REVOLT REVOLT OF OF

18571857

The revolt of 1857 was the most The revolt of 1857 was the most severe outburst of anger and severe outburst of anger and discontent accumulated in the hearts discontent accumulated in the hearts of various sections of the Indian of various sections of the Indian society ever since the inception of society ever since the inception of British rule in Bengal, following British rule in Bengal, following the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle of Buxar. British the Battle of Buxar. British historians called it a "Sepoy historians called it a "Sepoy Mutiny" and the Indian historians Mutiny" and the Indian historians termed it as the "First War of termed it as the "First War of Independence". Independence".

Though the revolt was started by Though the revolt was started by the Indian soldiers in the service the Indian soldiers in the service of the East India company, it soon of the East India company, it soon proliferated all over the country. proliferated all over the country. Millions of peasants, artisans and Millions of peasants, artisans and soldiers fought heroically for over soldiers fought heroically for over a year and sacrificed their life so a year and sacrificed their life so that others might live. that others might live.

  Hindus and Muslims kept their Hindus and Muslims kept their religious differences aside and religious differences aside and fought together in order to free fought together in order to free themselves from foreign themselves from foreign subjugation. subjugation.

There were many social and religious There were many social and religious reasons for the Revolt. The British reasons for the Revolt. The British started imposing their religion on started imposing their religion on the Indians by building churches and the Indians by building churches and by forcing people to convert to by forcing people to convert to Christianity. Christianity.

built by Colonel James Skinner

The British did not even spare the The British did not even spare the Indian soldiers. Rough treatment Indian soldiers. Rough treatment was meted out to the soldiers and was meted out to the soldiers and they lived in squalor. The British they lived in squalor. The British left no stone unturned to create an left no stone unturned to create an eternal wall between Hindus and eternal wall between Hindus and Muslims.  Muslims. 

The Revolt of 1857 was clearly not a The Revolt of 1857 was clearly not a success but an achievement for the success but an achievement for the Indians as this was the first time Indians as this was the first time when Indians got together to fight when Indians got together to fight against an invincible military power. against an invincible military power.

Why did the revolt Why did the revolt fail?fail?

The Revolt failed due to lack The Revolt failed due to lack of planning, organization and of planning, organization and leadership. The unfortunate leadership. The unfortunate part however was that there part however was that there were some Indians who helped were some Indians who helped Britishers suppress the Revolt. Britishers suppress the Revolt. Had they cooperated the Revolt Had they cooperated the Revolt might have been a success. might have been a success.

RESULTSRESULTSOF THE OF THE

REVOLT OF REVOLT OF 18571857

End of companyEnd of company’’s rules rule Change in British policies Change in British policies towards Indian statestowards Indian states

End of peshwaship and mughal End of peshwaship and mughal rulerule

Reorganization of the armyReorganization of the army Policy of divide and rulePolicy of divide and rule

SOME LEADERS SOME LEADERS DURING THE DURING THE

REVOLT OF 1857REVOLT OF 1857

Rani LakshmibaiRani Lakshmibai

Nana SahibNana Sahib

Mangal PandeyMangal Pandey

Kunwar SinghKunwar Singh

Rao Tularam Rao Tularam