4. The Freedom Struggle of 1857

(1) The Paikas made armed rebellion against the British.

• From mediaeval times, the standing army of various independent kings in Odisha were known as 'Paika', and rent-free lands were granted to them for cultivation.
• In 1803, the English conquered Odisha and took over these hereditary rent-free lands granted to the Paikas, which made them angry.
• Similarly, the common man's life had become miserable because of the rise in salt prices due to the tax imposed on it by the British.
• This widespread discontent resulted in an armed rebellion of Paikas against the British in 1817 under the leadership of Bakshi Jaganbandhu Bidyadhar.

(2) There was discontent among the Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

• In 1856, the British provided long-range enfield rifles to the Indian sepoys.
• The sepoys were required to bite the end of the new cartridges before using them.
• The news spread out that these cartridges were smeared in the fats of cow and pig.
• Due to this, the religious sentiments of both Hindu and Muslim sepoys were hurt, making them unhappy and creating immense discontent.

(3) The Indian sepoys could not keep stand in front of the British army.

• Although the Indian soldiers were brave, they lacked military tactics and could not retain captured areas like Delhi.
• The Indian rebels had a limited supply of arms.
• In contrast, the British had massive economic strength, a disciplined army, enough stock of the latest arms, and experienced army generals.
• Since transport and communication were completely in the hands of the British, their troop movements were swift. Hence, the Indian sepoys could not stand against them solely based on bravery without equal military strategies.

(4) After the struggle, Indian army was divided on the basis of caste.

• Following the struggle of 1857, the British realized the danger of a united Indian military force.
• They increased the proportion of British soldiers and placed English officers at strategic locations.
• Artillery was kept exclusively in the hands of the British.
• The military was deliberately divided on the basis of caste to ensure that Indians would not unite again to rebel against the British rule.

(5) The British imposed heavy taxes on Indian industries.

• The primary policy of the British was to sell British-made goods in India and enjoy maximum profit.
• To achieve this and destroy local competition, they imposed heavy taxes on the local Indian industries.
• As a result, the flourishing handicraft and textile industries of India were completely ruined, and many Indian artisans became unemployed.

(1) What were the social causes behind the struggle of 1857?

• The Indians felt that the British were interfering in the culture, traditions, and customs of India.
• The British introduced social reforms like the Sati prohibition and the widow remarriage act.
• Although these acts were correct from a social point of view, the Indians perceived them as an unwanted interference in their lifestyle, which made them highly dissatisfied.

(2) Why did the Indians fail in the struggle of 1857?

• Not Comprehensive: The struggle did not take place simultaneously all over India. Regions like Rajputana, Punjab, and parts of Bengal remained aloof.
• Lack of Central Leadership: There was no commonly accepted leader, which led to a lack of uniformity in the struggle.
• Aloof Princes: Except for a few, most of the feudatory princes remained faithful to the British.
• Lack of Military Tactics: Indian soldiers were brave but lacked tactics, had limited arms, and faced a British army with modern weapons, disciplined troops, and control over transport and communication.
• International Situation: The British had just won the Crimean war, possessed vast naval strength, and had favorable trade relations globally, leaving the Indian rebels isolated.

(3) Write down the consequences of struggle of 1857.

• End of Company Rule: The British Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1858, ending the rule of the East India Company and taking over the direct responsibility of ruling India.
• Administrative Changes: The Governor General was designated as the Viceroy of India, and a new post called the Secretary of State was created to look after Indian affairs.
• Queen's Proclamation: Queen Victoria issued a declaration promising no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or caste, no interference in religious affairs, and that no more princely states would be annexed.
• Army Restructuring: The military was divided on the basis of caste, and artillery was placed exclusively under British control to prevent future rebellions.
• Change in Policy: The British adopted a policy of non-interference in social and religious aspects but simultaneously initiated the 'Divide and Rule policy' to keep Indians divided.

(4) What were the changes in British policy after the struggle of 1857?

• The British accepted the policy of non-interference in the social and religious aspects of Indians.
• They actively started taking care that the Indian society would not be united on social grounds.
• They ensured that there would be constant conflicts among Indians based on caste, religion, race, and territory.
• Overall, they adopted the policy of polluting the minds of Indians by following the 'Divide and Rule policy'.