some accounts mention that the company killed more than million people while responding to the revolt . if you were a company official , would you aggre with this statergy to suppress the revolt? why or why not?
Answers
The Company decided to suppress the revolt with all its might. Reinforcements were brought in from England. New laws were passed to make it easy to convict the rebels. The Company then moved forces into the storm centres of revolt. Delhi was recaptured from the rebel forces in September 1857.
Arrest of The Last Mughal Emperor: Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested. He was tried in a court and sentenced to life imprisonment. His sons were shot dead before his eyes. He was sent to prison in Rangoon; along with his wife Begum Zinat Mahal; in October 1858. The last Mughal Emperor died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862.
Long Battle:
It took almost two years completely control the situation. Lucknow was recaptured in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was killed in a battle in June 1858. Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India. He continued to wage a guerilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. Tantia Tope was captured, tried and killed in April 1859.
Shifting Loyalties: The defeat of the rebel forces encouraged desertions from the ranks of the rebel forces. The British also tried to win back people’s loyalty. Rewards were announced for loyal landholders. The loyal landlords were allowed to enjoy their traditional rights over the land. The rebels were told that if they submitted to the British, they would remain safe and their claims and rights would not be denied. But there was a condition that they had not killed any white people. Hundreds of sepoys, rebels, nawabs and rajas were tried and hanged.