Question

Enumerate the causes for the failure of the 1st War of Indian Independence.

Answer 1

Hint: The revolt of 1857 was the beginning of a realization with the ultimate goal to attain Independence from the British rule. There are other names of the revolt of 1857 – India’s First War of Independence, Mutiny of Sepoy, etc.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The revolt began on 10 May 1857, at Meerut as sepoy mutiny. It was initiated by sepoys in the Bengal Presidency against the British officers. The end of the rule by the British East India Company was marked due to this war of Independence. Post this, India was directly ruled by the British government by representatives called as Governor-General. The introduction of the ‘Enfield’ rifle was the immediate factor. Before loading the gun, the cartridge had to be bitten off. Muslims had a belief that the cartridge was greased with pig fat, whereas Hindus believed the grease was made from cow fat. Thus the Hindu and Muslim soldiers were unwilling to use the ‘Enfield’ rifle. This was a flashpoint for the soldiers to enrage against the Britishers. This was believed to be the immediate cause for the revolt of 1857. The revolt was not eventually successful in sending the British from the country because of several factors. The sepoys lacked one clear leader and there were several leaders. They also did not have a clear plan by which the foreigners would be routed. Indian rulers who aided the revolt did not propose any plan for the country after the British were defeated. Majorly, Northern India was affected by this revolt. The three presidencies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras mostly remained unaffected. In the rebellion, the Sikh soldiers also did not take part. These are the causes of the failure of the 1st war of Indian Independence.

Note: The Vellore Mutiny took place even before the revolt of 1857 (50 years before). It started on 10th July 1806 in Vellore (present-day Tamil Nadu) and lasted only for a day, but this was brutal and it was the first major mutiny by the Indian sepoys who are in the East India Company.