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Introduction
This is India in AD 1875. The British had just conquered a new territory and expanded to what we to today as the common wealth. However, the conquest was not received kindly by the people of India; the noblemen were angered since they had lost their control and influence. They were then being led, not the leaders but as people under a colonial ruler whose homeland was territories away from this sub-continent.
As a result, the rulers organized a resistance due to the annexation of their territories. The land revenue collection system used by the British was viewed as exploitative in the eyes of indigenous communities arising their gross hatred of the British presence around them.
In the examination of the causes that led to that revolt, we look at the possible aspects such as the revolt’s effects on the then economic activities, religion social setting (social movements) in the Indian context of political setting.
Besides, the revolt may have been justified due to the interpretation of an Indian man, yet the effects were not localized to the areas that felt the bitter pinch of the revolt.
Consequently, from the aftermath of the revolt, could we possibly make some conclusions that this may have had a strain on a local and provincial subject in India then?
Furthermore, the revolt which led to a mutiny may have as well stretched relationship internationally between India and Britain leading other anti-British nations away and around India to review their ties with the British.
Economical setting of India before 1875
India had thrived because of its textile industry which was known internationally. Although, the industry was not highly mechanized, the value attached to the products was significant due to the level of skill that was employed to produce them.
The majority of peasants and common men worked for the landlords for rich noblemen for a living1. Also, another industry which was highly developed was craftsmanship. There was also royal patronage given to some religious group leaders.
The causes to revolt for economic reasons were due to British economic policy2. The policy meant that the royal patronage formally enjoyed by the religious leaders’ was withdrawn, the revenue policy was strenuous to peasants due to its high demands-the policy was also strict.
Furthermore, the British policy in trade favored negatively the Indian craftsmen since the coming of the British led to an influx of cheap substitutes for these craftsmen, making their hand produced goods expensive to the buyers and uneconomical to produce.
The people had a discontent that they revolted hopping that they could lessen these economic strains and regain their former livelihoods that they enjoyed before the coming of the British annexing their territory.
Political causes of the revolt
The revolt leading to the mutiny had political implications to the rulers India. This was due to the British policy of annexation. This policy led to a mass displacement of many rulers at that time.
The major parts felt the impacts were felt in Awadhi. The British enforced strictly The Doctrine of Lapse and Subsidiary Alliance. Awadhi was seen as a loyal territory to the British rule. Its annexation made the rulers angry and drew criticisms of betrayal.
This led to a revolt in this part. The Indian peasant did not however see any difference due to the presence of the British since levies in tax increased from what they were formerly charged.
As a result, there was a collective discontent with the political policies of the British. Besides, the collapse of the Nawab’s rule led to loss of jobs by the subjects in that territory. The coming of the British, which was the major course of the collapse, did not provide alternative employment to the people.
Religious reasons
In the perspective of religion, the Indian people did not like Christianity which was brought by the British. There was a mass fear among the Indian people due the activities of the Christian missionaries of converting local people to Christianity.
The fear was that all the people could be forced to convert due to the oppressive British rule3. What made their fears to grow more was the imposition of taxes on land under the temples and mosques.
The policy of taxation of the land under mosques and temples aroused a fear that the religion was under threat making the conservative section of the Indian society be united against the British who was viewed as a common enemy to all of them.
The revolt followed and a mutiny resulted; in the name of religion under threat and the policy of taxing “religious land”4.
Social implications of the British presence
Racial discrimination was the gist of social unrest. The British practiced superiority and class segregation5. Orthodox Indians looked at the British presence with a keen suspicion that they were interfering with their social custom. Some of this customs concerned widows. India of that time did not support remarriage of widows.
At the time the British amended laws leading to the legalization of widow remarriage. This caused a high resentment among conservative Indians leading to a general hatred from conservative groups, who thought that the British were interfering with their social customs.
Another part of social aspect that the Indians showed resentment was the extension of woman education. India was a male dominated society which did not support total education of a girl child. The British extended the education of women and this was not received happily by conservative and orthodox Indians.
Lastly, the coming of the British gave the Indians an opportunity to access formal education. By early 17th century, Britain was already undergoing a rapid industrial revolution.
This revolution was also being transferred to territories in foreign lands which were annexed by Britain. The revolution in industries brought with it mechanization of processes of production.
The technology was embraced in India but the educated Indians were not granted promotions to higher positions. It was even alleged that due to British dominance, a less highly educated British was more likely to be given promotion over a highly educated Indian. This also caused a total resentment to the Indian society.
International relations
The events leading t the mutiny, took the relationship between India and Britain to a bitter end. The mutiny happened only in some portions of India but the impact was felt nationally in India as a nation.
The Indian view of Britain was that of an enemy, an oppressor, racist and disturber. Some political analyzed commented that the mutiny may have been the first step to independence for India.
Since Britain was also annexing lands in the neighborhood of India, the resentment of British rule also spread to other nations hence accelerating independence campaigns around the region.
Conclusion
Indian mutiny in 1875, shaped cultural, political and social relationships between India and Britain. The act was seen by many as barbaric and betrayal. Although it was an imperative way of quelling an uprising, it only led the relationship to a bitter end; lack trust between the two nations.
Bibliography
Chakravatry, Gautam. The Indian mutiny and the British imagination. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 2005.
Hukam, Chaud. History of Modern India. New Delhi: ANMOL PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD, 2005.
Imam, Hassan. Indian national Movement. New Delhi: ANMOL PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD, 1999.
Social Science History. Social science history, 10(1): 1-4. New Delhi: Retna Sgar, 1986 Thomas, Ronald. Dreams of authority: Freud and the fictions of the unconscious. New York: Cornell University Press, 1990.
Footnotes
1 Thomas, Ronald. Dreams of authority: Freud and the fictions of the unconscious. New York: Cornell University Press, 1990.
2 Hukam, Chaud. History of Modern India. New Delhi: ANMOL PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD, 2005. P. 90-92.
3 Imam, Hassan. Indian national Movement. New Delhi: ANMOL PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD, 1999.
4 Social Science History. Social science history, 10(1): 1-4. New Delhi: Retna Sgar, 1986. P.1-3.
5 Chakravatry, Gautam. The Indian mutiny and the British imagination. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 2005. P. 130.
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