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The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857The Great Ghadar of 1857
Coloured HistoryColoured HistoryColoured HistoryColoured History
• Most one sided story ever written as history
• Only the British impressions, documents and point of view
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• British suppressed any chronicling
• Very little research into anti-colonial struggles even after independence
2
Why ?Why ?Why ?Why ?
• The story is too stirring and inspiring even today
• The message and vision of 1857 threatened the Capitalist and landlord
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1857 threatened the Capitalist and landlord classes of India and the state, which were created by British colonialism, in order to rule the Indians
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Message of 1857Message of 1857Message of 1857Message of 1857• Uncompromising struggle
against British colonialism by all Indians, irrespective of their caste, religion and region
• A modern democratic spirit
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• A modern democratic spirit that allowed Indian people to decide the political and economic future of India
• They are unfulfilled even today despite the transfer of power in 1947
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Overview of the presentationOverview of the presentationOverview of the presentationOverview of the presentation
• What happened in 1857?
• The myths and reality
• What were the effects of British rule in India
that led to such a national war of Independence?
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that led to such a national war of Independence?
• The lessons of 1857 learnt by Indian revolution
and British colonialism
• The colonial legacy5
Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British Annexation of India by British
treachery and cunningtreachery and cunningtreachery and cunningtreachery and cunning
• By 1857, the British
through the East India
Company, ruled almost
the whole of what is
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Company, ruled almost
the whole of what is
currently India,
Pakistan, Myanmar
and Sri Lanka
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Indians deprived of theirIndians deprived of theirIndians deprived of theirIndians deprived of their
sovereigntysovereigntysovereigntysovereignty
• The rule was direct in Bengal Presidency, Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency
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• British rule was indirect, in other areas, like Gwalior, Awadh, Hyderabad, Mysore, Patiala, Kapurthala etc
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Political MapPolitical MapPolitical MapPolitical Map
of India 1857of India 1857of India 1857of India 1857
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Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over Very few British ruled over
millions of Indiansmillions of Indiansmillions of Indiansmillions of Indians
• All the three presidencies had armies, with nearly 2 lakh Indian soldiers and 38000 British soldiers and officers
• The Bengal Army was the largest and had nearly 135,000 Indian soldiers. There
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largest and had nearly 135,000 Indian soldiers. There were both Hindus and Muslims. 40,000 of these came from Awadh alone
• One of the finest armies in the world from the military view point
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Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’Colonialism of ‘Free Trade’
• The British Parliamentary Reforms of 1832,
signaled industrial capitalists coming to power
in Britain. A new wave of British colonial
expansion began.
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• In this expansion the Bengal Army sepoys
were continuously made canon-fodder, to fight
and die in battle-fields from Crimea to China.
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British policy 1702British policy 1702British policy 1702British policy 1702----1857185718571857
• Trade vs. plunder
• Land question
• Greed and annexation
• Destruction of local manufacture
• Imposition of Manu Smriti based Hindu
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• Imposition of Manu Smriti based Hindu Law
• Mafi lands withdrawn from sepoys
• Sepoys used as cannon fodder against their own people and internationally
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Resistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian peopleResistance of Indian people
YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising
1757175717571757 PalashiPalashiPalashiPalashi
(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)
Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought Sirajuddaulah fought
against British led by against British led by against British led by against British led by
Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by Clive, treachery by
Mir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeatMir Zafar led to defeat
1766176617661766----99999999 Mysore Mysore Mysore Mysore Four wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought against
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857
SirajuddaulahSirajuddaulahSirajuddaulahSirajuddaulah
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1766176617661766----99999999 Mysore Mysore Mysore Mysore
(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)
Four wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought againstFour wars fought against
the British known as the British known as the British known as the British known as
AngloAngloAngloAnglo----Mysore warsMysore warsMysore warsMysore wars
1776177617761776----87878787 ChittagongChittagongChittagongChittagong
(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)
Armed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by peopleArmed uprising by people
in hill tractsin hill tractsin hill tractsin hill tracts
1783178317831783 Rangpur Rangpur Rangpur Rangpur
(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)
Armed peasants HindusArmed peasants HindusArmed peasants HindusArmed peasants Hindus
and Muslims against and Muslims against and Muslims against and Muslims against
company govtcompany govtcompany govtcompany govt
AngloAngloAngloAnglo----Mysore warsMysore warsMysore warsMysore wars 12
YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising
1783178317831783----90909090 Khasi HillsKhasi HillsKhasi HillsKhasi Hills Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against Khasis rebelled against
British incursions on their British incursions on their British incursions on their British incursions on their
rightsrightsrightsrights
1805180518051805----
1806180618061806
VelloreVelloreVelloreVellore
(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)(TamilNadu)
Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys Madras Army sepoys
rebelled against new rebelled against new rebelled against new rebelled against new
British rules ofBritish rules ofBritish rules ofBritish rules of
Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their Nov 1805 regarding their
dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806 dress. On July 10, 1806
theytheytheythey
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857
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theytheytheythey
mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and mutinied in Vellore and
freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons freed Tipu Sultan’s sons
who werewho werewho werewho were
held as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Velloreheld as prisoners in Vellore
1810181018101810 VaranasiVaranasiVaranasiVaranasi General strike by people General strike by people General strike by people General strike by people
for 11 days against house for 11 days against house for 11 days against house for 11 days against house
taxtaxtaxtax
1813181318131813 DhakaDhakaDhakaDhaka Strike against police taxStrike against police taxStrike against police taxStrike against police tax
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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the
uprisinguprisinguprisinguprising
1816181618161816----
1832183218321832
ParlakhemundiParlakhemundiParlakhemundiParlakhemundi
(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)
Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of
Bisoyees of Bisoyees of Bisoyees of Bisoyees of
JeringiJeringiJeringiJeringi
1816181618161816 BareillyBareillyBareillyBareilly Insurrection Insurrection Insurrection Insurrection
against against against against
chowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari tax
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857
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chowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari taxchowkidari tax
1817181718171817----
1825182518251825
KhandeshKhandeshKhandeshKhandesh
(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)
Bhil uprisingBhil uprisingBhil uprisingBhil uprising
1817181718171817 KhurdaKhurdaKhurdaKhurda
(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)
Paiks, local Paiks, local Paiks, local Paiks, local
militia rose up militia rose up militia rose up militia rose up
against Britishagainst Britishagainst Britishagainst British
A memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya PradeshA memorial of Bhil tribes of Madhya Pradesh
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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising
1821182118211821 BamanaghatiBamanaghatiBamanaghatiBamanaghati
(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)
Kol uprising in Kol uprising in Kol uprising in Kol uprising in
Singbhum areaSingbhum areaSingbhum areaSingbhum area
1824182418241824 Bengal ArmyBengal ArmyBengal ArmyBengal Army Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go Soldier refused to go
to Burma to to Burma to to Burma to to Burma to
participate in warparticipate in warparticipate in warparticipate in war
1825,1825,1825,1825,
1833183318331833
MymensinhMymensinhMymensinhMymensinh
(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)
Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans Paglapanthis,peasans
against zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindars
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857
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1833183318331833 (Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh)(Bangladesh) against zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindarsagainst zamindars
1825182518251825 Kittur Kittur Kittur Kittur
(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)
Led by Rani Led by Rani Led by Rani Led by Rani
Chennamma, Chennamma, Chennamma, Chennamma,
people of Kittur people of Kittur people of Kittur people of Kittur
Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought Rebelled and fought
the British forces, the British forces, the British forces, the British forces,
they continuedthey continuedthey continuedthey continued
Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829 Guerilla war till 1829
even after even after even after even after
Chennamma was Chennamma was Chennamma was Chennamma was
captured in1825 captured in1825 captured in1825 captured in1825
Rani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of KitturRani Chennamma of Kittur
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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising
1830183018301830 ShimogaShimogaShimogaShimoga
(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)(Karnataka)
Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection, Peasant insurrection,
peasant raj peasant raj peasant raj peasant raj
established,King'sestablished,King'sestablished,King'sestablished,King's
forces defeated forces defeated forces defeated forces defeated
several times finally several times finally several times finally several times finally
British troopswere British troopswere British troopswere British troopswere
deployeddeployeddeployeddeployed
1831183118311831 Barasat Barasat Barasat Barasat
(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)
Against zamindars and Against zamindars and Against zamindars and Against zamindars and
indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857 wars before 1857
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(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal)(Bengal) indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by indigo planters, led by
TitumirTitumirTitumirTitumir
1831183118311831 ChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpur
(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand----
Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)
Mundas rose up Mundas rose up Mundas rose up Mundas rose up
against dispossession against dispossession against dispossession against dispossession
and money lenders and and money lenders and and money lenders and and money lenders and
zamindarszamindarszamindarszamindars
1831183118311831----
32323232
ChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpurChhotanagpur
(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand(Jharkhand----
Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)Bengal)
Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons, Kols, Cheors, Oraons,
Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars Mundas, Kharwars
rose upagainst money rose upagainst money rose upagainst money rose upagainst money
lenders and land lenders and land lenders and land lenders and land
grabbersgrabbersgrabbersgrabbers
A statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprisingA statue in Jharkhand depicting the Munda uprising
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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprisingNature of the uprising
1834183418341834 GhumsarGhumsarGhumsarGhumsar
(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)
Khonds and people of Khonds and people of Khonds and people of Khonds and people of
Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose Ghumsar state rose
up in arms against the up in arms against the up in arms against the up in arms against the
BritishBritishBritishBritish
1836183618361836----85858585 MalabarMalabarMalabarMalabar
(Kerala)(Kerala)(Kerala)(Kerala)
MoplahMoplahMoplahMoplah rebellion rebellion rebellion rebellion
against against against against janmijanmijanmijanmi
zamindars and British zamindars and British zamindars and British zamindars and British
troopstroopstroopstroops
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857
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troopstroopstroopstroops
1837183718371837----
1850185018501850
BaudhBaudhBaudhBaudh
(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)(Orissa)
Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of Uprising of KhondsKhondsKhondsKhonds and and and and
Bisoyees in Bisoyees in Bisoyees in Bisoyees in
Baudh,KalahandiBaudh,KalahandiBaudh,KalahandiBaudh,Kalahandi
1844184418441844 SuratSuratSuratSurat Mass movement Mass movement Mass movement Mass movement
against Salt Taxagainst Salt Taxagainst Salt Taxagainst Salt Tax
Khond tribeman in war attire
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YearYearYearYear AreaAreaAreaArea Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the Nature of the
uprisinguprisinguprisinguprising
1855185518551855 JharkhandJharkhandJharkhandJharkhand SanthalSanthalSanthalSanthal uprising, uprising, uprising, uprising,
against against against against mahajanmahajanmahajanmahajan, , , ,
zamindarzamindarzamindarzamindar andandandand
Railway Railway Railway Railway
Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors.
Established poor Established poor Established poor Established poor
man's Raj by man's Raj by man's Raj by man's Raj by
uniting all castesuniting all castesuniting all castesuniting all castes
A few antiA few antiA few antiA few anti----colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and colonial uprisings and
wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857wars before 1857
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1857185718571857----
58585858
KhandeshKhandeshKhandeshKhandesh
(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)(Maharashtra)
Bhil and Bhil and Bhil and Bhil and
MackrancheesMackrancheesMackrancheesMackranchees
uprising several uprising several uprising several uprising several
battles withbattles withbattles withbattles with
British forces in British forces in British forces in British forces in
NagarNagarNagarNagar, , , , DhuleDhuleDhuleDhule
thousands took thousands took thousands took thousands took
up arms, special up arms, special up arms, special up arms, special
role of womenrole of womenrole of womenrole of women
A depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weaponsA depiction of Santhal Tribalmen with their weapons
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Two parallel developmentsTwo parallel developmentsTwo parallel developmentsTwo parallel developments
• Aggressive colonialism,
Dalhousie, annexations,
doctrine of lapse,
Increased taxation
• Preparations by various
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• Preparations by various
princes and religious
leaders to organise a
nationwide uprising to
end British ruleLord Dalhousie
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Messages to princes and Messages to princes and Messages to princes and Messages to princes and
commonerscommonerscommonerscommoners
• Messages were sent to hundreds of princes
small and big to join the fight against British
and wait for the signal
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• Peasants and artisans were called on to be
prepared for the uprising. Roti and Kamal
started appearing in different villages in the
Gangetic basin
20
Defend your way of lifeDefend your way of lifeDefend your way of lifeDefend your way of life
• Ulemas and Swamis started preaching the need to defend the Deen and Dharam (Indian way
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Dharam (Indian way of life) which were grossly violated by British rule
21
Bengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodderBengal army as cannon fodder
Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in: Bengal Army was used in:
• The first Afghan War 1839-1842;
• The Gwalior war of 1843;
• Sindh war in 1844;
• The Punjab Wars in 1845-
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• The Punjab Wars in 1845-46 and in 1848-49;
• Opium War in China1840-42, and then again during 1856-60;
• Crimean war against Russia 1854, War in Persia 1856-57.
Crimean war
22
Mobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal ArmyMobilisation in Bengal Army• It began in West Bengal, in
Dumdum first, in January 1857;
• Mangal Pandey, defied the officers and called on his comrades to rise up in March at Barrackpore.
• The flames spread to Lucknow early in May;
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early in May;
• On May 9 and 10, a full scale mutiny erupted at Meerut.
• The Meerut Sepoys marched to Delhi occupied it on May 11 and asked Bahadur Shah Zafar to accept the leadership of the uprising.
23
Signal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprisingSignal for countrywide uprising
• The occupation of
Delhi was the signal.
Widespread mutinies
from Peshawar to
Bengal covering
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Bengal covering
especially the
Gangetic plain and
Central India: Malwa,
Bundelkhand,
Rohilkhand, Awadh
etc
24
Examples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraftExamples of rebel statecraft
• There were several
firman’s issued in the
name of Zafar, Nana
Saheb and Birjis Qadr
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Saheb and Birjis Qadr
which exhibit the
mature, astute and
principled statecraft
of the rebels
Birjis Qadr
25
Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s firman of
May 12, 1857May 12, 1857May 12, 1857May 12, 1857• The firman explained the
difference between the British policy and the policy of the Ghadris regarding princes, zamindars, peasants, sepoys,
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peasants, sepoys, artisans, traders, civil servants etc and called on people of all communities to unite and throw out the British as the precondition to solving all their problems
26
The people will decideThe people will decideThe people will decideThe people will decide
• He also put forth the
most modern concept
of those times:
returning sovereignty
back to people
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• He articulated it by
saying, “as for the
future, the people of
India will decide”
27
They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and They fought for Hindustan and
not narrow self interestnot narrow self interestnot narrow self interestnot narrow self interest
We are its owner, Hindustan is ours. Our nation is sacred, dearer than heaven World is aglow with the light of it soul How old, how new, best of all worldOur very own, Hindustan is ours.
The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:The flag song of Ghadris:
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Our very own, Hindustan is ours.
Flow of Ganga & Yamuna, makes our land fertileOverhead snow-clad mountains-our sentry toweringBelow, trumpets of sea, beating against coasts From mines gold & diamond overflow Our pomp and splendor, best in the world
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Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)Flag song (contd)
Then came firangi from far land cast a magical
spell
Looted our dear land with both hands
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Today, the martyrs call upon whole nation-
Break the shackles of slavery, pour out fire
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, all beloved brothers
This is the flag of our Freedom
Hail & salute it.
(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)(Paigame Azadi, 1857)
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Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and Mobilisation in Bombay and
Madras Armies alsoMadras Armies alsoMadras Armies alsoMadras Armies also
• Bombay army infantry and cavalry units revolted in Kolhapur, Satara, Karachi, Bombay, Aurangabad, Nasirabad, and
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Nasirabad, and Ahmedabad.
• Two Bombay infantry sepoys, one Hindu and one Muslim, were blown apart from a cannon's mouth, in what today, stands as Mumbai's Azad Maidan.
30
• The 8th Madras Cavalry rose in Vaniyambadi,several of the 37th Madras infantry mendeserted. Then in Vellore, in 1858, Madras army sepoys killed their
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army sepoys killed their British officers.
• 1044 sepoys of the Madras army were court-martialled for their sympathy or support to the1857 Revolt.
Madras Army Sepoys
31
Patriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise upPatriotic princes rise up
• Uprisings by Indian princes and talukdars in Awadh, Jagdishpur, Jharkhand, Jhansi, Bithoor, Rajpootana, Central India led by Nana Saheb, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rani Laxmibai, Bakth Khan, Kunwar Singh, Tatia Tope, Azimullah Khan, Maulvi
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Azimullah Khan, Maulvi Ahmadullah, Amar Singh, Khan Bahadur Khan and others
• Smaller princes and zamindars of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka rose up in literally hundreds of places
32
People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities People rise up in many cities
and townsand townsand townsand towns• Rawalpindi, Gugera, Peshawar,
Multan, Patna, Purnea, Jalpaiguri, Muzaffarabad, Sambalpur, Danapur, Sugauli, Chhotanagpur, Bareilly, Banaras, Jaunpur, Ayodhya, Faizabad, Chinglepet, Salem, Bhavani, Nargund, Mudhol, Surpur, Jamkhandi, Supa, Dandeli, Ulavi,
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Nargund, Mudhol, Surpur, Jamkhandi, Supa, Dandeli, Ulavi, Ankola, Mundargi, Tanjavur, North Arcot, Malabar, the coastal-Godavery belt, Adibalad, Warangal, Cuddapah, Nellore, Khandesh (Nasik-Jalgaon-Dhule), Gulbarga, Dharwad, Raichur, Udupi, Mangalore, Raigad and many others
33
The lies about PunjabThe lies about PunjabThe lies about PunjabThe lies about Punjab• British were supported by a
handful of princes from Kind, Nabha, Faridkot, Patiala and Kapurthala
• The mutinies in the garrisions of Punjab on May 9, 1857 and again May 23, 1857 and on June 8, 1857 in Jalandhar
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1857 in Jalandhar
• Spread all over Punjab. Sialkot, Phillaur, Noorpur, Nasirabad, Ferozepur, Noshera, Ambala, Mirzapur, Simla, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hazrah, Dera Ismail Khan,Abbotabad, Bunno, Kohat, Peshawar, Multan, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Rawalpindi and so on.
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Artisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weaponsArtisans wield weapons
• Artisans and peasants joined in the rebel armies
and gave them logistical support
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and gave them logistical support
• Large number of weavers joined the armed
uprisings
35
Adivasis take up armsAdivasis take up armsAdivasis take up armsAdivasis take up arms
Few examples
• Santhals, Chuars, Kols in Jharkhand and Chhota
Nagpur
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• Gonds in Nagpur
• Bhils and Ramoshis in Karnataka and
Maharashtra
36
Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs
unitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the Britishunitedly fought the British• Zafar appealed to Hindus,
Muslims and Sikhs to throw out the treacherous British
• Nana Saheb’s firmans in Persian appealed to all
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Persian appealed to all communities
• Several Urdu akhbars in Delhi appealed against splittist tactics of British and to during the siege and ignore rumours and provocations organised by British agents 37
The BattlesThe BattlesThe BattlesThe Battles• The Ghadris of Delhi,
Lucknow, Bithoor, Jhansi and Arrah fought valiantly
• Delhi fell in September of 1857
• Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhansi
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• Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhansi
• Tatia Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Nana Saheb and Kunwar Singh fought for over a year using brilliant guerilla tactics
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Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter Exit East Indian Company, enter
British Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in ParliamentBritish Queen in Parliament
• Industrial bourgeoisie in
Britain throws out the
merchants of East India
Company as inefficient
plunderers
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plunderers
• Queen Victoria issues a
proclamation as
representative of British
bourgeoisie
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Ghadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject VictoriaGhadris reject Victoria
• A firman issued in the name of Birjis Qadr from Lucknow said:
– the promises Victoria was holding forth to Indians were totally deceptive; the British had never fulfilled their
Duleep Singh
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totally deceptive; the British had never fulfilled their promises.
– The Rebels gave a list, which included practically every important state in India demolished by Britain, from that of Tipu Sultan in Mysore, to that of Duleep Singh in the Punjab.
Tipu Sultan
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• The rebels were concerned with what had
happened to the whole of “Hindustan”.
• The proclamation told the Sepoys, and all
Ghadris, not to believe the British, who would
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Ghadris, not to believe the British, who would
ultimately kill them. Queen Victoria’s
promises meant nothing: the Indians were
destined under her to be only the hewers of
wood and drawers of water, and not masters
of their own house.
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Cause of defeatCause of defeatCause of defeatCause of defeat
• The main cause of
defeat was
treachery by
princes of Gwalior,
Punjab,Nepal and
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Punjab,Nepal and
Kashmir
• British used Indians
against Indians
42
GenocideGenocideGenocideGenocide
• Recent estimates put the
number of victims of this
genocide at 1 crore
• Large scale massacre of
peasants, artisans,
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peasants, artisans,
soldiers, burning of whole
villages. Loot, plunder and
destruction.
• Every tree on the grand
trunk road had at least
one rebel body hanging
Khooni Darwaza
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Mass migrationsMass migrationsMass migrationsMass migrations
• There were mass migrations
• Some outside the country to Mauritius, West Indies, East Timor etc
• Millions fled the Gangetic plain
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• Millions fled the Gangetic plain
• For example the textile towns of Malegaon and Bhiwandi gave refuge to thousands of weavers and others fleeing from North
44
Traitors RewardedTraitors RewardedTraitors RewardedTraitors Rewarded
• Kings who had helped the British and betrayed the Ghadar were richly rewarded
• Jiwaji Rao Sindhia of Gwalior, Rajas of Kapurthala, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Nepal, Kashmir, Nizam of Hyderabad, Wodeyars of Mysore and several others.
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Mysore and several others.
• Traitorous Zamindars were rewarded. Olive branch held out to rebel Talukdars of Awadh
• Many others like Ganga Dhar, grand father of Nehru, Syed Ahmed rewarded
45
British misinformation and British misinformation and British misinformation and British misinformation and
diversionary debatesdiversionary debatesdiversionary debatesdiversionary debates
• Mutiny or National Uprising or Jihad and Dharmyudh
• Upper castes or all castes
• Revenge of the Mussalman
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• Feudal reaction with no modern vision
• Spontaneous or planned
• First war of Independence?
• Brought to fruition in 1947
46
LessonsLessonsLessonsLessons
• The Great Ghadar of 1857 represented a watershed in the national liberation struggle
• Indians of all castes religious faiths regions and nationalities unitedly rose up against the British rule and tried to establish their own rule
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• Main cause of defeat was treachery by some Indian princes and zamindars
• Confusion sowed among Indians that British represent enlightenment while the rebels represent feudalism and the oppressive Brahmanical order
47
Communist
Ghadar
Party of
India
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48
contact: www.cgpi.org info@cgpi.org
Be the change
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