay down. 

(vii) Services in India were open to all subjects, Englishmen and Indians.

The proclamation has lots of significance as it assured the native princes and the landed aristocracy of British friendship, integrity of their states and non-interference in their affairs. By this proclamation the British created a new line of defence and of counter-weights incase of any further popular uprising. Secondly, the proclamation marks the dawn of a new era of Indian administration marked by economic exploitation than territorial extension.

2. The Battle of Plassey: The battle of Plassey was fought between the forces of Nawab Siraj-ud-daula of Bengal and the English forces. The Nawab’s forces were led by Mir Jaffar who has already been bought off by the British. Both the armies met at a place called Plassey, a town about twenty miles of Calcutta on 23rd June, 1757. On getting the assurance from Mir Jaffar, Clive attacked the Indian forces. A large section of Nawab’s forces under Mir Jaffar and Rai Durlah another traitor merely watched the show. A few French officers and soldiers of Nawab’s army offered a little resistance. But soon it was all over. When Siraj-ud-Daula came to know that he had been betrayed by his own men, he lost his nerve and fled from the scene. This caused a general fleeing on the part of the Nawab’s forces. He was taken prisoner and later murdered by Mir Jaffar’s son. Thus, the British won the battle neither through their own yalour nor by the superb generalship of Clive but due to the treachery of Nawab’s men. The victory at Plassey laid the foundation of British empire in India. Plassey made the British supreme in Bengal. The French and the Dutch were removed from Bengal. The Nawab of Bengal became a protege of the company. British influence extended outwards from Calcutta through Bengal and Bihar to the Southern boundary of Oudh. The possession of this rich province completely altered the English fortunes in India. The battle of Plassey is thus a turning point in the annals of British domination of our country.

3. Treaty of Yandaboo: The first Burmese war fought between the English and the Burmese forces from 1824 to 1826 came to an end with the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. The main terms of this treaty were the following:

(i) By the treaty of Yandaboo, the Burmese king agreed to cede to the English the provinces of Arakan and Tenasserim.

(ii) The Burmese agreed to withdraw their forces from Assam and Cachar.

(iii) They recognised the independence of Manipur. 

(iv) They agreed to pay a huge war-indemnity amounting to rupees one crore.

(v) The Burmese agreed to receive a British resident at Ara. 

(vi) A commercial treaty was also concluded. 

Thus, the treaty of Yandaboo is an important milestone in the history of British India. For the first time, Burma came under the suzerainty of the British. They lost their independence. Its hopes of acquiring Assam and Manipur was dashed to the ground. However, the greatest significance of this treaty was that the British occupied Assam. It begins a new chapter in the history of Assam and the neighbouring states The British supremacy of the north-eastern states begins with this historical treaty. Thus, the treaty of Yandaboo must be considered as a landmark treaty in the history of north-eastern India.

4. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie is credited to have made the British the supreme power in India. He achieved this feat mainly through the application of what is known as the Doctrine of Lapse’. 

During Lord Dalhousie’s time, there existed three categories of Indian states in India:

(i)  Fully Independent states: Those states which were not in anyway under the protection or alliance with the British. 

(ii) Subordinate states: They were states which accepted the protection of the British and entered into treaties of friendship with them.

(iii) Dependent states: They were the states which were created by the British and the rulers were given the management of these states by the British. 

The right of adoption was granted only to the first category. Adoption by the second category needed the company’s permission. The third category was not allowed to adopt. Lord Dalhousie applied the policy of doctrine of lapse with regard to the above-mentioned last two categories of Indian states. The Doctrine of lapse stated that “if a ruler of a dependent and subordinate state should die without a natural heir, his adopted son would not succeed him but the state would lapse or pass back to the British company and the adopted son would inherit only the personal property of the deceased ruler”. This doctrine was based on the assumption that the East India company was the paramount power in India and that all subordinate and dependent states were totally under the supreme authority of the company and therefore it had the right to withhold its sanction to any ruler from adopting an heir. As a result of the application of the policy of doctrine of lapse’s states such as Satara (1848), Jaipur (1850), Sambalpur (1850), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854) were annexed. The stringent application of the Doctrine of Lapse had serious negative repercussions. The princes of the states which were adopted by the application of this doctrine became staunch enemies of the British and joined the other disgruntled elements to throw out the British yoke. They became the strongest supporters of the revolt of 1857.

5. Government of India Act, 1858: Soon after the conclusion of the revolt of 1857, the British parliament passed an act named the Government of India Act, on 2nd August, 1858 with the main purpose of taking over the power of administration from the hands of the East India Company to the crown. 

The other major provisions of the act were the following:

(i) The entire property of the company was transferred to the crown. 

(ii) The court of directors and the Board of control were abolished.

(iii) A Secretary of state was to look after the affairs of India. 

(iv) An India Council of 15 members was appointed to assist the Secretary of State in his task.

(v) The Governor-General was given the title of viceroy. 

(vi) I.C.S officers were to be appointed through competitive examination to he held in London.

But the act had several deficiencies. The transfer of the government from the company to the crown was only formal and not substantial. The administrative set up established by the act was highly centralised with very little Indian participation. The Secretary of state’s complete control over Indian administration led to further exploitation of India by the British.