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The Indian Uprising of 1857 (Interpretations (Colonial mutiny (Colonial…
The Indian Uprising of 1857
Causes
Cartridges
New, more efficient type of cartridge introduced
Rumours spread that cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat - insult to Hindus and Muslims. British could not confirm or deny
British used this interpretation - made then seem irrational, religious fanatics - also did not have to address real issues
Army
Pay, pensions
Where fighting
Events
Kanpur/Cawnpore
Brutal repression - seen as where it began but was bad before
Controversial and notorious moment - civilians killed
British being sieged - promised would be allowed to safely leave to Calcutta if they never came back, as they got on the boats the Indians opened fire and killed them
Survivors taken back, massacred and their bodies thrown down a well - mostly women and children
Mangal Pandey
Attacked officers, refused to use cartridges - was executed
Shortly after a garrison refused to use the cartridges and were arrested and imprisoned
Satirised as British as a madman high on opiates
Interpretations
Colonial mutiny
Colonial term "sepoy mutiny" - confine it just to the army
Mutiny sounds treacherous
Nationalist - 1st war of independence
No nation-state, not first, not a fight for independence - not that unified
Nationalist POV e.g. VD Sarvarkar 1908
Disputed by R C Majumdar in 1963
Jihad
Recent interpretation - overplays the role of the Muslim sepoys
Popular uprising
Most true
But not completely - regional
Subaltern
Indian Nationalists in the 70s/80s
Aim to dismantle elitist historiography and restore agency to 'subaltern' groups in history
Who took part
Princely states
Nana Saheb
Supposedly the guy who authorised the massacre at Kanpur
Deposed prince in constant dispute with the EIC - hereditary claim to the throne not recognised
Easy to pick a few princes to vilify - when they are captured or killed, can claim it's over
Popular uprising
But not everywhere
Peasants
Results
Repression
Aggression and brutality on both sides
Huge loss of life
General Neill "pacification" of Beneras - scorched earth policy, massacre all men in village of fighting age
Famine, prices rise
Amnesty
Governor-General George Canning
Unpopular in British press - seen as weak
Probably the best idea politically
Offered an amnesty to anyone who could not proved to have taken part
Rule by British crown instated - EIC lose control
Not a certain victory for them