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Indian Freedom Struggle (1707–1947 A.D.)

Notes been organised which was mercilessly suppressed by Colonel Neill who put to death all rebels,
suspected and even disorderly boys. By July 1858 the rebellion had been almost completely
suppressed.

7.3 Why the Revolt Failed

The Revolt of 1857 was localized, restricted and poorly organised: The Bombay and the Madras
armies remained loyal. India south of the Narbada was very little disturbed. Sind and Rajasthan
remained quiet and Nepal’s help proved of great avail in the suppression of the Revolt. Dost
Mohammad, the ruler of Afghanistan, remained friendly. The Punjab was effectively controlled
by John Lawrence. The worst affected area were Western Bihar, Oudh, Rohilkhand, Delhi, and the
territory between the Chambal and the Narbada.
The resources of the British Empire were far superior to those of the rebels. Luckily for the British
the Crimean and the Chinese wars had been concluded by 1856, and British troops numbering
1,12,000 poured into India from all parts of the world. About 3,10,000 additional Indian soldiers
were recruited in India. The Indian soldiers had very few guns and muskets and mostly fought
with swords and spears. On the other hand, the European soldiers were equipped with the latest
weapons of war like the Enfield rifle about which Nana Sahib said: “The blue cap kills before they
fire”. The electric telegraph kept the Commander-in-Chief informed about the movements of the
Indian rebels and their strategy. A concerted plan was formed to suppress the Rebellion. Russell,
the Correspondent of The Times of London, summed up the advantages of the electric telegraph
thus: “Never since its discovery has the electric telegraph played so important and daring a role
as it now does in India; without it the Commander-in-Chief would lose the effect of half his force.
It has served him better than his right arm”. Considering the vast resources of the British Empire
and her naval superiority, it may be said that even if the English had been driven back to the
coastal areas or into the sea, before long she would have reconquered India by her superior
military strength.
The revolt of 1857 was mainly feudal in character carrying with it some nationalistic elements. The
feudal elements of Oudh, Rohilkhand and some other parts of Northern India led the rebellion;
other feudal prices like the Rajas of Patiala, Jhind, Gwalior, Hyderabad helped in its suppression.
European historians have greatly praised Sir Dinkar Rao, the Minister of Gwalior, and Salar Jang,
the Wazir of Hyderabad, for their loyalty. In the movement of crisis Canning said: “If the Sindhia
joins the Mutiny, I shall have to pack off tomorrow,”. Canning acted very wisely when he gave
solemn assurances to the Indian princes and thus won over their support. The Indian princes were
amply rewarded after the suppression of the Rebellion. The districts of Berar were restored to the
Nizam and his debts remitted. Nepal was rewarded by the cession of some Oudh territory. The
Sindhia, the Gaikwar and the Rajput princes also received some rewards or concessions.
The Revolt was poorly organised. The leader of the Revolt were not lacking in bravery, but were
deficient in experience, organising ability and concerted operations. Surprise attacks and guerilla
tactics could not win them their lost independence. The various commissions and boards appointed
by the Government of India and provincial governments after the suppression of the rebellion
could not find any plan behind the rebellion or any scheme on which the movement was launched.
The trial of Bahadur Shah II proved that the rebellion was as much a surprise to him as to the
British.
The rebels had no common ideal before them except the anti-foreign sentiments. Bahadur Shah II
was declared the Emperor at Delhi, while at Kanpur and Gwalior Nana Sahib was proclaimed the
Peshwa. Hindu-Muslim differences lay dormant against the common enemy, but were not dead.
The peasants and the inferior castes showed no active sympathies; the soldiers in the Bombay and
Madras armies were recruited from the lower castes and they remained loyal.
The East India Company was fortunate in having the services of men of exceptional abilities in the
Lawrence brothers, Nicholson, Outram, Havelock, Edwards etc. They fought the toughest battles
in the initial stages of the Revolt and controlled the situation till reinforcements were received
from abroad.

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