Why did the soldiers in 1857 rushed to Delhi

 QUESTION:  Why did the Indian Soldiers in the 1857 mutiny rush to Delhi.

In 1857 the British saw a mighty war of Independence as called by VD Savarkar.The revolt led by the disconted leaders led the movement in a best way although it lacked planning and organisation.The revolt is a product of character and policies of colonial rule.


1. Mughals stood as a symbol of political unity of India. So sepoys


rushed to Delhi to make Bahadur shah the head of the revolt to


make it appear as revolutionary war rather than as mere sepoy


mutiny.


2. Soldiers particularly had no leadership qualities to lead revolts. So


they want to take experience of leaders to make it successful.


3. One of the biggest arsenal was inside the city walls of Delhi.


Outside 3 miles of Delhi, 3000 barrels of gun powder was present.


So it was important for soldiers to get hold off them.


4. Delhi had a secular legacy, so the Muslim soldiers were more


comfortable.


5. Delhi is geographically located somewhat in the center of


Northern India, so easy to reach it. Transportation to Delhi was


easily available from all places of North India. Delhi also had


better infrastructure to lead a revolt.


3. Reasons for 1857 revolt


1. Political causes: Greedy policy of aggrandisement, accompanied


by broken pledges and oaths resulted in loss of prestige. Policies


like 'Effective control', 'Subsidiary alliance', and 'Doctrine of


lapse' created suspicion in the minds of the people. 


2. Administrative causes: Exclusion of Indians from administrative


posts. Rampant corruption in the company's administration.


3. Economic causes: Heavy taxation under new revenue settlement,


summary evictions, discriminatory tariffs against Indian products,


destruction of traditional handicrafts industry and absence of


industrialisation. 


4. Socio-Religious Causes: Social legislations like Sati abolition


act, 1829, Widow re-marraige act, 1856, etc. Missionary


activities. 


5. Military Causes: The General Service Enlistment Act decreed


that future recruits to cross sea for providing their services.


Unhappy with emoluments compared to British counter parts. He


was a 'peasant in uniform'. 


6. Immediate Causes: In 1856, the government decided to replace


the old fashioned muskets by the Enfield rifles In order to load the

Enfield rifle, the greased wrapping paper of the cartridge had to be


bitten off by the soldier. 


4. Consequences of 1857 revolt


1. British government passed Government of India Act 1858 and


assumed direct responsibility for the administration.


2. The era of annexations and expansions ended and British


promised to respect the dignity and rights of the native princes.


Princes and Zamindars acted as 'break waters to storm' during the


revolt. Doctrine of Lapse was abolished.


3. The British assured the people that religious and social practices


would be respected and not be interfered.


4. The Indian states were henceforth to recognise the paramountcy of


the British crown. 


5. The Army was thoroughly re-organised and military policy came


to be dominated by idea of division and counterpoise. The


proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced and the


number of European soldiers in the army was increased.


6. Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give


them security of rights over their lands.


7. Muslims were considered to be responsible for the rebellion in a


big way. Hence their land and property was confiscated on large


scale. Policy of Divide and Rule began. 


8. Racial hatred and suspicion between Indians and English was


aggravated. 


5. Centres of revolt


1. Delhi -- General Bakht khan.


2. Kanpur -- Nana Saheb.


3. Lucknow -- Begum Hazrat Mahal.


4. Bihar -- Kunwar singh 


5. Jhansi -- Laxmibai


6. Role of women in 1857 revolt


1. 1857 revolt was called as first war of independence was mainly


seen as a struggle led by soldiers, but women have their respective


share in the revolt.


2. Rani Lakshmi Bhai, Moti Bhai (to save Lakshmi bhai), Begum


Hazrat Mahal, were some front runners who rebelled for varied

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