5. When People Revolt 1857 and After
The chapter discusses the widespread revolt against British rule in India beginning in May 1857, primarily led by sepoys and supported by various Indian social groups. Factors such as political discontent, socioeconomic grievances, and religious sentiments fueled the uprising against oppressive colonial policies, ultimately challenging the East India Company's control. The revolt, known as India's First War of Independence, highlighted the communal solidarity against colonialism, despite eventual British suppression and subsequent policy changes.
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What we have learnt
- The Indian sepoys and local rulers harbored significant discontent towards British colonial policy.
- The uprising of 1857 represented a significant moment of collective resistance against British rule.
- The revolt led to the dissolution of the East India Company and the establishment of direct British governance in India.
Key Concepts
- -- Sepoys
- Indian soldiers who were employed by the British East India Company, many of whom revolted due to discontent with pay, conditions, and orders that conflicted with their religious beliefs.
- -- Mutiny
- An act of rebellion against authority, especially by soldiers against their officers, exemplified by the sepoy rebellion in 1857.
- -- Bahadur Shah Zafar
- The last Mughal emperor who was declared the symbolic leader of the 1857 uprising by the rebel forces; his support galvanized various factions against the British.
- -- Awadh
- A princely state in India, annexed by the British in 1856, which played a crucial role in the 1857 rebellion due to discontent among its rulers and populace.
- -- Crown Rule
- The period after the revolt when the British Parliament took direct control of India from the East India Company, altering governance and policy structures.
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