Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 4 The Freedom Struggle of 1857 PDF Download

The Freedom Struggle of 1857

In 1857, a great struggle took place in India which completely shook the British Government. This struggle did not arise all of a sudden. Earlier as well many such struggles took place in India against the British. The scope of the struggle of 1857 and its background was taken into consideration by V.D.Savarkar in his book 'The Indian War of Independence 1857'. Later many revolutionaries got inspiration from it to fight against the British.

Struggle Before 1857

At every place where the British rule was established in India, the local people had to bear the ill effects of British government. The Indians started feeling that they are exploited in every strata due to the company's rule. This resulted in increase of discontent against their rule.

Farmers and common people became bankrupt during the company rule. In 1770, there was major famine in the Bengal province. But the British rulers were indifferent and insensitive towards Indian people. From 1763 to 1857 the peasants of Bengal participated in the rebellion led by Sanyasi-Fakir. Similar revolts took place in Gujrat, Rajastan, Maharashtra and South India.

Umaji Naik also gave a strong fight. He organised the Ramoshis and the local youth to revolt against the British. They drew a declaration and appealed to fight against the British and overthrow the government. They inspired people in Pune, Satara, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Nasik, Bhor etc. In 1832, Umaji Naik was arrested and hanged to death in Pune.

The Indian tribes and forest communities also challenged the British rule. Their livelihood was dependent on forest resources. The British laws put restrictions on it. Consequently, Bihar, Kolam area of Chota Nagpur, Gonds of Orissa, Santhals of Bihar fought against the British. The Gadkaris from Kolhapur and Fond-Sawant from Konkan also challenged the British. Before 1857, some zamindars and royal class from different territories rebelled against the British.

In the army of East India Company there were many Indian sepoys. They were ill treated by the company. Their salary and allowances were very less compared to the British soldiers. In 1806 at Vellore and in 1824 at Barrackpore the revolt took up a fierce form.

All these rebellions took place in their respective territories. They were local in nature and single handed. The British forcibly broke down the revolts. Public unhappiness was supressed but it did not vanish. This anger burst out in the freedom struggle of 1857. At various places the rebellion took place against the British. The discontent in the minds of diverse classes blowed out in the form of this struggle and its outbreak was in the form of an armed rebellion.

Paika Rebellion

From mediaeval times, there was a system of Paikas existing in Odisha. The standing army of various independent kings were known as 'Paika'. Rent free lands were granted to them for cultivation by the king. The Paikas earned their livelihood through it. In return, they were supposed to stand by the king's side in case of eruption of war.

In 1803, the English conquered Odisha. They took over the hereditary rent free lands granted to the Paikas. This made the Paikas angry. Similarly, common man's life had also become miserable because of rise in salt price due to tax imposed on it by the British. This resulted in an armed rebellion of Paikas against the British in 1817. Bakshi Jaganbandhu Bidyadhar led this revolt.

Teacher's Note

Before 1857, Indian people in different parts of India fought against the British. For example, like farmers in Bengal fought the British when they increased taxes on salt, just like today when the government increases the price of things we use.

Exam Trick

Remember: Paikas = Soldiers who got free land. When British took the land, they got angry and fought back. This is the same as if someone takes your home - you will also fight!

Points to Remember

Many small rebellions happened before 1857 in different parts of India.
Farmers, soldiers, tribes and common people all fought against the British.
Umaji Naik fought in Maharashtra and Bahawalpur.
Paikas were soldiers in Odisha who fought when their free land was taken.
All these small fights made Indians angry and ready for the big 1857 rebellion.

Causes For The Struggle of 1857

Economic Causes

The British introduced new revenue system to increase their income. Taxes were forcibly extracted from the farmers. As a result of it the agriculture system collapsed. To sell the British goods in India and enjoy profit was the policy of the British. They imposed heavy taxes on the local industries. The handicraft and textile industry of India were ruined. Many Indian artisans became unemployed. They had growing discontent in their mind against the British.

Social Causes

The Indians felt that the Britishers were interfering in the culture, tradition and customs of India. Sati prohibition, widow remarriage act were correct from social point of view, but the Indians thought that it is an interference in their lifestyle and hence they were dissatisfied.

Political Causes

After 1757 the British took charge of many Indian states. Later Lord Dalhousie annexed many princely states on various causes. The Nawab of Ayodhya was dethroned on grounds of maladministration whereas the princely states of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi were annexed through the doctrine of lapse. Due to the policies of Dalhousie the Indians did not consider the British as trustworthy.

Discontent Among Indian Soldiers

The Indian soldiers were given low status by the British officers. They could not gain any post higher than the Subhedar. They were paid less compared to the British soldiers. The allowances were also gradually decreased. Due to these reasons there was growing discontent among the Indian soldiers.

Immediate Cause

In 1856, the British provided long enfield rifles to the Indian sepoys. The sepoys were required to bite the end of the cartridges. The news spread out that these cartridges were smeared in the fats of cow and pig. Due to this the religious sentiments of Hindu and Muslim sepoys were hurt and made them unhappy.

The Outburst

Disciplinary action was taken on those sepoys who refused to use the smeared cartridges and were given severe punishment. Mangal Pandey from Barrackpore cantonment shot an English officer as a reaction to unjust nature of British officers.

Mangal Pandey was arrested and hanged to death. This news spread like fire. The entire regiment of Indian sepoys at Meerut took part in the freedom struggle and marched towards Delhi. Thousands of Indians voluntarily joined them on the way. They handed over the leadership of the freedom struggle to Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah and proclaimed him as the Emperor of India.

Teacher's Note

The British soldiers thought the cartridges had cow and pig fat in them. Cows are holy for Hindus and pigs are not allowed for Muslims. This made both Hindus and Muslims very angry, just like if someone disrespects something holy to your family, you get angry.

Exam Trick

Remember: Enfield Cartridge = The real spark that started 1857. It touched both Hindu and Muslim feelings. Always remember it was not just about salary - it was about religion!

Points to Remember

British took the land of Indian farmers and made them poor and angry.
British officers did not give good positions to Indian soldiers.
Indian soldiers earned less money than British soldiers.
Cartridges with cow and pig fat hurt both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
Mangal Pandey was the first to shoot a British officer and became a hero.

Scope of the Struggle

The self confidence of the sepoys increased with the capture of Delhi. It also gave inspiration to other soldiers. The revolt soon spread in North India. The Indian soldiers revolted in cantonments from Bihar to Rajputana. The revolt spread in Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur, Banaras, Bareli, and Jhansi. Later it spread to South India.

In the revolt, Chhatrapati Pratapsingh of Satara and his officer Rango Bapuji, Chimasaheb of Kolhapur, Balasaheb Bhave of Nargund, Bhagoji Naik of Ahmednagar were in the forefront. Royal queens of Peth, Surgana from Nasik district also participated in the struggle. In 1857, under the leadership of Kajarsingh, the Bhills revolted, whereas Shankarshah led the revolt in Satpura region. 400 female Bhills participated in the revolt at Khandesh.

Teacher's Note

The 1857 rebellion spread from North India to South India. Both men and women fought together. For example, 400 women Bhills (a tribe) fought in Khandesh - showing that Indians from all groups wanted freedom.

Exam Trick

Remember: 1857 started in Meerut and Delhi but spread all over India. From Lucknow to Jhansi to South India - everywhere people joined! It became a national movement, not just a soldiers' rebellion.

Points to Remember

The revolt started at Meerut and spread quickly to other places.
North India had the fiercest fighting in Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow.
South India also joined the struggle later.
Women also fought - 400 female Bhills participated in Khandesh.
Many local leaders and queens joined and led the revolt.

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