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Events and dissemination of the 1857 Revolution

The rebels of Meerut reached Delhi on May 11, 1857 AD. They killed many British officers and took control over Delhi. The rebels requested the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah to lead the revolution.

At first, Bahadur Shah hesitated to accept the leadership, but under the pressure of the rebels, he agreed to accept the leadership of the revolution. The news of these incidents of Delhi also reached in other cities. In a few days, the revolt spread in most parts of northern India.

Nana Sahib took over Kanpur and declared himself Peshwa. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi in Bundelkhand and the Maratha Brahmin named Tatya Tope in central India accepted the leadership of the revolutionaries. Zamindar Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur in Bihar led the rebels. Similarly, in North India Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Mathura etc. became the main centers of revolt. All the regions of Awadh state joined this rebellion.

The military cantonment of Nasirabad on May 28, 1857, in Rajasthan and Soldiers of Neemuch, rebelled and set fire to the army camp in Nasirabad on June 3, 1857. In Rajasthan, Kota and Auwa became the main centers of revolt. A troop of Jodhpur Legion in Erinpura, who went to Abu hills for practice, rebelled on August 21, Then, the troop came down from the hill of and looted the Erinpura. They proceeded towards Delhi via Marwar.

On the way, Thakur Khushal Singh of Auwa near Pali took them to Auwa for his service. Vassals of Marwar and Mewar and their forces joined them in Auwa. Jodhpur king Maharaja Takhtsingh sent an army against them. But the state army was defeated on 8 September 1858. Then, George Laurence the A.G.G.(Agent Governor-General) of Rajasthan took the army, but he was also defeated. Finally, in January 1858, Colonel Holmes suppressed the rebels in Auwa. Though there was no direct rebellion in Mewar bit some vassals of Mewar, indirectly helped the rebels by giving them logistics etc.

There was no rebellion in most parts of Punjab, Bengal and South India. Most of the kings of India helped the British.

Revolution in Awadh

There was dissatisfaction with the British due to the merger of Awadh in the English state. Soldiers rebelled in Lucknow, on May 3, 1857. But they were suppressed. Again, there was a rebellion on May 31, 1857, which spread to various parts of the state of Awadh.

Nawab Wajidalishah of Awadh was captive to the British in Calcutta, so the rebels declared his minor son Birjees Kadra as Nawab and the work of administration was handed over to Begum Hazrat Mahal. The British army was defeated by the rebels on June 20, 1857, and most of the landowners and taluqdars took control over their estate and landownership. Henry Lawrence the commissioner of Awadh, died in an explosion on July 4, 1857.

Afterward, Outrum and Havelak came with their army to help the British. Command Campbell & Gurkha army from Nepal also reached. At the end on March 31, 1858, the British again took control over Lucknow. Even though the locals kept killing the British in a hidden form. But after the leadership of the British in Bareilly in May 1858, the revolutionaries of Awadh also capitulated and the rebellion was completely suppressed.

Revolution in Jhansi

Jhansi was merged with the English state in 1854. So, in Jhansi, there was also dissatisfaction against English. The army of Jhansi had revolted on June 5, 1857, and killed the British officers in the fort on June 8.

Initially, Rani Laxmibai did not support rebels and even clarified her position by writing letter to the commissioner of the Sagar Division. Erskine also handed over the responsibility of the administration to Rani Laxmibai, even then the British invaded Jhansi. Rani Laxmibai still wanted help from the British, but the British suspected her.

At last, Rani took the leadership of the rebels of Jhansi. The Hurose took the army towards Bundelkhand to suppress her. Rani conducted the army herself. On seeing the bravery of Rani, the British were so surprised. Tatya Tope also came from Gwalior to help Rani. But some traitors opened the gate of the fort, which gave the army a way to get in.

Therefore, Rani Lakshmibai had to go out of town in the night on April 4, 1858 and reached Kalpi. Hurose also came to Kalpi by following Rani and there was a war between them. The British took over Kalpi in May 1858. Rani reached Gwalior from there, and took control over it.

Hurose also reached Gwalior and surrounded Rani. Rani tried to run away, but her horse could not cross the river and fell down. The Rani was so wounded that she could not escape and she died a martyr.

Revolution in Kanpur

Peshwa Bajirao II was sent to Bithoor near Kanpur in 1818, on an annual pension of Rs. 8 lakhs. Bajirao did not have any son, so he adopted Nana Dhundpant, known as Nana Sahab. Bajirao died on January 28, 1851. But Dalhousie refused to pay him the pension. So Nana became enemy of the British.

After the revolt in Meerut, the British in Kanpur handed over the responsibility of the security of treasures and storage of gunpowder to the soldiers of Nana Saheb. But on 4 June, there was a revolt in Kanpur. Nana accepted the leadership of the rebels on June 6, 1857 and came to Kanpur.

The British made a camp for their safety, but the rebels took over it on 25 June. The British moved towards Allahabad on 27 June, but the rebels attacked on them. After taking the control of Kanpur, Nana declared himself Peshwa in Bithoor. But the English army arrived from Allahabad and took over Kanpur on July 16, 1857.

On this day some British women and children were murdered in a house named Bibighar in Kanpur. Then the British brutally oppressed the common people of Kanpur. It was heart wrenching. In Bibighar, British officer General Neel ordered a Muslim officer to clean the blood on the floor with tongue. On July 19, 1857, they attacked Bithoor and set fire to Nana’s palace.

Bithoor was looted fiercely. The British got excessive wealth in the loot of Bithoor that they were unable to take it. After January 1858 Nana was disappeared. Later they came to know that he has gone to Nepal.

Revolution in Bihar

Zamindar Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur (in Shahabad district), who was of 70 years conducted the rebellion in Bihar. Kunwar Singh was a big landowner but due to the British policy, he was about to bankrupt. The first revolt in Bihar was in July 1857 in Danapur. The rebels took over Danapur and called Kunwar Singh.

They made him the leader of this revolt. Kunwar Singh moved towards Lucknow in August 1857. He encountered with the English army in Azamgarh district. Kunwar Singh defeated them and took over Azamgarh in March 1858. This was his biggest achievement and it doubled his courage. Mark also competed against him, but in front of Kunwar Singh’s tactics, Mark also escaped his life somehow.

Kunwar Singh took over Jagdishpur on 22 April 1858. But even after 24 hours, Lee- grade from Aara reached Jagadishpur with his army. Kunwar Singh defeated him. Kunwar Singh died just after three days, and at that time the flag of freedom was hoisting at Jagdishpur.

He struggled against the British for almost a year and defeated them several times. The English were so annoyed with his success that after his death, Major Aire destroyed the palace and temples of Jagadishpur.

Reference : https://www.indiaolddays.com/

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