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The 1857 Rebellion in Delhi

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The 1857 Rebellion in Delhi THE 1857 REBELLION IN DELHI ABSTRACT THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Boctor of $l)tlogopl)P IN %\ HISTORY 'By ZOHRA PARVEEJSi ^ ,- -J* J2 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF > D>5^^7 PROF. ISHTIYAQ AHMAD ZILLI THESIS CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2001 ABSTRACT •;^J^M 1 The thesis " The 1857 Rebellion in Delhi," centres around the first war of independence of 1857 in Delhi; its genesis, its progression and its collapse have been discussed in detail. Besides introduction, it has been divided into eight chapters. Chapter I deals with the intellectual environment of Delhi on the eve of the revolt. It provides an insight into the nature of the pursuits of the intellectuals and the learned in Delhi untill it was brought to a grinding halt by the outbreak of the rebellion. The loss of political power does not seem to have seriously affected peoples' longing for the cultivation of intellectual, literary and religious interests of a very high order. The era was infact particularly marked by efflorescence of literary and poetic attainments of exceptional quality. In the field of religious scholarship this age was graced with the presence of some of the most outstanding scholars that India had produced. Second Chapter deals with the political and economic conditions of Delhi between 1803-1857. This Chapter provides glimpses of the tansformation of various public institutions and administrative changes brought about by the English rule. Its impact on the social life of the people around Delhi has been also assessed. Third Chapter deals with the rebellion in Delhi and its neighbourhood. Main focus of the discussion in this chapter revolves around the reasons which were responsible for alienating the Sepoys from their erstwhile masters whom they had served with great loyalty and had conquered their own country for them. The English have produced a vast literature on the subject and full note has been taken of it. Besides, the role of neighbouring principalities such as Ballabhgarh, Farrukhnagar, Pataudi, Jhajhjhar etc. has also been discussed. It is clear that the role of the rulers of these principalities was extremely dubious and this adversely affected the prospects of the rebels. Chapter four is devoted to "Delhi under the Rebels; Problems and Difficulties." In the light of the discussion in this chapter it clearly emerges that Bahadur Shah was not cast for the role of the leader of the rebellion which the circumstances forced him to assume. He was an old man of 80 years, bereft of authority and power and living on a pension of the English. His interests lay in literature and poetry and in spite of extreme paucity of resources, he was extending all possible patronage to men of learning, literature and art. He still commanded great respect and love of the people. Now he was called to deal with an altogether different situation. It would clearly appear that in spite of all his limitations, he tried his best to serve his country and his people. The nobility of his character, his humanity, his concern for the sufferings of the people, his anxiety for law and order clearly demonstrate that he was not lacking in good qualities, which are so essential for a ruler. But he was betrayed by the people around him. In this torrid drama the most reprehenible role was played by the Princes who failed to rise to the gravity of the occasion. Many important people around the King were loyal to the English and were working for them. The Sepoys did not obey him. In this kind of situation even more capable people could not have done much. For a brief period after the arrival of Bakht Khan on the Scene, a glimmer of hope appeared in the otherwise bleak atmosphere. Bakth Khan enjoyed complete confidence of the king, was capable and sincere but he had to contend with great odds as those forces united against him whose interests were threatened and this great effort also failed. Delhi continued to drift from bad to worst. Chapter five deals with "Delhi during 1857", in this Chapter attention has been drawn to the activities of the Jihadies, Bahadur Shah's efforts to maintain Hindu-Muslim unity, the role of vernacular press in Delhi. In maintaining communal harmony in Delhi during fateful days of 1857, Bahadur Shah and Bakht Khan played an important role and achieved great success and the attempts of the English to sow seeds of dissension among the rebels could not succeed. This is one of the brightest aspects of the rebellion. Chapter six of the thesis deals with the ideological and political dimensions of the rebellion of 1857. These found reflection in the proclamations issued from time to time by the rebels. In fact these proclamations provide an insight into the grievances and the deep sense of humiliation and injury that the entire spectrum of the Indian society from the ruling classes to the lowest of the low including the religious classes nursed. The proclamations thus represented the feelings of almost every section of the Indian Society. The monoplisation of trade by the English has also been discussed. Chapter seven deals with the conspiracies and allegations and counter allegations which were rife in the rebel circles in Delhi during 1857. Red Fort seems to have been at the centre of these conspiracies. Palace intrigues and conspiracies were not something new. But it would seem to have assumed a new dimension during those crucial days. These contributed in no small measure to the ultimate failure and collapse of this heroic struggle. Chapter eight is devoted to the study of the collapse of the rebellion in Delhi. Causes which were responsible for the failure have been discussed. It would not be perhaps far-fetched to conclude that the factors responsible for the collapse of the struggle lay with the rebels themselves. THE 1857 REBELLION IN DELHI THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF Boctor of $t)ilogopt)^ IN HISTORY ZOHRA PARVEEN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. ISHTIYAQ AHMAD ZILLI CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2001 THESIS CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY TeleplioDe:703146 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIOARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH-202 002, U.P. 26 May, 2001 This is to certify that the thesis entitled "The 1857 Rebellion in Delhi" is original work of Ms. Zohra Parveen and suitable for submission for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in History. ( Prof. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli ) Supervisor n Content Pages Acknowledgement Introduction 1-10 Chapter 1. The Intellectual Environment at Delhi. 11-89 Chapter 2. Delhi Between 1803- 1857. 90-114 Chapter 3. Rebellion in Delhi and its Neighbourhood. 115-140 Chapter 4. Delhi Under the Rebels; Problems and Difficulties. 141-174 Chapter 5. Delhi During 1857. 175-192 Chapter 6. Ideological and Political Dimensions of the Rebellion, 1857. 193-209 Chapter 7. Conspiracies and Allegations. 210-226 Chapter 8. Collapse and Conclusion. 227-239 Conclusion 240-247 Bibliography 248-255 THESIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to take this opportunity to thank my supervisor Prof. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli for his guidance and support in the preparation of this work. I am very grateful to Prof. S.P. Gupta, Chairman, Department of History for his encouragement and support. My special thanks are due to Prof. Iqbal Husain for his guidance, support and encouragement. He helped me in the preparation of this thesis in many ways. He discussed with me all the important aspects of the thesis, in spite of his busy schedule, he was always available for consultation and advice. I will remain grateful to him for his kindness. I am grateful to staff memebers of Research Seminar, Deptt. of History and the staff members of Maulana Azad Library, who have been greatly helpful in locating the necessary material for this thesis. My grateful thanks are due to Dr. Nusrat Husain, who had very kindly gone through this thesis and read its proofs at the cost of her own work and comfort. I would like to register my special and respectful regards for my parents who were basically responsible for inspiring me to undertake this work. Their love and affection has sustained me through the difficult days during the preparation of this thesis. I am also grateful to my brothers and sister for their support and affection. I would like to thank my friends who supported and encouraged me during the preparation of this thesis. They always stood by me through thick and thin. Without their help and encouragement it would not have been possible to complete this work. (ZOHRA PARVEEN) "THESIS INTRUDCTION The history of the first war of independence of 1857-58 continues to be a matter of great significance for the country and an issue of absorbing interest for the students of history. The causes of the so called mutiny or revolt have been variously understood and interpreted by the historians. The literature which is now available on this great event, amply proves that it was much more than a mutiny or revolt. Marx was.the first person who termed 1857's uprising as the first war of independence. Savarkar, perhaps under the influence of Marx, wrote a full fledged book under the title, "The Indian War of Independence 185 7" . In fact the archival evidence, such as letters and despatches written and sent by the English officers to their family members, friends and government officials; the vernacular newspapers specially Urdu, the histories written by both the loyalist Indians and the English officers, the impartial persons and the folk literature clearly indicate that the events of 1857-58 in reality constituted the first war of inde­ pendence.
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