Study this in the app →

English · हिन्दी · తెలుగు · தமிழ் · മലയാളം · मराठी · ಕನ್ನಡ

Quick recap: The Revolt of 1857 on one page

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಣೆ

The Revolt of 1857 · Quick recap · Fact-checked on · how we check

Written with AI from the sources listed at the bottom of this page, then fact-checked by a separate AI.

Both parts of the chapter condensed for quick revision: the political, economic, socio-religious and military causes, the greased cartridges and the outbreak, the centres, leaders and British commanders, why the revolt failed, its nature, the Government of India Act 1858, the Queen's Proclamation and the reorganisation of the army.

Each idea is explained first in Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ), ending with the English and Hindi exam terms, followed by the same point in exam English. UPSC Prelims is in English or Hindi, so understand it in Kannada and revise it in English.

ಈ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯದ ಕಥೆ: 1857ರ ದಂಗೆ ಈಸ್ಟ್ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ಕಂಪನಿ ಆಡಳಿತಕ್ಕೆ ಎದುರಾದ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಸವಾಲು. ಭಾಗ 1 — ಕಾರಣಗಳು, ಆರಂಭ; ಭಾಗ 2 — ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳು, ನಾಯಕರು, ದಮನ, ಫಲಿತಾಂಶಗಳು. ಒಂದೇ ದಾರ: ರಾಜರು, ಭೂಮಾಲೀಕರು, ರೈತರು, ಕುಶಲಕರ್ಮಿಗಳು, ಸೈನಿಕರ ಅಸಮಾಧಾನ ಬಂಗಾಳ ಸೈನ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾಯಿತು; ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಭಯ ಕಿಡಿಯಾಯಿತು; ಒಂದೇ ನಾಯಕತ್ವವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಉತ್ತರದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಹರಡಿತು. ಹಲವು ಹಳ್ಳಗಳು ಒಂದು ನದಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿ ಪ್ರವಾಹವಾದಂತೆ — ಆದರೆ ಆ ಪ್ರವಾಹಕ್ಕೆ ದಾರಿ ತೋರಿಸುವ ಕಾಲುವೆ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಸೋಲಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಂಪನಿ ಆಡಳಿತ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು. (→ English: Revolt of 1857 · East India Company · हिन्दी: 1857 का विद्रोह · ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी)

In exam EnglishThe Revolt of 1857 was the largest armed challenge to East India Company rule. Part 1 explained its causes and its outbreak; Part 2 followed its centres and leaders, its suppression and its results. One thread joins them: grievances felt by rulers, landholders, peasants, artisans and soldiers met in the Bengal Army, a religious fear gave them a spark, and the rising spread across the north without a single command. Its defeat brought Company rule to an end and changed the way Britain governed India.

ಕಾರಣಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಬಂದವು. ರಾಜಕೀಯ: ಡಾಲ್‌ಹೌಸಿಯ ದತ್ತು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಹಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ ನೀತಿ — ಸತಾರಾ 1848, ಝಾನ್ಸಿ 1853, ನಾಗಪುರ 1854; ನಾನಾ ಸಾಹೇಬನ ಪಿಂಚಣಿ ಹೋಯಿತು; ಅವಧ್ 1856ರಲ್ಲಿ ದುರಾಡಳಿತದ ಕಾರಣ ವಿಲೀನ; ಮೊಘಲ್ ಬಿರುದು ಕೊನೆಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿತ್ತು. ಆರ್ಥಿಕ: ಭಾರೀ ಕಂದಾಯ; ಇನಾಂ ಆಯೋಗ (1852, ಬಾಂಬೆ); 1856ರ ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತ ಒಪ್ಪಂದದಿಂದ ಅವಧ್‌ನ ತಾಲೂಕ್ದಾರರ ಭೂಮಿ ಹೋಯಿತು; ಕುಶಲಕರ್ಮಿಗಳ ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆ ಹೋಯಿತು. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ: ಸತಿ ರದ್ದು 1829, ಜಾತಿ ಅನರ್ಹತೆ ನಿವಾರಣೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 1850, ವಿಧವಾ ಪುನರ್ವಿವಾಹ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 1856, ಮಿಷನರಿಗಳು. ಸೈನ್ಯ: ಅವಧ್, ಬಿಹಾರದ ಮೇಲ್ಜಾತಿ ಸಿಪಾಯಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಸಂಬಳ, ಸುಬೇದಾರನವರೆಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬಡ್ತಿ, ಬಟ್ಟಾ ನಷ್ಟ, 1856ರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ; ವೆಲ್ಲೂರು 1806 — ಅಸಮಾಧಾನ ಹೊಸದಲ್ಲ. ಒಂದೊಂದೇ ಇಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಜೋಡಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಅಸಮಾಧಾನದ ಗೋಡೆ ಎತ್ತರವಾಯಿತು. (→ English: Doctrine of lapse · Taluqdar · Sepoy · हिन्दी: व्यपगत का सिद्धांत · ताल्लुक़दार · सिपाही)

In exam EnglishThe causes came from every side. Politically, Dalhousie's Doctrine of lapse took Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854), Nana Saheb lost his pension, Awadh was annexed in 1856 for misgovernment, and the Mughal title was to end. Economically, revenue was heavy, the Inam Commission (1852) resumed rent-free lands in Bombay, the summary settlement of 1856 stripped Awadh's Taluqdars, and artisans lost their markets and patrons. Socially, the abolition of sati (1829), the Caste Disabilities Removal Act (1850), the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act (1856) and missionary work alarmed the orthodox. In the army, high-caste Sepoys from Awadh and Bihar resented low pay, promotion only to subedar, the loss of batta and the General Service Enlistment Act (1856); Vellore (1806) showed that such anger was not new.

ಕಿಡಿ — ಎನ್‌ಫೀಲ್ಡ್ ರೈಫಲ್‌ನ ಕೊಬ್ಬು ಸವರಿದ ತೋಟಾ; ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸು, ಹಂದಿ ಕೊಬ್ಬು ಎಂಬ ವದಂತಿ. ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ 1857 — ಬೆರ್ಹಾಂಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ 19ನೇ ನೇಟಿವ್ ಇನ್‌ಫೆಂಟ್ರಿ ನಿರಾಕರಣೆ; 29 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ — ಬ್ಯಾರಕ್‌ಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ 34ನೇ ಪಡೆಯ ಮಂಗಲ್ ಪಾಂಡೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ದಾಳಿ. ಮೀರತ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ 9 ಮೇ ರಂದು 3ನೇ ಲೈಟ್ ಕ್ಯಾವಲ್ರಿ ಸೈನಿಕರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮುಂದೆ ಸಂಕೋಲೆ; ಮರುದಿನ, 10 ಮೇ ರಂದು ಪಡೆಗಳು ದಂಗೆ ಎದ್ದು ದೆಹಲಿಗೆ; 11 ಮೇ ರಂದು ಎರಡನೇ ಬಹದ್ದೂರ್ ಷಾ ಹಿಂದೂಸ್ತಾನದ ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಣೆ. ಮೂರು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು: ಒಬ್ಬನ ದಾಳಿ, ಸಾಮೂಹಿಕ ದಂಗೆ, ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿಯ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ. (→ English: Greased cartridges · Mangal Pandey · हिन्दी: चिकनाई वाले कारतूस · मंगल पांडे)

In exam EnglishThe spark was the greased cartridge of the Enfield rifle, rumoured to carry cow and pig fat. The 19th Native Infantry refused it at Berhampore in February 1857, and on 29 March Mangal Pandey of the 34th Native Infantry attacked his officers at Barrackpore. At Meerut, troopers of the 3rd Light Cavalry were publicly fettered on 9 May; the next day, 10 May, the regiments rose and marched to Delhi, where on 11 May they proclaimed Bahadur Shah II Emperor of Hindustan.

ದಂಗೆಗೆ ಹಲವು ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳು. ದೆಹಲಿ — ಬಹದ್ದೂರ್ ಷಾನ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಖ್ತ್ ಖಾನ್; ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್ 1857ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷ್ ದಾಳಿ, ನಿಕೊಲ್ಸನ್ ಸಾವು, ಹಡ್ಸನ್ ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದ, ರಂಗೂನ್‌ಗೆ ಗಡಿಪಾರು. ಕಾನ್ಪುರ — ನಾನಾ ಸಾಹೇಬ, ತಾತ್ಯಾ ಟೋಪೆ, ಅಜೀಮುಲ್ಲಾ ಖಾನ್; ಜುಲೈ 1857ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹ್ಯಾವ್‌ಲಾಕ್. ಲಕ್ನೋ — ಬೇಗಂ ಹಜರತ್ ಮಹಲ್; ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 1858ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲಿನ್ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪ್‌ಬೆಲ್. ಝಾನ್ಸಿ — ರಾಣಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಬಾಯಿ, ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 1858ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹ್ಯೂ ರೋಸ್‌ಗೆ ಸೋಲು; ಜೂನ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ವಾಲಿಯರ್ ಬಳಿ ಮರಣ; ತಾತ್ಯಾ ಟೋಪೆಗೆ 1859ರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಲ್ಲು. ಬಿಹಾರ — ಕುಂವರ್ ಸಿಂಗ್; ಬರೇಲಿ — ಖಾನ್ ಬಹದ್ದೂರ್ ಖಾನ್. ಪಂಜಾಬ್ (ಜಾನ್ ಲಾರೆನ್ಸ್), ದಕ್ಷಿಣ, ಬಹುತೇಕ ರಾಜರು, ನಿಜಾಮ ನಿಷ್ಠರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ, ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ, ವ್ಯಾಪಕ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ — ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷ್ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲ, ಶಸ್ತ್ರ, ತಂತಿ ಸಂದೇಶದ ಮುಂದೆ ಸೋತಿತು. ಬಿಡಿ ಬಿಡಿ ಕಡ್ಡಿಗಳು ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಮುರಿಯುತ್ತವೆ; ಕಟ್ಟಿದ ಹೊರೆ ಮುರಿಯದು. (→ English: Rani Lakshmibai · Tantia Tope · हिन्दी: रानी लक्ष्मीबाई · तात्या टोपे)

In exam EnglishThe rising had many centres. At Delhi Bakht Khan commanded in Bahadur Shah's name until the British stormed the city in September 1857; Nicholson was killed, Hodson captured the emperor, and Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon. Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope and Azimullah Khan led at Kanpur, which Havelock retook in July 1857. Begum Hazrat Mahal led at Lucknow, retaken by Colin Campbell in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai lost Jhansi to Hugh Rose in April 1858 and died near Gwalior in June; Tantia Tope was hanged in 1859. Kunwar Singh led in Bihar and Khan Bahadur Khan at Bareilly. Punjab under John Lawrence, the south, most princes and the Nizam stayed loyal, and the revolt failed for want of common leadership, a programme and wider support against British resources, arms and the telegraph.

ಇತಿಹಾಸಕಾರರು 1857ನ್ನು ಸಿಪಾಯಿ ದಂಗೆ, ಊಳಿಗಮಾನ್ಯ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ, ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ದಂಗೆ ಎಂದರು; ಸಾವರ್ಕರ್‌ರ 1909ರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಸಮರ ಎಂದಿತು; ಇಂದು ಬಹುತೇಕರು — ದಂಗೆಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯತೆಗಿಂತ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 1858ರ ಭಾರತ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ: ಕಂಪನಿ ಆಡಳಿತ ಅಂತ್ಯ; ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಆಫ್ ಡೈರೆಕ್ಟರ್ಸ್, ಬೋರ್ಡ್ ಆಫ್ ಕಂಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಬದಲು ಭಾರತ ಮಂತ್ರಿ, 15 ಸದಸ್ಯರ ಕೌನ್ಸಿಲ್; ಗವರ್ನರ್ ಜನರಲ್ ವೈಸರಾಯ್ ಕೂಡ — ಮೊದಲು ಕ್ಯಾನಿಂಗ್. ರಾಣಿಯ ಘೋಷಣೆ (ಅಲಹಾಬಾದ್, 1 ನವೆಂಬರ್ 1858): ವಿಲೀನ ನಿಲುಗಡೆ, ರಾಜರು ಮತ್ತು ಧರ್ಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ, ಸಮಾನ ಕಾನೂನು, ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಹುದ್ದೆ, ಕ್ಷಮೆ. ಪೀಲ್ ಆಯೋಗ (1859): ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಯೂರೋಪಿಯನ್ ಸೈನಿಕರು, ನಿಷ್ಠ ಗುಂಪುಗಳಿಂದ ನೇಮಕಾತಿ; ರಾಜರು ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ಮಿತ್ರರಾದರು. ಹಳೆಯ ಮಾಲೀಕ ಹೋಗಿ ಹೊಸಬ ಬಂದು ಮನೆಯ ನಿಯಮಗಳನ್ನೇ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಬರೆದಂತೆ. (→ English: Secretary of State for India · Viceroy · Queen's Proclamation · हिन्दी: भारत सचिव · वायसराय · महारानी की उद्घोषणा)

In exam EnglishHistorians have called 1857 a sepoy mutiny, a feudal reaction, a popular uprising and, in V. D. Savarkar's book of 1909, a war of independence; most now see it as more than a mutiny but not yet nationalism. The Government of India Act of August 1858 ended Company rule: a Secretary of State for India with a 15-member Council of India replaced the Court of Directors and the Board of Control, and the Governor-General became also Viceroy, Canning being the first. The Queen's Proclamation, read by Canning at Allahabad on 1 November 1858, gave up annexation, promised respect for the princes and for religion, equal law and office open to all, and offered pardon. The Peel Commission (1859) remade the army with more European troops and recruits from groups judged loyal, and the princes became Britain's allies.
The Revolt of 1857 at a glance
ItemKey facts
Doctrine of lapseSatara 1848, Jhansi 1853, Nagpur 1854 (Awadh 1856 was for misgovernment)
Laws that alarmed the orthodoxSati abolished 1829; Caste Disabilities Removal Act 1850; Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act 1856
Military grievancesPromotion only to subedar; loss of batta; General Service Enlistment Act 1856 (Canning)
OutbreakBerhampore (19th NI, Feb 1857); Barrackpore, Mangal Pandey (29 Mar); Meerut (10 May); Delhi (11 May)
Rebel leadersBakht Khan (Delhi), Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope (Kanpur), Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow), Lakshmibai (Jhansi), Kunwar Singh (Bihar), Khan Bahadur Khan (Bareilly)
British commandersNicholson, Hodson (Delhi); Havelock, Outram, Campbell (Kanpur, Lucknow); Hugh Rose (central India)
Act of 1858Crown rule; Secretary of State and 15-member Council of India; Viceroy (Canning first)
Queen's ProclamationAllahabad, 1 Nov 1858: no annexation, respect for princes and religion, equal law, office open to all

Exam traps

Recap

Practice questions

Q1. Which one of the following states was annexed on the ground of misgovernment rather than under the doctrine of lapse?

  1. Satara
  2. Jhansi
  3. Nagpur
  4. Awadh
Show answer

Answer: D. Awadh

Awadh was annexed in 1856 for alleged misgovernment. Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854) were all taken under the doctrine of lapse, so (a), (b) and (c) are wrong.

Q2. Consider the following statements:
1. Mangal Pandey of the 34th Native Infantry attacked his officers at Barrackpore in March 1857.
2. The general rising of the regiments began at Meerut on 10 May 1857.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Both are correct: Mangal Pandey's attack was on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore, and the regiments at Meerut rose on 10 May. Hence (a), (b) and (d) are wrong.

Q3. Arrange the following in chronological order:
1. Caste Disabilities Removal Act
2. Vellore mutiny
3. Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act
4. Inam Commission set up in Bombay
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 2-1-4-3
  2. 2-4-1-3
  3. 1-2-4-3
  4. 2-1-3-4
Show answer

Answer: A. 2-1-4-3

Vellore 1806, Caste Disabilities Removal Act 1850, Inam Commission 1852, Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act 1856. Option (b) puts the Inam Commission before the 1850 Act; (c) puts the 1850 Act before Vellore; (d) puts the 1856 Act before the 1852 Commission.

Q4. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856, which required new recruits to serve overseas if ordered, was passed when the Governor-General was

  1. Lord Dalhousie
  2. Lord Canning
  3. Lord Hardinge
  4. Lord Ellenborough
Show answer

Answer: B. Lord Canning

It was passed under Canning, who took over in 1856. Dalhousie's term (1848–56) is linked with the doctrine of lapse and Awadh; Hardinge and Ellenborough governed in the 1840s, before the Act.

Q5. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi died fighting in June 1858 near

  1. Jhansi
  2. Kanpur
  3. Gwalior
  4. Lucknow
Show answer

Answer: C. Gwalior

After Jhansi fell to Hugh Rose in April 1858 she joined Tantia Tope, seized Gwalior and died fighting near it in June 1858. She did not die at Jhansi, and Kanpur and Lucknow were the centres of Nana Saheb and Begum Hazrat Mahal.

Q6. Consider the following statements about the Government of India Act, 1858:
1. The Council of India that assisted the Secretary of State had fifteen members and an advisory role.
2. The Governor-General was also given the title of Viceroy, and Lord Canning was the first to hold it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Both are correct: the Council of India had fifteen members and only advised the Secretary of State, and Canning became the first Viceroy. Hence (a), (b) and (d) are wrong.

Q7. Who among the following set up a government at Bareilly in the name of the Mughal emperor during the Revolt of 1857?

  1. Khan Bahadur Khan
  2. Kunwar Singh
  3. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
  4. Azimullah Khan
Show answer

Answer: A. Khan Bahadur Khan

Khan Bahadur Khan, a descendant of Hafiz Rahmat Khan, led at Bareilly. Kunwar Singh led in Bihar, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah at Faizabad, and Azimullah Khan was Nana Saheb's adviser at Kanpur.

Q8. The Peel Commission of 1859 is associated with

  1. Famine relief
  2. Reorganisation of the army
  3. Land revenue settlement in Awadh
  4. University education
Show answer

Answer: B. Reorganisation of the army

After 1857 the Peel Commission dealt with the army: more European soldiers, artillery in European hands and recruitment from groups judged loyal. It had nothing to do with famine relief, Awadh's revenue settlement or universities, so (a), (c) and (d) are wrong.

← Part 2All parts

Study this in the Upscore app to keep notes, save it for revision, track your practice scores and follow a plan to the exam date. It's free.

Study this in the app →

Sources