what were the reasons of the revolt 1857|class 12 ncert|BPSC |free download pdf

The revolt of 1857 did not break out immediately but it was a simmering discontent running in the minds of every sections of the society. The Revolt 1857 witnesses the evolution of nationalism in India. Nationalism emerged from the French revolution. Almost every groups like kings, queens, farmers, peasants, landlords, landless, craftsmen, artisans, Indian sepoys and even tribals were hardly hit by the harsh laws.

It was the first time when people of all sections joined the movement and stood against the colonial government. There was a number of revolts before 1857, but all the revolts were brutally suppressed.

There are several reasons behind the Revolt of 1857, which is given below.

1. Political cause: As we know every groups of people were suffered hard by the Britishers. It was the subsidiary alliance and the doctorine of lapse, made Indians to accept the authority of the British. This was the indirect method to spring up the British region without firing a bullet. Our Indian rulers were forced to accept the orders and follow the guidelines issued by the British. A regident was appointed, who often intervened in the internal affairs of the king, and the king had to change it's policy.

2. Social cause: The British government undermined  Indian culture and ethics. They brought divide and rule policy, conversion of religion policy, and fear. The charter act 1813 empowered the British government to allow Christian missionaries in India and spread their religion. They offered to waive off the loans of the loan-trapped farmers at the cost of conversion of religion. Using divide and rule policy, the government always tried to break the year-earned social harmony.

3. Economic cause: British government not only exploited our rich resources but also brought de-industrialisation in India. They purchased our raw materials at a very cheap rates and exported to England and earned multiple times profits. Our local cotton raw materials producers were not allowed to sell their high quality of cotton raw to any Indians. The fine quality of raw fibre was directly purchased through British agents.

Increasing in taxes from peasants resulted in, farmers started leaving their villages or joined other professions. British met it's expenditure by collected revenues.

Permanent settlement system, Ryotwari and Mahalwari system, all were meant to generate more and more taxes.

In the advent of industrialisation, the machine made products flooded in the Indian markets. Our craftsmen who took orders from the kings for manufacturing swords and other Iron weapons were hardly discouraged because the British government sought new sophisticated weapons rather than Indian traditional weapons. Since our kings were not allowed to keep forces, so the requirements from the kings decreased drastically.

The artists who were patronised by the Mughals now had no works in the British offices therefore many artists changed their professions, many joined industries or farming.

4. Immediate cause: The British government introduced Enfield Rifle. There was a rumour that the cartridge of the rifle is made of cow beef and pig pork. Indian sepoys felt that this way the British wanted to malign our religion.

Indian sepoys and their ranks, promotion and salary were not equal to the British sepoys. British sepoys were promoted to a high rank, increased salary and other amenities, but all these were denied from the Indian sepoys. So here the inequality led to discrimination and finally resulted in revolts.

Our Indian soldiers were discriminated. They compelled Indian sepoys to give service abroad. Indian hesitate to go there, they believed that their religion would loose once We go outside. When they returned India, even his village didn't recognise him, assuming the sepoys had lost his religion.

Conclusion: It was the first war of independence. Lack of proper leadership, and modern weapons to counter the British soldiers, lack in interest shown by landlords and some states, ultimately led to defeat.

However We were defeated, but a sense of oneness and patriotic feelings emerged in the minds of common people.