DOCSLIB.ORG

PROCLAMATION of NANASAHEB PESHWA (Pages 7-8) the Wuzeer

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
PROCLAMATION of NANASAHEB PESHWA (Pages 7-8) the Wuzeer PROCLAMATION OF NANASAHEB PESHWA WITHIN SIX WEEKS—IN POONA (Pages 7-8) The Wuzeer of the King of Delhi Narain Rao Bajee Punt Pradhan. ' To all be known that after much righting with the English, much country has been retaken and victory gained. In these authority has been established. Now a camp is formed at Yawul Sanklee (in Candeish). In six weeks having come to the Hoozoor at Poonah the country below the Sahyadree Range (Concan) and the Bombay Presidency will be recovered and the cows and Brahmins taken care of (the Hindoo Religion) and all will be allowed to enjoy their own religion. Those in employment take great care of the records. Afterwards according tc custom Sirdars will be sent to conduct the Government and according to their orders all people must act. Let this be known. Chundre 25 Mohurum (corresponding with 15th September 1857)". NANASAHEB PESHWA Nanasaheb, the author of the proclamations, the senior most of the adopted sons of Bajirao II was 24 years old when Bajirao died (December, 1851). He was one of the chief leaders of the Rebellion. From the above quotation it seems clear that there is enough of material to prove that he was planning for it much earlier. [" It was no sudden thought, born of the accident of the greased 256 cartridges, that took the disappointed Brahmin and his Mohomedan friend to Lucknow in the spring of this year of trouble. For months, for years indeed, ever since the failure of the mission to England had been apparent, they had been quietly spreading their network of intrigue all over the country. From one native Court to another Native Court, from one extremity to another of the great continent of India, the agents of the Nana Saheb had passed with overtures and invitations, discreetly, perhaps mysteriously worded, to Princes and Chiefs of different races and religions, but most hopefully of all to the Mahrattas. At the three great Mahratta families—the families of the Rajah of Sattarah, of the Peishwah, of the Bhonsla—Lord Dalhousie had struck deadly blows. In the Southern Mahratta country indeed it seemed that Princes and Nobles were alike ripe for rebellion. It was a significant fact that the agents of the great Satara and Poona families had been doing their master's work in England about the same time, that both had returned to India rank rebels, and that the first year of Lord Canning's administration found Rango-Bapojee as active for evil in the South as Azim-oollah was in the North ". [Sir J. Kaye, vol. I, P. 578]. When Azimoolla, Nanasaheb's trusted vakeel, was in Constantinople (1855), he had talks with Greek or Russian agents for helping an Indian Rebellion. It was then that " I (Mohamed Alikhan alias Jemie Green) and Azimoollah formed the resolution of attempting to overthrow the Company's Government and, Shookra Khooda, we have succeeded in doing that" (Great Mutiny -Forbes Mitchell— P. 183). Mr. Russel in his ' Diary in India' states that ' Nanasaheb had visited military stations all along the main trunk road and went as far as Umballah to tamper with the Gurka regiments'. This was in early spring of 1856. Nanasaheb also had sent communications to Russia through Golabsingh of Jammu (Ibid vol. ii, P. 650.) The story that he was compelled by rebel sepoys to join them is inconsistent with this evidence. The dispossessed rulers and classes of India were seething with discontent and Nanasaheb was preparing the ground. On the point why he joined the rebellion Godse Bhatji, the author of the famous book ' Maza Prawas' or my travels—Marathi, states : — " When a native army officer implored Nanasaheb to take the lead, he paused for a time and replied : ' If thousands of people are prepared to die for religion, I am also ready to leave my family. The river mother Ganges is witness to this (to what I say)*. *Godse Bhatji, a priest from Kokan, was on a tour of North India for earning money and for pilgrimage when he found himself caught up in the disturbances caused by the rebellion of 1857. His uncle was a priest at Bithoor. Godse Bhatji was present at Zansi [Continued on next page] 257 In this proclamation also, Nanasaheb has stated the same objective. Mr. Morland the acting Commissioner at Bithoor reported that " Nana was a quite unostentatious young man md not at all addicted to any extravagant habits ". (P. C. Gupta—p. 102). The date of the death of Nanasaheb, viz., September 1859, as reported by Rana Jung Bahadur of Nepal to the British Residency does not seem to be beyond controversy because evidence contained in Landon's ' Nepal' (which is an exhaustive work on Nepal) does not seem to establish conclusively that Nana died on that date.] KOLHAPUR REBELLION [Kolhapur is the only place in Western India where the sepoys had rebelled as a part of the plan made by the leaders of 1857 Rebellion. As such the story of this event is important but it does not seem to have received sufficient attention. Sepoys of the 27th Native Infantry about two hundred in number stationed in Kolhapur rose in rebellion in July, 1857. They plundered the treasury and attacked the quarters of their British officers. The officers had taken shelter in time in safer quarters and were saved by the Raja's troops. The rebels could not enter the city as the gates remained closed. They stayed in a strong structure called the ' Paga' (or stable) for the night. In the morning most of them left the place and went in the direction of the ghats, and on their way, at Solankur, they met three of their European officers and killed them. About 40 of them, 20 Pardesees and 20 Marathas, occupied the Paga and made deiex-mined resistance. They were attacked by Lieut. Ker's detachments with the help of the Raja's guns. By the evening almost all the rebels were killed and the few remaining were wounded. This news caused consternation among Bombay Europeans (' Western India' by Sir Le. Grand Jacob, published in 1871) some of whom sent their families to the ships. General Jacob was sent to Kolhapur immediately. He reached there about the 10th August, 1657 and made enquiries about the rebellion. The first report sent by Bombay Government to the Government of India stated that ' in no case the population of the Native chiefs of the Southern Maratha country evinced any sympathy with the mutinius spirit". But Jacob himself has said that ' disaffection was general'. and had personally seen the operations of the attack on the city and has described them vividly in his writing. This book is one of the important original documents written by an Indian who had witnessed some of these events. The manuscript is kept in the Itihas Sanshodhaka Mandal, Poona. 258 The second rebellion broke out on the 6th of December, 1857. This was very ably handled by Major General Jacob himself and was suppressed on the second day. A drum court martial was immediately held on the open ground of the palace where eight men were blown from guns, two hanged and eleven shot by musketry. ' All met death with fortitude, refusing to purchase life by betraying their common secret'. (Vide Ibid P. 72-73). The extracts from Government Records given hereafter do not give the full story which is found in Jacob's book. But from the report made by him to the Bombay Government (21st March, 1858) it is clear that : (1) there was communication and planning between the Native Infantry at Kolhapur (No. 27th), Belgaum (No. 29th) and Dharwad (No. 28th) ; (2) Chima-saheb, the younger brother of the Raja, was the moving spirit behind this organisation ; (3) Chimasaheb had contacts with Nanasaheb Peshwa whose emissary had brought a gilded sword for him; (4) Chimasaheb had contacts with Gwalior leaders, from where a deputation had visited Kolhapur under some pretext and had negotiations with Chimasaheb; (5) Chimasaheb also had assured the Satara emissaries in June, 1857 that Kolhapur sepoys and also some chiefs were ready for action and that they were waiting for a signal from Satara. This shows the link and also co-ordination between Satara and Kolhapur plans. Seetaram Gupte, Rango Bapuji's son, was at Kolhapur (July) before his arrest. There was a link between the rebels at Kolhapur and their friends in the Poona School of Musketry. Greased cartridges were helpful in exciting the feelings of the sepoys. But political causes had released the discontent much earlier. ' It did not come out of greased cartridges but out of the Satara lapse ' (Sir J. Kaye, Vol. Ill P. 407). 31 rebels, on the first occasion it seems, were executed before the trial was completed ; 51 people were executed for the second rebellion. Jacob himself had seen twenty-one souls being shot or blown. That brings the number to 103. The story still remains incomplete.] 259 BOMBAY GOVERNMENT'S REPORT ON KOLHAPUR MUTINY, 1857 (P. D. Vol. 26 of 1857, Pages 181 to 189) Secret Department. No. 346 of 1857. To THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, In the Foreign Department, Fort William. Sir, I am directed by the Right H'onable the Governor in Council to report for the information of the Right H'onable the Governor General of India in Council the following particulars of a mutiny of a portion of the 27 Regiment N. I. stationed at Kolhapoor, and the several measures adopted by this Government for suppression, as well as for the preservation of order consequent on the position of affairs in the Southern Maratha Country.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • JIWAJI University Gwalior(MP)New1
    JIWAJI University Gwalior(MP) MA History second semester Paper Title – History Of Maratha (1627 - 1761) Course Code – 204 Unit - 5 Balaji Bajirao and Third Battle Of Panipat Date – 06/04/2020 Sanjay Mohan Balaji Baji Rao Balaji Bajirao Peshwa (December 8, 1720 – June 23, 1761), also known as Nana Saheb, was a Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha Empire in India. He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his illustrious father, the Peshwa Bajirao I. During his tenure, the Chhatrapati (Maratha king) was reduced to a mere figurehead. At the same time, the Maratha empire started transforming into a confederacy, in which individual chiefs — such as the Holkars, the Scindias and the Bhonsles of Nagpur kingdom — became more powerful. During Balaji Rao's tenure, the Maratha territory reached its zenith. A large part of this expansion, however, was led by the individual chiefs of the Maratha Empire. By the end of Balaji Baji Rao's tenure, the Peshwa was reduced to more of a financier than a general. Unlike his father, Balaji Baji Rao was not a great military leader and failed to gauge the seriousness of Durrani invasions in northern India. This ultimately resulted in a devastating Maratha defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat.[3] Some judicial and revenue reforms were made during his tenure, but the credit for these goes to his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau and his associate Balshastri Gadgil. THIRD BATTLE OF PANIPAT(1761) The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat, about 60 miles (95.5 km) north of Delhi between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Empire and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.
    [Show full text]
  • Sources of Maratha History: Indian Sources
    1 SOURCES OF MARATHA HISTORY: INDIAN SOURCES Unit Structure : 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Maratha Sources 1.3 Sanskrit Sources 1.4 Hindi Sources 1.5 Persian Sources 1.6 Summary 1.7 Additional Readings 1.8 Questions 1.0 OBJECTIVES After the completion of study of this unit the student will be able to:- 1. Understand the Marathi sources of the history of Marathas. 2. Explain the matter written in all Bakhars ranging from Sabhasad Bakhar to Tanjore Bakhar. 3. Know Shakavalies as a source of Maratha history. 4. Comprehend official files and diaries as source of Maratha history. 5. Understand the Sanskrit sources of the Maratha history. 6. Explain the Hindi sources of Maratha history. 7. Know the Persian sources of Maratha history. 1.1 INTRODUCTION The history of Marathas can be best studied with the help of first hand source material like Bakhars, State papers, court Histories, Chronicles and accounts of contemporary travelers, who came to India and made observations of Maharashtra during the period of Marathas. The Maratha scholars and historians had worked hard to construct the history of the land and people of Maharashtra. Among such scholars people like Kashinath Sane, Rajwade, Khare and Parasnis were well known luminaries in this field of history writing of Maratha. Kashinath Sane published a mass of original material like Bakhars, Sanads, letters and other state papers in his journal Kavyetihas Samgraha for more eleven years during the nineteenth century. There is much more them contribution of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal, Pune to this regard.
    [Show full text]
  • Atomic Energy Education Society Study Material Class-VIII Subject- History Lesson 05-When People Rebel: 1857 and After Module
    Atomic Energy Education Society Study material Class-VIII Subject- History Lesson 05-When People Rebel: 1857 and After Module- 2/2 Important points The Rebellion Spreads : The British had initially taken the revolt at Meerut quite lightly. But the decision by Bahadur Shah Zafar to support the rebellion had dramatically changed the entire situation. People were emboldened by an alternative possibility. The British were routed from Delhi, and for almost a week there was no uprising. The rebellion in Delhi took almost a week to spread as news over whole of the India. Many regiments mutinied one after another at various places such as Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. People of the towns and the villages also rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders. Zamindars and chiefs were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British. Nanasaheb Peshwa gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison in Kanpur. He proclaimed himself the Peshwa. He declared that he was a governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Birjis Qadr, the son of Nawab Wajid Ali shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Begum Hazrat Mahal took an active part in organizing the uprising against the British. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel Sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope. The General of Nana Saheb. Ahmadullah Shah a maulvi from Faizabad prophesied that the rule of the British would come to an end he caught the imagination of the people and raised a huge force of supporters. He came to Lucknow to fight the Britishers.
    [Show full text]
  • Anglo-Maratha War Anglo- Sikh War British Policies
    Anglo-Maratha War Anglo- Sikh War British Policies Modern History: Module IV - British Expansion The Rise and Fall of the Maratha Power Modern Indian History Modern History: Module IV - British Expansion Marathas q Most important challenger to the decaying Mughal power. q Number of brilliant commanders q Lacked unity q Lacked the outlook & programme which were necessary for founding a pan-India empire. q They did however succeed in waging continuous war against the Mughal Empire, till they destroyed it. Modern History: Module IV - British Expansion Evolution of Peshwaship q Shahuji, grandson of Chattrapati Shivaji, had been a prisoner of Aurangzeb since 1689. q Released in 1707 q Soon, a civil war broke out between Shahuji (Satara) & his aunt Tara Bai (Kolhapur), who had carried out an anti-Mughal struggle since 1700 in the name of her son Shivaji II after the death of her husband Raja Ram. Modern History: Module IV - British Expansion Evolution of Peshwaship Continued… q Arising out of the conflict between Shahuji & his rival, a new system of Maratha government was evolved under the leadership of Balaji Vishwanath, the Peshwa of King Shahuji. (1713) q With this change began the period of Peshwa domination in Maratha history in which the Maratha state was transformed into an empire. q He & his son Baji Rao I made the Peshwa the functional head of the Marathas. Modern History: Module IV - British Expansion Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720 C.E.) q Balaji Vishwanath, a Brahmin, started his career as a small revenue official. He played a crucial role in the victory of Sahu over Tarabai in the Battle of Khed in 1707 C.E.
    [Show full text]
  • The Third Anglo-Maratha War
    The Third Anglo-Maratha War There were three Anglo-Maratha wars (or Maratha Wars) fought between the late 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century between the British and the Marathas. In the end, the Maratha power was destroyed and British supremacy established. Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817 – 1818) Background and course • After the second Anglo-Maratha war, the Marathas made one last attempt to rebuild their old prestige. • They wanted to retake all their old possessions from the English. • They were also unhappy with the British residents’ interference in their internal matters. • The chief reason for this war was the British conflict with the Pindaris whom the British suspected were being protected by the Marathas. • The Maratha chiefs Peshwa Bajirao II, Malharrao Holkar and Mudhoji II Bhonsle forged a united front against the English. • Daulatrao Shinde, the fourth major Maratha chief was pressured diplomatically to stay away. • But the British victory was swift. Results • The Treaty of Gwalior was signed in 1817 between Shinde and the British, even though he had not been involved in the war. As per this treaty, Shinde gave up Rajasthan to the British. The Rajas of Rajputana remained the Princely States till 1947 after accepting British sovereignty. • The Treaty of Mandasor was signed between the British and the Holkar chief in 1818. An infant was placed on the throne under British guardianship. • The Peshwa surrendered in 1818. He was dethroned and pensioned off to a small estate in Bithur (near Kanpur). Most parts of his territory became part of the Bombay Presidency.
    [Show full text]
  • The Indian Revolt of 1857 : Global Response
    No. 263 December 2020 Major General (Dr.) RS Thakur, is presently commanding the Uttarakhand The Indian Revolt of Sub Area. He was commissioned into the Air Defence Regiment and has done 1857 : Global PhD in History from Jammu University. He is an alumni of the National Defence College and the College of Defence Response Management. During his tenure as Director ‘Space’ with Directorate General of Perspective Planning, he wrote articles on Space Applications. Introduction Key Points • The bulk of the writings on the Indian Revolt of 1857 by British authors were The second half of the nineteenth century guided by their own political and witnessed struggles in different parts of the globe imperial motivations, with an aim to project their racial superiority as well by the people of native colonies against their rulers as heroism of their citizens against the Indian rebels. to gain freedom. While the British Empire was at • The revolt saw the exceptional its peak and had the maximum footprint across leadership of four most prominent military leaders, namely Nana Sahib, various continents, others such as the French, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Begum Hazrat Mahal and Kunwar Singh —whose Spanish and Dutch empires were on the decline. combined efforts ensured that the The Indian Revolt of 1857 (also known as the fight continued for almost two years in spite of innumerable odds stacked Sepoy Mutiny) was one such landmark struggle, against them. • which not only shook the British Empire to its While the domestic aspect of the Indian Revolt of 1857 has been foundation, but also evoked huge response from adequately covered and written about in the Indian academic landscape, not the world over.
    [Show full text]
  • Expansion and Consolidation of Colonial Power Subject : History
    Expansion and consolidation of colonial power Subject : History Lesson : Expansion and consolidation of colonial power Course Developers Expansion and consolidation of colonial power Prof. Lakshmi Subramaniam Professor, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata Dynamics of colonial expansion--1 and Dynamics of colonial expansion--2: expansion and consolidation of colonial rule in Bengal, Mysore, Western India, Sindh, Awadh and the Punjab Dr. Anirudh Deshpande Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi Language Editor: Swapna Liddle Formating Editor: Ashutosh Kumar 1 Institute of lifelong learning, University of Delhi Expansion and consolidation of colonial power Table of contents Chapter 2: Expansion and consolidation of colonial power 2.1: Expansion and consolidation of colonial power 2.2.1: Dynamics of colonial expansion - I 2.2.2: Dynamics of colonial expansion – II: expansion and consolidation of colonial rule in Bengal, Mysore, Western India, Awadh and the Punjab Summary Exercises Glossary Further readings 2 Institute of lifelong learning, University of Delhi Expansion and consolidation of colonial power 2.1: Expansion and consolidation of colonial power Introduction The second half of the 18th century saw the formal induction of the English East India Company as a power in the Indian political system. The battle of Plassey (1757) followed by that of Buxar (1764) gave the Company access to the revenues of the subas of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and a subsequent edge in the contest for paramountcy in Hindustan. Control over revenues resulted in a gradual shift in the orientation of the Company‟s agenda – from commerce to land revenue – with important consequences. This chapter will trace the development of the Company‟s rise to power in Bengal, the articulation of commercial policies in the context of Mercantilism that developed as an informing ideology in Europe and that found limited application in India by some of the Company‟s officials.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract: the Legacy of the Estado Da India the Portuguese Arrived In
    1 Abstract: The Legacy of the Estado da India The Portuguese arrived in India in 1498; yet there are few apparent traces of their presence today, „colonialism‟ being equated almost wholly with the English. Yet traces of Portugal linger ineradicably on the west coast; a possible basis for a cordial re-engagement between India and Portugal in a post-colonial world. Key words: Portuguese, India, colonial legacy, British Empire in India, Estado da India, Goa. Mourning an Empire? Looking at the legacy of the Estado da India. - Dr. Dhara Anjaria 19 December 2011 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Operation Vijay, a forty-eight hour offensive that ended the Estado da India, that oldest and most reviled of Europe’s ‘Indian Empires.’ This piece remembers and commemorates the five hundred year long Portuguese presence in India that broke off into total estrangement half a hundred years ago, and has only latterly recovered into something close to a detached disengagement.i The colonial legacy informs many aspects of life in the Indian subcontinent, and is always understood to mean the British, the English, legacy. The subcontinent‟s encounter with the Portuguese does not permeate the consciousness of the average Indian on a daily basis. The British Empire is the medium through which the modern Indian navigates the world; he- or she- acknowledges an affiliation to the Commonwealth, assumes a familiarity with Australian mining towns, observes his access to a culturally remote North America made easy by a linguistic commonality, has family offering safe harbours (or increasingly, harbors) from Nairobi to Cape © 2011 The Middle Ground Journal Number 2, Spring 2011 2 Town, and probably watched the handover of Hong Kong with a proprietary feeling, just as though he had a stake in it; after all, it was also once a „British colony.‟ To a lesser extent, but with no lesser fervour, does the Indian acknowledge the Gallicization of parts of the subcontinent.
    [Show full text]
  • UNDERSTANDING the SCENARIO of REVOLT of 1857:A REVIEWS Vivekyadav Independent Scholar JS University, Shikohabad
    IAETSD JOURNAL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN APPLIED SCIENCES ISSN NO: 2394-8442 UNDERSTANDING THE SCENARIO OF REVOLT OF 1857:A REVIEWS VivekYadav Independent Scholar JS University, Shikohabad Abstract:Until the first half of the 19th century, East HazratMahal [Lucknow]. There was a India Company had kept India more and more in its deficiency of central leadership. control. After a hundred years after the Society of o The revolt was started due to the induction of Society, a cruel and brutal British government enfield riffles in the army. It was believed that became a form of anger resistance, which eliminated the cartridges used in the riffles were made of the basis of the British rule of India. Although the pig fat and cow fat which were restricted for British historians referred to this soldier controversy, the Muslims and Hindus respectively. They the Indian actor described it as the 1857 rebellion or protested against these. the first war of Indian independence. At the end of 18 o Lord canning was the governor general at that century, before the rebellion of the 1857, the riot time. started in different parts of the country. Sunni o The revolt was failed to spread across the rebellion in northern Bengal and the poplar rebellion India. Some epicenters of the revolt were- in Bihar and Bangladesh ended on Sunday at the end Kanpur, Lucknow, Aligarh, Agra, Arrah, of the century. There was a fierce movement of the Delhi, and Jhansi. Maldives and the farmers of Bangladesh's Muslim farmers. The first half of the nineteenth century also witnessed a number of tribal revolts.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Modern Maharashtra (1818-1920)
    1 1 MAHARASHTRA ON – THE EVE OF BRITISH CONQUEST UNIT STRUCTURE 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Political conditions before the British conquest 1.3 Economic Conditions in Maharashtra before the British Conquest. 1.4 Social Conditions before the British Conquest. 1.5 Summary 1.6 Questions 1.0 OBJECTIVES : 1 To understand Political conditions before the British Conquest. 2 To know armed resistance to the British occupation. 3 To evaluate Economic conditions before British Conquest. 4 To analyse Social conditions before the British Conquest. 5 To examine Cultural conditions before the British Conquest. 1.1 INTRODUCTION : With the discovery of the Sea-routes in the 15th Century the Europeans discovered Sea route to reach the east. The Portuguese, Dutch, French and the English came to India to promote trade and commerce. The English who established the East-India Co. in 1600, gradually consolidated their hold in different parts of India. They had very capable men like Sir. Thomas Roe, Colonel Close, General Smith, Elphinstone, Grant Duff etc . The English shrewdly exploited the disunity among the Indian rulers. They were very diplomatic in their approach. Due to their far sighted policies, the English were able to expand and consolidate their rule in Maharashtra. 2 The Company’s government had trapped most of the Maratha rulers in Subsidiary Alliances and fought three important wars with Marathas over a period of 43 years (1775 -1818). 1.2 POLITICAL CONDITIONS BEFORE THE BRITISH CONQUEST : The Company’s Directors sent Lord Wellesley as the Governor- General of the Company’s territories in India, in 1798.
    [Show full text]
  • A Flashback on the Revolt of 1857 Aparna Ghosh Das Assistant Professor, Dept
    International Research Journal of Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Studies (IRJIMS) A Peer-Reviewed Monthly Research Journal ISSN: 2394-7969 (Online), ISSN: 2394-7950 (Print) Volume-II, Issue-V, June2016, Page No. 53-59 Published by: Scholar Publications, Karimganj, Assam, India, 788711 Website: http://www.irjims.com A Flashback on the Revolt of 1857 Aparna Ghosh Das Assistant professor, Dept. of Political Science, Karimganj College, Karimganj, Assam, India Abstract The analysis on Revolt of 1857 always gives birth to two pertinent questions- whether it is a nationalist war or a mutiny of sepoys. The latter’s participation in the revolt is due to the discontent regarding the introduction of Enfield Rifle and some social and economic reforms introduced by the British Government. The common people also showed their remarkable involvement into the revolt because of which it gradually turned into a nationalist movement. Key Words: Revolt, Sepoy Mutiny, British Government, Class, Colonialists May 1857, when a revolt broke out in Meerut against the East India Company, the British felt the danger and took necessary steps to curb it. The army was reorganised, the financial system was changed and finally the British Crown was called up to exercise direct control over the Indians. The revolt had a premature death- its leaders were blamed to have poor planning strategy, lack of military leadership and weak organisational base. But the revolt became popular and what contribute to its popularity is nothing but the debate that basically lies regarding its nature-when scholars like Veer Savarkar in his book, “The Indian War of Independence-1857”, made an attempt to look at the incidents of 1857 from nationalist point of view, some other historians believe that the revolt was a lawless effort of some sepoys.
    [Show full text]
  • India in the Eighteenth Century and Administrative Organization of the British- Examrace
    9/27/2021 India in the Eighteenth Century and Administrative Organization of the British- Examrace Examrace India in the Eighteenth Century and Administrative Organization of the British Doorsteptutor material for competitive exams is prepared by world's top subject experts: get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam. India in the Eighteenth Century Balaji Vishwnath 1713: Peshwa of King Shahu Induced Zulfikar Khan to grant the chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan Helped the Saiyid brothers in overthrowing Farukh Siyar Maratha sardars were becoming individually strong but collectively weak Died in 1720. Succeeded by his son Baji Rao I Baji Rao I the greatest extent of guerrilla tactics after Shivaji Vast areas ceded by the Mughals Marathas won control over Malwa, Gujarat and parts of Bundelkhand Rivalry with Nizam ul Mulk Compelled the Nizam to grant chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan provinces 1733: Campaign against Sidis of Janjira and the Portuguese (Salsette and Bassein) Died in 1740 Captured territories but failed to lay the foundations of an empire Succeeded by Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb) Balaji Baji Rao (1740 - 61) Shahu died in 1749. Peshwas became the de facto rulers Shifted the capital to Poona Captured Orissa Mysore forced to pay tributes In 1752, helped Imad-ul-Mulk to become the wazir Brought Punjab under their control and expelled the agent of Ahmad Shah Abdali 1 of 3 9/27/2021 India in the Eighteenth Century and Administrative Organization of the British- Examrace This led AS Abdali to come to India to settle accounts with Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat Third Battle of Panipat ASA formed an alliance with Najib-ud-Daulah of Rohilkhand and Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh.
    [Show full text]