India celebrates 150th year of its first war of independence
V. Mohan Rao*
May 7 to 11, 2007 were historic days for India in the celebration of 150 years of its First War of Independence that had claimed thousands of freedom fighters in 1857 for the cause of their motherland. The commemoration of the days cast a new light on the hidden pages of the history of India’s freedom struggle. The UPA government has organized a yearlong programme across the country to pay tributes, particularly, those who gave a kick-start to the initial momentum to free the country from the clutches of the British rule. According to majority of the historians, the revolt by Sepoys against their British masters in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) in May 1857 is considered to be the First War of Independence of India. The fact remains that the events in Meerut gave an instant inspiration to the people to launch a revolt against the century-old despotic rule of the British.
The Beginning
The revolt began when some of the Sepoys of the 3rd Cavalry regiment refused to use the greased cartridges. Their refusal to use the greased cartridges was regarded by the British authorities as an action of insubordination and was punished accordingly. On March 29, 1857 the Sepoys at Barrackpore refused to use the greased cartridges and one Brahmin Sepoy – Mangal Pandey, attacked and fired at the Adjutant. He is described as the first martyr of India’s Independence. The regiment was disbanded and Sepoys found guilty of rebellion punished. At Meerut in May 1857, 85 Sepoys of the 3rd Cavalry regiment on their refusal to use the greased cartridges were court-martialled and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. On 10th May, the Sepoys broke out in open rebellion, shot their officers, released their fellow Sepoys and headed towards Delhi. General Hewitt, the Officer Commanding at Meerut had 2,200 European soldiers at his disposal but did nothing to stem the rising tide. The rebels had seized Delhi on 12th May 1857. Lieutenant Willoughby, the officer-in-charge of the magazine at Delhi, had offered some resistance, but was overcome. The palace and the city were occupied. Some European inhabitants of Delhi were shot dead. Bahadur Shah II was proclaimed the Emperor of India. The loss of Delhi was a serious loss of prestige to the English. Very soon the rebellion spread throughout Northern and Central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur, Bareilly, Banaras, in parts of Bihar, Jhansi and other places. However, the most outstanding leader of the revolt was Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, who had fought valiantly and died while fighting the British forces. Historians say although the rebellion was completely suppressed in July 1857, the momentum continued to serve as the main source of inspiration for the people, who vigorously fought the British to free their motherland.
*Freelance Journalist
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