Additional - Question:
Que: Why Nawabs lose their power?
Ans: Nawabs and rajas lost their authority and power since the mid-eighteenth century. In order to protect their interests, many ruling families tried to negotiate with the Company. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband. But, the Company turned down these pleas.
Awadh was one of the last territories to be annexed. In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh, and in 1856 it was taken over. The Company planned to bring down the Mughal dynasty to an end. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, his family would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in. After Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal King, none of his descendants would be recognised as kings – they would just be called princes.
Que: What is peasants and the sepoys?
Ans: Peasants and zamindars from the countryside resented the high taxes and the rigid methods of revenue collection. Many lost their lands as they failed to pay back their loans to the moneylenders.
The Indian sepoys who were employees of the Company were unhappy about their pay, allowances and conditions of service. When sepoys were told to go to Burma to fight for the Company via sea route, they refused to go but agreed to go via land route. The Company passed a law in 1856, which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas, if required.
Que: A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Rebellion?
Ans: A large number of people believed that they have a common enemy and rose up against the enemy at the same time. For such a situation to develop people have to organise, communicate, take initiative and display the confidence to turn the situation around.
In May 1857, English East India Company faced a massive rebellion. In several places, sepoys mutinied beginning from Meerut and a large number of people from different sections of society rose up in rebellion. It is considered as the biggest armed resistance to colonialism in the nineteenth century.
Que: What is rebellion spreads?
Ans: The British were routed from Delhi, and for almost a week there was no uprising. Regiments mutinied and troops joined nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao proclaimed himself Peshwa, gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr proclaimed the new Nawab. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the general of Nana Saheb. In the Mandla region of Madhya Pradesh, Rani Avantibai Lodhi of Ramgarh raised and led an army against the British who had taken over the administration of her state.
The British were defeated in a number of battles. A situation of widespread popular rebellion developed in the region of Awadh in particular. Emergence of many new leaders. For example, Ahmadullah Shah, from Faizabad, Bakht Khan in Delhi, Kunwar Singh in Bihar.
