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Santosh Kumar, Lovely Professional University Unit 7: The First Major Challenge

Unit 7: The First Major Challenge Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
7.1 Causes of the Revolt of 1857
7.2 The Beginning of Spread and Suppression on the Revolt

7.3 Why the Revolt Failed
7.4 Aftermath of the Revolt
7.5 Selected Opinions of the Revolt of 1857
7.6 Summary

7.7 Key-Words
7.8 Review Questions
7.9 Further Readings

Objectives
After studying this unit, students will be able to:
• Discuss the Doctrine of Lapse
• Comment on Lord Dalhousie’s reforms

Introduction

There is a broad general consensus among historians that in the middle of the 19th century
conception of nationality—if nationalism is taken in the modern sense—was in embryo, Prof. S. N.
Sen remarks that Indian in 1857 was “a geographical expression” and the Bengalees, the Punjabis,
the Hindustanis, the Maharastrians and the people in the south did not realise that they belonged
to the same nation.
Was the Mutiny and Revolt of 1857 a War of Independence? Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote: “Essentially
it was a feudal outburst headed by feudal chiefs and their followers and aided by the widespread
anti-foreign sentiment.” Nehru refers to the rural base of the Revolt and points out that even the
feudal chiefs were unorganised and had no constructive ideal or community of interests. The
rulers of princely States as a whole kept aloof or helped the British, fearing to risk what they had
acquired or managed to retain. Prof. R. C. Majumdar argues that some segments of Indian society
in many parts of India fought against the British, but their motives seems to have material interest
and religious considerations and in very few individual cases the rulers were moved by the
disinterested and patriotic motive of freeing the country from the yoke of imperial British rule.
Majumdar concludes: “It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the so-called First National War
of Independence of 1857 is neither First, nor National nor War of Independence”.
Prof. S.N. Sen looks upon the events of 1857 in the broader perspective and argues that revolts and
revolutions are mostly the work of minority, with or without the active sympathy of the masses as
it happened during the American War of Independence or even the French Revolution. Following
this logic, Sen concludes: “What began as a fight for religion ended as a War of Independence for
there is not the slightest doubt that the rebels wanted to get rid of the alien government and
restore the old of which the King of Delhi was the rightful representative.

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