When People Rebel: Class 8 History Chapter 5 Notes in PDF Format
Class 8 History Chapter 5 Notes PDF Download
If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to study Class 8 History Chapter 5, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you with detailed notes on this chapter, which covers the topic of When People Rebel: 1857 and After. You will learn about how various sections of Indian society rose up against British rule in 1857, what were their causes and motives, how they fought and what were their outcomes. This chapter is important to understand one of the most significant events in Indian history, which had far-reaching consequences for both India and Britain.
Introduction
Class 8 History Chapter 5 deals with one of the most remarkable episodes in Indian history, which is known as the Revolt of 1857 or the First War of Independence. This was a widespread uprising against British rule that broke out in May 1857 and lasted for more than a year. It involved various sections of Indian society, such as nawabs, rajas, peasants, zamindars, sepoys, artisans, traders, religious leaders and others. They had different grievances and aspirations, but they shared a common enemy in the form of British East India Company, which had been expanding its control over India since mid-eighteenth century. The revolt was sparked by a rumour that new cartridges issued to Indian sepoys were greased with cow and pig fat, which offended their religious sentiments. However, this was only a trigger for a deeper discontent that had been brewing for a long time due to various political, economic, social and religious policies imposed by British rule.
class 8 history chapter 5 notes pdf download
Policies and People
Nawabs lose their power
One of the groups that participated in revolt were nawabs and rajas who had lost their authority and honor under British rule. Since mid-eighteenth century, British East India Company had been following a policy of annexing Indian states through various means such as war, treaty, subsidiary alliance or doctrine of lapse. Subsidiary alliance meant that an Indian ruler had to accept British troops in his territory and pay for their maintenance. Doctrine of lapse meant that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir, his state would be taken over by the Company. Many Indian states such as Awadh, Jhansi, Nagpur, Satara and others were annexed by these methods. The nawabs and rajas who were reduced to puppets or pensioners felt humiliated and angry at the loss of their sovereignty and dignity. Some of them, such as Nana Saheb of Bithur, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur, joined the revolt and fought bravely against the British.
The peasants and the sepoys
Another group that participated in the revolt were peasants and zamindars who suffered under the oppressive revenue system of the British. The Company had introduced a permanent settlement in Bengal and Bihar, which fixed the revenue demand on the land and gave zamindars the right to collect it from the peasants. However, this also meant that if the zamindars failed to pay the revenue on time, their lands would be auctioned off by the Company. Many zamindars lost their lands due to this system and became indebted. The peasants also faced high taxes and rigid revenue collection, which forced them to borrow money from moneylenders at exorbitant rates of interest. They also faced eviction, confiscation and imprisonment if they could not pay their dues. Many peasants and zamindars resented this exploitation and supported the revolt.
The sepoys were Indian soldiers who were employed by the British East India Company to fight its wars in India and abroad. They formed the bulk of the rebel forces in 1857. They had many grievances against their British officers, such as low pay, poor conditions, racial discrimination and lack of promotion opportunities. They also felt that their religious beliefs and customs were being violated by the British, who tried to impose their culture and values on them. For example, they were forbidden to wear caste marks or turbans, they were forced to travel overseas which was considered a sin by many Hindus, they were made to use new cartridges which were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat which was offensive to both Hindus and Muslims. These factors led to a sense of discontent and disloyalty among the sepoys, who rose up in rebellion when they heard that some of their comrades had been punished for refusing to use the new cartridges.
Responses to reforms
A third group that participated in the revolt were those who opposed the British attempts to reform Indian society and religion. The British believed that they had a civilizing mission in India and that they had to educate, modernize and Christianize the Indians. They introduced English education, western science, law and medicine in India. They also passed laws that interfered with Indian customs and traditions, such as banning sati (the practice of widow immolation), allowing widow remarriage, abolishing female infanticide and child marriage. They also supported Christian missionaries who tried to convert Indians to Christianity. Many Indians felt that these reforms were an attack on their culture, religion and identity. They feared that they would lose their caste status, their ancestral property and their faith if they accepted British rule. They also resented the arrogance and intolerance of the British, who looked down upon them as inferior and backward. Some of them, such as Maulvi Ahmadullah of Faizabad, Nana Saheb's advisor Azimullah Khan and Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh, used religion as a rallying point to mobilize people against British rule.
A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Rebellion
The outbreak of the rebellion
The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut, where 85 sepoys of the 3rd Native Cavalry refused to use the new cartridges and were court-martialled and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. The next day, their fellow sepoys broke into open revolt, killed their British officers, freed their comrades and marched towards Delhi. There they were joined by other sepoys from nearby cantonments and by local people who attacked British officials, traders and civilians. They reached Delhi on 11 May 1857 and captured the city after a fierce battle with the British troops stationed there.
The rebels then proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar, the aged Mughal emperor who lived in Delhi as a pensioner of the Company, as their leader and asked him to bless their cause. Bahadur Shah Zafar agreed to do so reluctantly, as he had no real power or authority over them. He issued a proclamation calling upon all Indians to rise up against British rule and restore his empire.
The role of Bahadur Shah Zafar
Bahadur Shah Zafar was chosen by the rebels as their leader because he was the symbolic representative of the Mughal dynasty, which had once ruled over most of India. He was also respected by both Hindus and Muslims as a religious and cultural figure. He was a poet, a scholar and a patron of arts and learning. He had his own court and nobility, who supported his claim to the throne. He also had some influence over other Indian rulers and chiefs, who acknowledged him as their nominal sovereign.
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