Question

why was the revolt was pre-planned in 1857​

Answer 1

Answer:

“It is not right to call the revolt of 1857 as the First War of Independence. It was an uprising that started out from a sepoy mutiny but was not channelised towards a comprehensive nation,” said acclaimed British historian, Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, who was in Lucknow on Sunday.

“It was a series of localised grievances that were neither pre-planned, did not attack the British seat in Kolkata, nor reach the South of India,” she added. “Had Indians been more united against the British in 1857, the colonial forces would have lasted so long,” said Jones, who has written and researched extensively on Awadh, while speaking at the launch of a book “The Uprising of 1857” edited by her.

The book brings together archival material from the Alkazi collection, including not just photographs but also silver albumen prints, postcards, paintings, lithographs and essays that reevaluate evidence of the uprising. “The uprising was not planned, though had it not been the backing by the zamindaars, it would have not sustained. But it was gravely localised, and did not even threaten the governor general sitting in Kolkata,” Jones explained to the audience.

As per the historian, the causes behind the uprising were the annexation of Oudh in 1856, increase in land revenue demands, fear of conversion to Christianity, emergence of new western technology and ill treatment of Indian rulers by the British. Jones added, “The grease cartridge was not the only cause. It did ignite all the other simmering feelings when religion also got involved”.

Jones said the British blame on Muslims for uprising was not right, since some Christians and Anglo-Indians were also involved along with Hindus and Muslims.

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Rosie Llewellyn-Jones addresses the audience at the launch of the book ‘The Uprising of 1857’ in Lucknow on Sunday