the great ghadar of 1857-1 20110308.ppt - cgpi · the great ghadar of 1857. coloured history •...

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The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857

Coloured HistoryColoured HistoryColoured HistoryColoured History

• Most one sided story ever written as history

• Only the British impressions, documents and point of view

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• British suppressed any chronicling

• Very little research into anti-colonial struggles even after independence

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Why ?Why ?Why ?Why ?

• The story is too stirring and inspiring even today

• The message and vision of 1857 threatened the Capitalist and landlord

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1857 threatened the Capitalist and landlord classes of India and the state, which were created by British colonialism, in order to rule the Indians

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Message of 1857Message of 1857Message of 1857Message of 1857• Uncompromising struggle

against British colonialism by all Indians, irrespective of their caste, religion and region

• A modern democratic spirit

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• A modern democratic spirit that allowed Indian people to decide the political and economic future of India

• They are unfulfilled even today despite the transfer of power in 1947

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Overview of the presentationOverview of the presentationOverview of the presentationOverview of the presentation

• What happened in 1857?

• The myths and reality

• What were the effects of British rule in India

that led to such a national war of Independence?

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that led to such a national war of Independence?

• The lessons of 1857 learnt by Indian revolution

and British colonialism

• The colonial legacy5

Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British

treachery and cunningtreachery and cunningtreachery and cunningtreachery and cunning

• By 1857, the British

through the East India

Company, ruled almost

the whole of what is

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Company, ruled almost

the whole of what is

currently India,

Pakistan, Myanmar

and Sri Lanka

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Indians deprived of theirIndians deprived of theirIndians deprived of theirIndians deprived of their

sovereigntysovereigntysovereigntysovereignty

• The rule was direct in Bengal Presidency, Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency

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• British rule was indirect, in other areas, like Gwalior, Awadh, Hyderabad, Mysore, Patiala, Kapurthala etc

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Political MapPolitical MapPolitical MapPolitical Map

of India 1857of India 1857of India 1857of India 1857

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Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over

millions of Indiansmillions of Indiansmillions of Indiansmillions of Indians

• All the three presidencies had armies, with nearly 2 lakh Indian soldiers and 38000 British soldiers and officers

• The Bengal Army was the largest and had nearly 135,000 Indian soldiers. There

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largest and had nearly 135,000 Indian soldiers. There were both Hindus and Muslims. 40,000 of these came from Awadh alone

• One of the finest armies in the world from the military view point

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Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’

• The British Parliamentary Reforms of 1832,

signaled industrial capitalists coming to power

in Britain. A new wave of British colonial

expansion began.

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• In this expansion the Bengal Army sepoys

were continuously made canon-fodder, to fight

and die in battle-fields from Crimea to China.

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British policy 1702British policy 1702British policy 1702British policy 1702----1857185718571857

• Trade vs. plunder

• Land question

• Greed and annexation

• Destruction of local manufacture

• Imposition of Manu Smriti based Hindu

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• Imposition of Manu Smriti based Hindu Law

• Mafi lands withdrawn from sepoys

• Sepoys used as cannon fodder against their own people and internationally

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Resistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian people

YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising

1757175717571757 PalashiPalashiPalashiPalashi

(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)

Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought

against British led by against British led by against British led by against British led by

Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by

Mir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeat

1766176617661766----99999999 Mysore Mysore Mysore Mysore Four wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought against

A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and

wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857

SirajuddaulahSirajuddaulahSirajuddaulahSirajuddaulah

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1766176617661766----99999999 Mysore Mysore Mysore Mysore

(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)

Four wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought against

the British known as the British known as the British known as the British known as

AngloAngloAngloAnglo----Mysore warsMysore warsMysore warsMysore wars

1776177617761776----87878787 ChittagongChittagongChittagongChittagong

(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)

Armed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by people

in hill tractsin hill tractsin hill tractsin hill tracts

1783178317831783 Rangpur Rangpur Rangpur Rangpur


Armed peasants HindusArmed peasants HindusArmed peasants HindusArmed peasants Hindus

and Muslims against and Muslims against and Muslims against and Muslims against

company govtcompany govtcompany govtcompany govt

AngloAngloAngloAnglo----Mysore warsMysore warsMysore warsMysore wars 12


1783178317831783----90909090 Khasi HillsKhasi HillsKhasi HillsKhasi Hills Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against

British incursions on their British incursions on their British incursions on their British incursions on their

rightsrightsrightsrights

1805180518051805----

1806180618061806

VelloreVelloreVelloreVellore

(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)

Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys

rebelled against new rebelled against new rebelled against new rebelled against new

British rules ofBritish rules ofBritish rules ofBritish rules of

Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their

dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806

theytheytheythey


wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857

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theytheytheythey

mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and

freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons

who werewho werewho werewho were

held as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Vellore

1810181018101810 VaranasiVaranasiVaranasiVaranasi General strike by people General strike by people General strike by people General strike by people

for 11 days against house for 11 days against house for 11 days against house for 11 days against house

taxtaxtaxtax

1813181318131813 DhakaDhakaDhakaDhaka Strike against police taxStrike against police taxStrike against police taxStrike against police tax

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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the

uprisinguprisinguprisinguprising

1816181618161816----

1832183218321832

ParlakhemundiParlakhemundiParlakhemundiParlakhemundi

(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)

Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of

Bisoyees of Bisoyees of Bisoyees of Bisoyees of

JeringiJeringiJeringiJeringi

1816181618161816 BareillyBareillyBareillyBareilly Insurrection Insurrection Insurrection Insurrection

against against against against

chowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari tax



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chowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari tax

1817181718171817----

1825182518251825

KhandeshKhandeshKhandeshKhandesh

(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)

Bhil uprisingBhil uprisingBhil uprisingBhil uprising

1817181718171817 KhurdaKhurdaKhurdaKhurda


Paiks, local Paiks, local Paiks, local Paiks, local

militia rose up militia rose up militia rose up militia rose up

against Britishagainst Britishagainst Britishagainst British

A memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya Pradesh

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1821182118211821 BamanaghatiBamanaghatiBamanaghatiBamanaghati


Kol uprising in Kol uprising in Kol uprising in Kol uprising in

Singbhum areaSingbhum areaSingbhum areaSingbhum area

1824182418241824 Bengal ArmyBengal ArmyBengal ArmyBengal Army Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go

to Burma to to Burma to to Burma to to Burma to

participate in warparticipate in warparticipate in warparticipate in war

1825,1825,1825,1825,

1833183318331833

MymensinhMymensinhMymensinhMymensinh

(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)

Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans

against zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindars



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1833183318331833 (Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh) against zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindars

1825182518251825 Kittur Kittur Kittur Kittur


Led by Rani Led by Rani Led by Rani Led by Rani

Chennamma, Chennamma, Chennamma, Chennamma,

people of Kittur people of Kittur people of Kittur people of Kittur

Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought

the British forces, the British forces, the British forces, the British forces,

they continuedthey continuedthey continuedthey continued

Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829

even after even after even after even after

Chennamma was Chennamma was Chennamma was Chennamma was

captured in1825 captured in1825 captured in1825 captured in1825

Rani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of Kittur

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1830183018301830 ShimogaShimogaShimogaShimoga


Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection,

peasant raj peasant raj peasant raj peasant raj

established,King'sestablished,King'sestablished,King'sestablished,King's

forces defeated forces defeated forces defeated forces defeated

several times finally several times finally several times finally several times finally

British troopswere British troopswere British troopswere British troopswere

deployeddeployeddeployeddeployed

1831183118311831 Barasat Barasat Barasat Barasat


Against zamindars and Against zamindars and Against zamindars and Against zamindars and

indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by



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(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal) indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by

TitumirTitumirTitumirTitumir

1831183118311831 ChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpur

(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand----

Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)

Mundas rose up Mundas rose up Mundas rose up Mundas rose up

against dispossession against dispossession against dispossession against dispossession

and money lenders and and money lenders and and money lenders and and money lenders and

zamindarszamindarszamindarszamindars

1831183118311831----

32323232

ChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpur

(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand----

Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)

Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons,

Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars

rose upagainst money rose upagainst money rose upagainst money rose upagainst money

lenders and land lenders and land lenders and land lenders and land

grabbersgrabbersgrabbersgrabbers

A statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprising

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1834183418341834 GhumsarGhumsarGhumsarGhumsar


Khonds and people of Khonds and people of Khonds and people of Khonds and people of

Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose

up in arms against the up in arms against the up in arms against the up in arms against the

BritishBritishBritishBritish

1836183618361836----85858585 MalabarMalabarMalabarMalabar

(Kerala)(Kerala)(Kerala)(Kerala)

MoplahMoplahMoplahMoplah rebellion rebellion rebellion rebellion

against against against against janmijanmijanmijanmi

zamindars and British zamindars and British zamindars and British zamindars and British

troopstroopstroopstroops



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troopstroopstroopstroops

1837183718371837----

1850185018501850

BaudhBaudhBaudhBaudh


Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of KhondsKhondsKhondsKhonds and and and and

Bisoyees in Bisoyees in Bisoyees in Bisoyees in

Baudh,KalahandiBaudh,KalahandiBaudh,KalahandiBaudh,Kalahandi

1844184418441844 SuratSuratSuratSurat Mass movement Mass movement Mass movement Mass movement

against Salt Taxagainst Salt Taxagainst Salt Taxagainst Salt Tax

Khond tribeman in war attire

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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the

uprisinguprisinguprisinguprising

1855185518551855 JharkhandJharkhandJharkhandJharkhand SanthalSanthalSanthalSanthal uprising, uprising, uprising, uprising,

against against against against mahajanmahajanmahajanmahajan, , , ,

zamindarzamindarzamindarzamindar andandandand

Railway Railway Railway Railway

Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors.

Established poor Established poor Established poor Established poor

man's Raj by man's Raj by man's Raj by man's Raj by

uniting all castesuniting all castesuniting all castesuniting all castes



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1857185718571857----

58585858

KhandeshKhandeshKhandeshKhandesh

(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)

Bhil and Bhil and Bhil and Bhil and

MackrancheesMackrancheesMackrancheesMackranchees

uprising several uprising several uprising several uprising several

battles withbattles withbattles withbattles with

British forces in British forces in British forces in British forces in

NagarNagarNagarNagar, , , , DhuleDhuleDhuleDhule

thousands took thousands took thousands took thousands took

up arms, special up arms, special up arms, special up arms, special

role of womenrole of womenrole of womenrole of women

A depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weapons

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Two parallel developmentsTwo parallel developmentsTwo parallel developmentsTwo parallel developments

• Aggressive colonialism,

Dalhousie, annexations,

doctrine of lapse,

Increased taxation

• Preparations by various

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• Preparations by various

princes and religious

leaders to organise a

nationwide uprising to

end British ruleLord Dalhousie

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Messages to princes and Messages to princes and Messages to princes and Messages to princes and

commonerscommonerscommonerscommoners

• Messages were sent to hundreds of princes

small and big to join the fight against British

and wait for the signal

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• Peasants and artisans were called on to be

prepared for the uprising. Roti and Kamal

started appearing in different villages in the

Gangetic basin

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Defend your way of lifeDefend your way of lifeDefend your way of lifeDefend your way of life

• Ulemas and Swamis started preaching the need to defend the Deen and Dharam (Indian way

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Dharam (Indian way of life) which were grossly violated by British rule

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Bengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodder

Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in:

• The first Afghan War 1839-1842;

• The Gwalior war of 1843;

• Sindh war in 1844;

• The Punjab Wars in 1845-

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• The Punjab Wars in 1845-46 and in 1848-49;

• Opium War in China1840-42, and then again during 1856-60;

• Crimean war against Russia 1854, War in Persia 1856-57.

Crimean war

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Mobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal Army• It began in West Bengal, in

Dumdum first, in January 1857;

• Mangal Pandey, defied the officers and called on his comrades to rise up in March at Barrackpore.

• The flames spread to Lucknow early in May;

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early in May;

• On May 9 and 10, a full scale mutiny erupted at Meerut.

• The Meerut Sepoys marched to Delhi occupied it on May 11 and asked Bahadur Shah Zafar to accept the leadership of the uprising.

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Signal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprising

• The occupation of

Delhi was the signal.

Widespread mutinies

from Peshawar to

Bengal covering

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Bengal covering

especially the

Gangetic plain and

Central India: Malwa,

Bundelkhand,

Rohilkhand, Awadh

etc

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Examples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraft

• There were several

firman’s issued in the

name of Zafar, Nana

Saheb and Birjis Qadr

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Saheb and Birjis Qadr

which exhibit the

mature, astute and

principled statecraft

of the rebels

Birjis Qadr

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Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of

May 12, 1857May 12, 1857May 12, 1857May 12, 1857• The firman explained the

difference between the British policy and the policy of the Ghadris regarding princes, zamindars, peasants, sepoys,

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peasants, sepoys, artisans, traders, civil servants etc and called on people of all communities to unite and throw out the British as the precondition to solving all their problems

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The people will decideThe people will decideThe people will decideThe people will decide

• He also put forth the

most modern concept

of those times:

returning sovereignty

back to people

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• He articulated it by

saying, “as for the

future, the people of

India will decide”

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They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and

not narrow self interestnot narrow self interestnot narrow self interestnot narrow self interest

We are its owner, Hindustan is ours. Our nation is sacred, dearer than heaven World is aglow with the light of it soul How old, how new, best of all worldOur very own, Hindustan is ours.

The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:

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Our very own, Hindustan is ours.

Flow of Ganga & Yamuna, makes our land fertileOverhead snow-clad mountains-our sentry toweringBelow, trumpets of sea, beating against coasts From mines gold & diamond overflow Our pomp and splendor, best in the world

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Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)

Then came firangi from far land cast a magical

spell

Looted our dear land with both hands

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Today, the martyrs call upon whole nation-

Break the shackles of slavery, pour out fire

Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, all beloved brothers

This is the flag of our Freedom

Hail & salute it.

(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)

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Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and

Madras Armies alsoMadras Armies alsoMadras Armies alsoMadras Armies also

• Bombay army infantry and cavalry units revolted in Kolhapur, Satara, Karachi, Bombay, Aurangabad, Nasirabad, and

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Nasirabad, and Ahmedabad.

• Two Bombay infantry sepoys, one Hindu and one Muslim, were blown apart from a cannon's mouth, in what today, stands as Mumbai's Azad Maidan.

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• The 8th Madras Cavalry rose in Vaniyambadi,several of the 37th Madras infantry mendeserted. Then in Vellore, in 1858, Madras army sepoys killed their

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army sepoys killed their British officers.

• 1044 sepoys of the Madras army were court-martialled for their sympathy or support to the1857 Revolt.

Madras Army Sepoys

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Patriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise up

• Uprisings by Indian princes and talukdars in Awadh, Jagdishpur, Jharkhand, Jhansi, Bithoor, Rajpootana, Central India led by Nana Saheb, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rani Laxmibai, Bakth Khan, Kunwar Singh, Tatia Tope, Azimullah Khan, Maulvi

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Azimullah Khan, Maulvi Ahmadullah, Amar Singh, Khan Bahadur Khan and others

• Smaller princes and zamindars of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka rose up in literally hundreds of places

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People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities

and townsand townsand townsand towns• Rawalpindi, Gugera, Peshawar,

Multan, Patna, Purnea, Jalpaiguri, Muzaffarabad, Sambalpur, Danapur, Sugauli, Chhotanagpur, Bareilly, Banaras, Jaunpur, Ayodhya, Faizabad, Chinglepet, Salem, Bhavani, Nargund, Mudhol, Surpur, Jamkhandi, Supa, Dandeli, Ulavi,

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Nargund, Mudhol, Surpur, Jamkhandi, Supa, Dandeli, Ulavi, Ankola, Mundargi, Tanjavur, North Arcot, Malabar, the coastal-Godavery belt, Adibalad, Warangal, Cuddapah, Nellore, Khandesh (Nasik-Jalgaon-Dhule), Gulbarga, Dharwad, Raichur, Udupi, Mangalore, Raigad and many others

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The lies about PunjabThe lies about PunjabThe lies about PunjabThe lies about Punjab• British were supported by a

handful of princes from Kind, Nabha, Faridkot, Patiala and Kapurthala

• The mutinies in the garrisions of Punjab on May 9, 1857 and again May 23, 1857 and on June 8, 1857 in Jalandhar

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1857 in Jalandhar

• Spread all over Punjab. Sialkot, Phillaur, Noorpur, Nasirabad, Ferozepur, Noshera, Ambala, Mirzapur, Simla, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hazrah, Dera Ismail Khan,Abbotabad, Bunno, Kohat, Peshawar, Multan, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Rawalpindi and so on.

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Artisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weapons

• Artisans and peasants joined in the rebel armies

and gave them logistical support

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and gave them logistical support

• Large number of weavers joined the armed

uprisings

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Adivasis take up armsAdivasis take up armsAdivasis take up armsAdivasis take up arms

Few examples

• Santhals, Chuars, Kols in Jharkhand and Chhota

Nagpur

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• Gonds in Nagpur

• Bhils and Ramoshis in Karnataka and

Maharashtra

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Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs

unitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the British• Zafar appealed to Hindus,

Muslims and Sikhs to throw out the treacherous British

• Nana Saheb’s firmans in Persian appealed to all

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Persian appealed to all communities

• Several Urdu akhbars in Delhi appealed against splittist tactics of British and to during the siege and ignore rumours and provocations organised by British agents 37

The BattlesThe BattlesThe BattlesThe Battles• The Ghadris of Delhi,

Lucknow, Bithoor, Jhansi and Arrah fought valiantly

• Delhi fell in September of 1857

• Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhansi

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• Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhansi

• Tatia Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Nana Saheb and Kunwar Singh fought for over a year using brilliant guerilla tactics

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Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter

British Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in Parliament

• Industrial bourgeoisie in

Britain throws out the

merchants of East India

Company as inefficient

plunderers

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plunderers

• Queen Victoria issues a

proclamation as

representative of British

bourgeoisie

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Ghadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject Victoria

• A firman issued in the name of Birjis Qadr from Lucknow said:

– the promises Victoria was holding forth to Indians were totally deceptive; the British had never fulfilled their

Duleep Singh

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totally deceptive; the British had never fulfilled their promises.

– The Rebels gave a list, which included practically every important state in India demolished by Britain, from that of Tipu Sultan in Mysore, to that of Duleep Singh in the Punjab.

Tipu Sultan

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• The rebels were concerned with what had

happened to the whole of “Hindustan”.

• The proclamation told the Sepoys, and all

Ghadris, not to believe the British, who would

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Ghadris, not to believe the British, who would

ultimately kill them. Queen Victoria’s

promises meant nothing: the Indians were

destined under her to be only the hewers of

wood and drawers of water, and not masters

of their own house.

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Cause of defeatCause of defeatCause of defeatCause of defeat

• The main cause of

defeat was

treachery by

princes of Gwalior,

Punjab,Nepal and

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Punjab,Nepal and

Kashmir

• British used Indians

against Indians

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GenocideGenocideGenocideGenocide

• Recent estimates put the

number of victims of this

genocide at 1 crore

• Large scale massacre of

peasants, artisans,

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peasants, artisans,

soldiers, burning of whole

villages. Loot, plunder and

destruction.

• Every tree on the grand

trunk road had at least

one rebel body hanging

Khooni Darwaza

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Mass migrationsMass migrationsMass migrationsMass migrations

• There were mass migrations

• Some outside the country to Mauritius, West Indies, East Timor etc

• Millions fled the Gangetic plain

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• Millions fled the Gangetic plain

• For example the textile towns of Malegaon and Bhiwandi gave refuge to thousands of weavers and others fleeing from North

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Traitors RewardedTraitors RewardedTraitors RewardedTraitors Rewarded

• Kings who had helped the British and betrayed the Ghadar were richly rewarded

• Jiwaji Rao Sindhia of Gwalior, Rajas of Kapurthala, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Nepal, Kashmir, Nizam of Hyderabad, Wodeyars of Mysore and several others.

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Mysore and several others.

• Traitorous Zamindars were rewarded. Olive branch held out to rebel Talukdars of Awadh

• Many others like Ganga Dhar, grand father of Nehru, Syed Ahmed rewarded

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British misinformation and British misinformation and British misinformation and British misinformation and

diversionary debatesdiversionary debatesdiversionary debatesdiversionary debates

• Mutiny or National Uprising or Jihad and Dharmyudh

• Upper castes or all castes

• Revenge of the Mussalman

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• Feudal reaction with no modern vision

• Spontaneous or planned

• First war of Independence?

• Brought to fruition in 1947

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LessonsLessonsLessonsLessons

• The Great Ghadar of 1857 represented a watershed in the national liberation struggle

• Indians of all castes religious faiths regions and nationalities unitedly rose up against the British rule and tried to establish their own rule

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• Main cause of defeat was treachery by some Indian princes and zamindars

• Confusion sowed among Indians that British represent enlightenment while the rebels represent feudalism and the oppressive Brahmanical order

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Communist

Ghadar

Party of

India

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