2.3.3. The search for alternative power

Once British rule had collapsed, the rebels in places like Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur tried to establish some kind of structure of authority and administration. This was, of course, short-lived but the attempts show that the rebel leadership wanted to restore the pre-British world of the eighteenth century.

After the British lost control, rebels in major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur sought to create their own government. Their goal was to recreate the powerful Mughal Empire from the past, as they believed it represented a time of stability and control.

Imagine a local community after a natural disaster trying to rebuild their own governance and restore order. Just like those communities may lack the resources to fully establish a government but will form groups to help manage everyday life, the rebels were trying to create a sense of normalcy and authority amidst chaos.

The leaders went back to the culture of the court. Appointments were made to various posts, arrangements made for the collection of land revenue and the payment of troops, orders issued to stop loot and plunder. Side by side plans were made to fight battles against the British.

The rebel leaders attempted to mimic how the Mughal Empire was run. They assigned roles to people, ensuring order was reinstated. They set a financial system to collect taxes from landowners and organized their armies while also ensuring that their towns wouldn’t become chaotic due to looting.

Think of a school that has suddenly lost its principal and teachers. The students might elect a few leaders to keep things orderly, make schedules for classes, and decide how to manage resources while waiting for new teachers to come. Similar to that, the rebels were organizing themselves while facing the challenge of an impending British attack.

Chains of command were laid down in the army. In all this the rebels harked back to the eighteenth-century Mughal world – a world that became a symbol of all that had been lost.

The structures that the rebels tried to create were based on their cherished memories of Mughal governance. They believed that the Mughal era represented a golden age where authority was respected, and communities thrived.

Consider a football team that used to win championships under a particular coach. After the coach leaves, the players will often try to follow the same strategies and rules that made them successful in the past. The rebels were doing the same with their memories of the Mughal rule.

The administrative structures established by the rebels were primarily aimed at meeting the demands of war. However, in most cases these structures could not survive the British onslaught.

The rebels set up a functioning administration with the aim of fighting the British effectively. They knew that to win, they needed to be organized. Nevertheless, despite their efforts, their government and military plans were short-lived because the British forces were too powerful and well-structured.

Think of a small startup trying to compete with a well-established corporation. The startup may have innovative ideas and plans, but if it lacks the resources and experience that the corporation has, it often struggles to survive in the long run. Similarly, despite the rebels’ good intentions, they were overwhelmed by the organized might of the British.

But in Awadh, where resistance to the British lasted the longest, plans of counter-attack were being drawn up by the Lucknow court and hierarchies of command were in place as late as the last months of 1857 and the early part of 1858.

In Awadh, the rebels managed to maintain their opposition longer than in other regions. The local elite, including the Nawab’s court in Lucknow, organized specific military strategies against British attacks, indicating that they were still relatively coordinated and resilient.

Picture a community that is unusually resistant to a threat, such as a severe storm. Local leaders form groups to secure their homes and keep each other informed, even when things are difficult. The Nawab's court in Awadh was similar in its efforts to resist British control.

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