Detailed Summary
Since the mid-eighteenth century, the power of nawabs and rajas in India significantly eroded due to the policies of the British East India Company. Rulers had their autonomy restricted by the imposition of resident agents in their courts, which diminished their authority while forcing them to yield territories and revenues gradually.
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Nana Saheb were prominent figures who sought to negotiate with the Company to safeguard their interests, but their requests were denied, illustrating the Company's dominance and dismissive stance toward Indian rulers.
The annexation process culminated with Awadh being taken over in 1856 under the pretext of misgovernance. Moreover, the Company's plan to eliminate the Mughal dynasty intensified the unrest, as seen by the removal of Bahadur Shah Zafar's name from coins and the declaration that he would be the last Mughal king.
The section also highlights the growing discontent among peasants and sepoys due to high taxes, punitive revenue collection, and militarization. The sepoys' beliefs were deeply offended by military policies that threatened their religious tenets, notably the order requiring them to serve overseas. The combination of these oppressive policies and resistance among the populace ultimately set the stage for the 1857 revolt.