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revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857 first took place in Meerut, a military contonment where the battalions of the native army were stationed. On 24th April 1857 when 85 troopers of the third Cavalry refused to touch the cartridges on the parade ground, they were court martialled and sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment. On May 9, the condemned men were led to the parade ground and infront of the public and other troops, were stripped off their uniforms. The very next day the rest of the sepoys revolted.

They reached Delhi at day break on 11th May and proclaimed Bahadur Shah, the 82 year old as their leader. The sepoys from Meerut and the Delhi contonment began the rampage. The civil and military authorities, taken by surprise could not defend the city. The British realised the importance of Delhi and arrived with reinforcements from the Punjab on August 7. By September 1857, Delhi was recaptured Bahadur Shah was forced to surrender and was taken prisoner. He and his favourite queen Zeenat Mahal was exiled.

The events at Kanpur were directed by Dhondu Pant also known as Nana Saheb. The sepoys looted the treasury and targeted the British entrenchment where their soldiers and families had taken refuge. On 25th June a peace treaty was signed, the families were allowed to leave and boats with food supply were to be provided. When they left the Indian rebels shot and killed most of the prisoners and threw their bodies down a well. Nana Saheb was proclaimed the Peshwa. In return, general Havelock routed Nana's army but Nana fled with his family across the Ganages. After Nana Saheb fled, the real authority passed in the hands of his Commander-in-Chief Tantia Tope. Sir Colin Campbell defeated him on 6th December.

In Lucknow, as the Nawab was taken prisoner, his wife Hazrat Mahal encouraged the troops to rebel in Awadh. The rebel sepoys besieged the commander Henry Lawrence, British soldiers and the loyal troops who held on to the Residency for 90 days. Meanwhile, Wajid Ali Shah's son Birjis Kadr was proclaimed Nawab of Awadh. On September 25th the numerically small column of Sir Henry Havelock defeated the sepoys in a series of battles. On 18th November a large army under the new Commander-in-Chief took over the city.

In Jhansi and Gwalior the troops under the inspiring leadership of Rani Laxmibai put a stiff resistance to the British. But Sir Hugh Rose captured Jhansi. Rani joined Tantia Tope at Kalpi and were again defeated by Rose. So they marched to Gwalior. Sir Hugh Rose drew up a plan to recapture Gwalior. Dressed in a man's attire and riding a horse Rani fought the British forces only to die a soldiers death. Tantia Tope was captured when he was asleep and carried to British camp at Sipri where he was tried and sentenced to death.

In Bihar an 80 year old Rajput landowner Kunwar Singh led the struggle. The struggle spread over Shahabad, in the Gaya district and the Chotanagpur belt. Surendra Sai led the rebellion in Sambalpur. In the Punjab, Ahmad Khan in Multan raised his voice in protest. There were similar uprisings in Hissar, Rohtak and Rewari.

Common people like peasants, artisans, craftsmen, religious preachers, etc., joined the revolt. They destroyed government buildings and court houses and provided the rebels with food and shelter.


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