Question

How did the British reward the Indian princes for showing loyalty during the Revolt of 1857?

Answer 1

There were two ways that the British reacted.

The official reaction, wherein the company rule was replaced by direct crown rule

The grassroots level reaction.

For 1, there are lots of historical data available and half of it we have already read in our history books. From my reading of a few books on the rebellion, I will highlight a few for 2.

During the rebellion, a lot Britishers were killed and there were a few massacres. In war this is not abnormal and always happens. There is no war where a massacre did not take place. The British retaliated with the same behaviour. Not all of them did though. In fact, there are some documented evidences by neutral officers who were aghast at the reaction of the British. We (Indians) are not aware of these atrocities committed by either side, If I am not wrong, the sites of the massacres are identifiable even now in some cities like Kanpur and Calcutta. But not many know about these.

One thing to be noted here is that the atrocities by the Indian side were hugely exaggerated and used as a pretext for the retaliation. I have not come across any books mentioning the Indian exaggeration of the British atrocities yet.

Till then there was a pretence of the Mughal representation in Delhi, and that was completely removed as the British became very confident of their positions and the last pretence of an India ruler was removed.

Before the revolt, there was an assimilation of the British into the Indian society. There were instances where the British officers married local women, even followed local tradition. Some of their kids were even raised as Muslims. This trend was already reducing before the revolt and the revolt almost completely stopped it. There were fewer instances of Britishers getting a local spouse and even lower instances where they followed local customs. Source for before revolt phenomena(The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple)

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:At a darbar(gathering) held in Allahabad on 1 november 1858,he read out the queen's proclamation,. In apperciation of the loyalty shown by the indian princes during the revolt, the proclamation discontinued the doctrine of lapse, and promised no interference in India's religious and social customs. This is meant that the british would no longer