The Freedom Struggle of 1857

1. The British conquered Odisha in 1803.
2. They confiscated the hereditary rent-free land granted to the Paikas by the kings.
3. The life of the common man became miserable due to the tax imposed on salt by the British.

This resulted in the armed rebellion of the Paikas against the British in 1817.

1. In 1856, the British introduced long Enfield rifles.
2. The soldiers were required to bite the greased covering of the cartridges of the rifle to open them.
3. News spread among the soldiers that the covering of the cartridges contained the fat of cows and pigs.
4. The religious sentiments of the Hindu and Muslim soldiers were hurt, and this led to discontent among them.

The Indian sepoys could not stand up to the British army because:

1. The Indian soldiers were brave, but they had no military strategies.
2. They did not have economic strength.
3. The Indians did not have the latest and sufficient stock of arms, and experienced army generals like the British.
4. The British possessed modern means of transport and communication and were therefore swift in their movements.
5. This proved that wars are not won only through bravery, but also through military strategies.

There was a division of the military on the basis of caste because:

1. The British felt that if the Indians came together, they would again unite and rebel against British rule.
2. Hence, proper care was taken to divide them on the basis of caste, in order to avoid future conflict.

1. The British introduced a new revenue system with the sole purpose of increasing their income.
2. Taxes were forcibly collected from the farmers.
3. British goods were sold in India to gain profits.
4. They imposed heavy taxes on the goods made by local industries.
5. This trade policy ruined the Indian handicraft and textile industries.
6. Many artisans became unemployed as a result.

The British imposed heavy taxes on Indian industries with the sole purpose of ruining the Indian economy.

The social causes behind the struggle of 1857 were:

1. The Indians felt that the British interfered with their culture, traditions, and customs.
2. The British enacted the Sati Prohibition Act and the Widow Remarriage Act.
3. These were seen as interference in the lifestyle of the Indians.
4. Indians resented this, as it was regarded as an attempt to destroy their way of life.

There are several reasons for the failure of the Indians in the struggle of 1857. They were:

1. It did not have central leadership, so it lacked uniformity.
2. The Indian soldiers who took part in the struggle did not have the latest and sufficient weapons.
3. They were brave but did not have proper tactics.
4. The British, on the other hand, had unified leadership, a disciplined army, the latest weapons, and experienced army generals.
5. The British controlled transport and communication, which made their movement swift.
6. The majority of the rulers of the Princely States kept themselves away from the freedom struggle.
7. The struggle was severe in Northern India, but it did not take place all over India simultaneously.
8. Rajputana, Punjab, some parts of Bengal, and north-west India remained aloof.

1. The British government realised that there was growing dissatisfaction among the Indians due to the Company’s rule.
2. The British Parliament passed the Government of India Act in 1858 and took over the responsibility of ruling India, thus bringing an end to the Company’s rule.
3. The Queen issued a Declaration addressing the people of India.
4. The Governor General was designated as the Viceroy of India.
5. A new post of Secretary of State was created to look after the affairs of India.
6. The British changed the composition of the army and its internal policies.

1. The British accepted the policy of non-interference in the social and religious aspects of Indians.
2. They took care that Indian society did not unite on social grounds.
3. They took care to see that conflicts on grounds of caste, religion, race, and territory kept raging.
4. They poisoned and polluted the minds of Indians by following the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’.