What the Rebels Wanted

What the Rebels Wanted

The British recorded their trials and heroism as victors, dismissing the rebels as ungrateful and barbaric. Repression silenced their voice, and few rebels had the opportunity to record their experiences. Most were sepoys and nonliterate, so attempting to reconstruct 1857 events relies heavily on British writings. While these sources reveal the minds of officials, they provide little information about the rebels’ desires....

The Vision of Unity

In 1857, rebel proclamations appealed to all sections of the population, regardless of caste and creed. Many were issued by Muslim princes or in their names but even addressed Hindu sentiments. The rebellion was seen as a war where both Hindus and Muslims had equal stakes. The ishtahars glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire. Despite British attempts to create religious divisions, religious divisions were hardly noticeable during the uprising....

The Azamgarh Proclamation, 25 August 1857

Rebellion Against English Rule in India...

Against the Symbols of Oppression

The proclamations against British rule, or firangi raj, were a response to the dispossessed landholders and ruin caused by foreign commerce. The rebels feared that the British were converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity, leading to widespread fear and rumours. The proclamations urged people to fight for their livelihood, faith, honor, and identity for the “greater public good.” In some places, the rebellion expanded into attacking allies of the British or local oppressors, often humiliating the elites. This reflected an attempt to overturn traditional hierarchies and rebel against all oppressors. The proclamations did not articulate an alternative vision of a more egalitarian society, which was not articulated in the proclamations. The rebels sought to unify all social groups in the fight against firangi raj....

The Search for Alternative Power

After British rule collapsed, rebels in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur attempted to establish authority and administration structures. These attempts were short-lived, but they aimed to restore the pre-British eighteenth-century culture. They appointed posts, arranged for land revenue collection and troop payment, and issued orders to stop loot and plunder. They also laid down chains of command in the army, symbolizing the lost Mughal world. The rebels’ administrative structures were primarily designed to meet war demands, but they often failed to survive British attacks. In Awadh, where resistance lasted the longest, the Lucknow court prepared counter-attack plans and hierarchies of command were in place....

Conclusion – Class 12 History Notes Chapter 10 What the Rebels Wanted

In conclusion, the rebels wanted to overthrow British rule and restore the pre-British world. They believed that the British were destroying their religion and caste system and trying to convert them to Christianity. They also wanted to protect their livelihoods, which had been ruined by British rule. The rebels were successful in overthrowing British rule in some areas, but they were ultimately defeated. However, their rebellion had a lasting impact on India. It led to the Indian National Congress being formed in 1885, which eventually led to India’s independence in 1947....

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