24.

Explain the causes of the Great Revolt of 1857 with reference to the following:

(a) Any three political causes.

(b) Any three military causes.

(c) Any four economic causes.

Causes of the Revolt of 1857:

(a) Political Causes

i. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie successfully annexed many Indian states to the English East India Company. This was done by using the provisions of the Doctrine of
Lapse. This led to extreme resentment among the successors of rulers who died without a natural heir.

ii. Policy of Expansion: The British authorities annexed many independent Indian states on one pretext or the other. As a result, the Company became the supreme ruling power in India and the rest of the ruling class became mere puppets in their hands.

iii. Annexation of Awadh: On 13 February 1856, Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh to the Company’s territories. This was done under the pretext of alleged misrule by the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. However, this led to a lot of resentment among the ruling elite of Awadh and the Indian sepoys working under the East India Company.

(b) Military Causes

i. Ill-treatment of Indian soldiers: The East India Company discriminated against their Indian sepoys. They were poorly paid, ill-fed and badly housed. They were forbidden from wearing any caste or sectarian marks, beads or turbans. As a result, there was resentment among the Indian troops.

ii. General Service Enlistment Act: The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 required Indian soldiers to be sent overseas for deployment if required. However, traditionally, it was a taboo for Brahmins to cross the seas. Hindus reacted negatively to this decision which was taken in complete disregard to their religious beliefs.
iii. Large numbers of Indians in the British Army: In 1856, the Company army had 2,38,000 Indians and 45,322 British soldiers. Dalhousie had recommended the recruitment of more British troops, but it was not done at that point of time. As a result, it became easier for the rebelling Indian troops to overwhelm their British colleagues.

(c) Economic Causes

i. Exploitation of Economic Resources: Under British rule, India was turned into an exporter of raw materials such as raw cotton, raw silk, indigo, tea and food grains. British goods were brought in either duty free or at nominal duty rates. On the other hand, Indian products were subjected to high import duties in England. Indian handmade goods were not in a position to compete with machine-made British goods. This resulted in the ruin of Indian industry, unemployment among artisans, reduction in agricultural surplus and a steep increase in the price of raw materials.

ii. Drain of Wealth: Till the Battle of Plassey (1757), the British brought gold into India to buy Indian cotton and silk. However, after the conquest of Bengal, the purchase was done with the surplus revenue from Bengal profits acquired from duty-free inland trade. This unilateral transfer of wealth from India to England is called the ‘Drain of Wealth’. The drain included the salaries, incomes and savings of the Englishmen, British expenditure in India on military goods, office establishments, interest on debts and military expeditions.

iii. Decay of Cottage Industries and Handicrafts: Because of the British policy of preferential treatment to British businesses, Indian industries were gradually destroyed. By the middle of the 19th century, export of cotton and silk goods had practically ceased. The misery of the unemployed artisans was further complemented by the disappearance of their traditional patrons and buyers, i.e. the princes, chieftains and zamindars.

iv. Inhuman Treatment of Indigo Cultivators: Indigo cultivation had proved to be extremely beneficial for the British planters. However, the conditions of work were horrible for the Indian peasants. They were forced to plant only indigo on their lands, and if they disobeyed, their crops would be destroyed and cattle confiscated as
punishment.