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The country India, before achieving freedom, has suffered from various situations in the pathway. Many revolts have taken place in the journey among which the revolt of 1858 is important as it is highly recognized by historians as the first freedom movement of India. It is not unknown that India has struggled massively for its independence from British rule. The freedom movement of India started in the year 1857 through the insurgence against the ruling British company. Hence the revolt of 1858 is significant in Indian History.
Overview of freedom movement of India
The freedom movement of India includes many historical events and the series continued from 1857 to 1947.
In this context, the first freedom movement of India took place in West Bengal which later became rooted in the Indian National Congress. During the time period of 1858, India’s freedom movement has witnessed many significant incidents that have caused further revolts and major conflicts. This year after the declaration of the British arms success by Canning the parliament imposed “the Government of India Act”. In this act, the power over India has been transferred from East India Company to British rule. Historians claim that primarily it was the reason that initiated the revolt in 1858.
Revolt of 1858 under India’s history
The revolt of 1858 is also named as Indian Mutiny which started on 10th May 1857 and lasted till 8th July 1859. Even though the revolt of 1858 was an unsuccessful movement under Indian History, it is highly significant as it was the first movement against the British. The revolt was started by the Indian troops in Meerut against British rule and the intervention of the East India Company. Later it spread to Kanpur, Agra, Lucknow, and Delhi also. The root cause of the revolt is the activities of the British ruler after the handover operation. At that point in time everywhere the new British government was replacing every Indian peerage with new British officials. Then the new British government was using various techniques to have control over all the magnificent Hindu states in India. Among these rules, one of the famous rules was the “doctrine of lapse” which was committed by Lord Dalhousie. In this rule, the British government defeated a Hindu ruler to inherit anything other than a natural heir. The revolt has begun to address these upbringing problems from British rule.
1858 Revolt causes
Various causes have initiated the revolt of 1858; these causes can be categorized as per the nature of the problem mentioned below:
Religious and social causes: After the beginning of British rule the government has changed many existing Hindu laws that are directly connected with the religion and social sentiment of the Indians. Here most significantly abolishing the Hindu Widow Remarriage act(1856) and Sati (1829) has affected the social sentiment of the Hindus. In the same year, the British government also allowed the Christian missionaries in India and allowed them to follow evangelizing. One more significant change is made in the traditional Hindu law where the new act of “Religious Disability (1850)” came into action. Under this law, religion cannot prevent the son from deriving the property of his pagan father.
Economical causes: The new British rule shattered rural self-sufficiency, the government has imposed commercialization in the agricultural sector putting the peasants under pressure. Apart from this, adopting new trade policies underlying the British under ruled countries also causes the depletion of the Indian industries and resources. These new terms and rules under the British government affected and collapsed the economy and ultimately caused the revolt.
Military Grievances: The British government has also changed some conditions related to the service of the Sepoys. Under the new conditions, the British government mandated the condition of serving in the area apart from the origin. Moreover in that case the militaries will not be paid any extra amount. Along with that, implementing “the General Service Enlistment Act (1856)”, under which the Sepoys were bound to cross the seas as required. “The Post Office Act (1854)” also restricted the free posting facility from the Sepoys.
Political causes: After the beginning of British governance, during the time of Lord Dalhousie British Indian territory was majorly expanded. In 1849 Dalhousie declared that the inheritors of Bahadur Shah II had to abandon the Red Fort. Apart from this when Dalhousie intended to implement the “Doctrine of Lapse” on the Rajputanas, it was overruled by the court.
Effects of 1858 Revolt
The immediate result of the revolt was the clearance of a common house of the Indian administration. The British government defeated the East India Company and imposed direct rule in India. It also removed the imaginary commercialization that had been proposed earlier and also lingered in the courts of directors. The mutiny has resulted in a respective recognition of the Sepoys. This recognition also includes the Indian army.
Conclusion
Under Indian History, the revolt of 1858 was significant as the first freedom movement in India. Studying the facts regarding the revolt is important as it helps to determine the consequences between Indian History and how it is today. In the above discussion, the cause of the revolt of 1858 under Indian history has been discussed for better understanding.
