Question

Why did the Indians fail in the struggle of 1857?

Answer 1

On May 11, 1857, Indian sepoys revolted against the British in Meerut over the use of cartridges greased with pig and cow fat. The sepoys attacked the British magazine to arrest the weapon store stocked there. In the initial hours, the revolt was in the hands of the rebels. But the sepoys couldn’t withstand the British army. The reasons are:

1. Political reasons:
   1. The higher-class people, like princes and the educated class, stayed missing from the revolt.
   2. The revolt did not spread to a large area. It just focused on central India and northwestern India.
   3. The sepoys could not point out any substitute for the current British rule.
2. Military reasons:
   1. The British army was so well organized and strong.
   2. The military supplies of the sepoys were too limited.
3. Organizational reasons:
   1. The sepoys were unorganized.
   2. Very weak leadership. Leaders like Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh, and Rani Lakshmi Bai were not efficient enough to confront the British army.
   3. The revolt was undirected and did not have any motive.
   4. It was just the uprising from the religious and emotional wounds of sepoys.

Many parts of central and southern India remained undisturbed in the revolt. The area of influence of the revolt of 1857 was so limited. However, the revolt could make necessary changes in people so that they became aware of the inhuman practices of the British. There were limitations for the Indians, which is natural because all the political and armed powers were with the British.