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The Revolt of 1857 and Its Representations
Critically examine Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation in Awadh.
Dalhousie’s policy of annexation of Awadh were:
(i)Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day “. The conquest happened in stages. The Subsidiary Alliance had been imposed on Awadh in 1801.
(ii) By the terms of this alliance the Nawab had to disband his military force , allow the British to position their troops within the kingdom , and act in accordance with the advice of the British Resident who was attached to the court. Thus the Nawab became dependent on British.
(iii)The British became interested in acquiring Awadh as its soil was good for producing Indigo and cotton, and the region was ideally located to be developed into the principal market of Upper India.
(iv)Annexation of Awadh would complete the territorial annexation by the British beginning with that of Bengal a century earlier. It was annexed on the grounds of maladministration.
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What were the measures taken to ensure unity among the rebels?
What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants, taluqdars and zamindars to join the revolt?
What did the rebels want? To what extent did the vision of different social groups differ?
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
Examine any two sources presented in the chapter, choosing one visual and one text, and discuss how these represent the point of view of the victor and the vanquished.
Why did the moneylenders and the rich people become victims of the wrath of mutineers in the Revolt of 1857?
Who led the Revolt of 1857 in following places–Kanpur, Jhansi, Bihar and Lucknow (Awadh).
Which people propagated the Revolt of 1857?
Give any two social reasons for the Revolt of 1857.
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