Importance And Relevance To Freedom Movement
It made the Indians realize the futility of the armed struggle against the British. It also replaced feudal leadership with an educated middle-class leadership. It also served as a source of inspiration for the national liberation movement.
Civil Rebellions – Freedom Movement
The establishment of British power in India was a prolonged process of piecemeal conquest and consolidation and colonization of the economy and society. This process produced discontent, and resistance at every stage and this took three broad forms- Civil rebellions, Tribal uprisings and Peasant Movements.
Nature of Civil Rebellions – Freedom Movement
They were often led by deposed Rajas or Nawabs or their descendants, uprooted and impoverished zamindars and other landed gentry. The mass base came to form the rack-rented peasants, ruined artisans and demobilized soldiers. They were extremely localized and arose from local grievances and for short periods.
Causes – Freedom Movement
The causes for these rebellions were similar to the ones of the 1857 revolt. All are related to the changes introduced by the British in the administration, economy and land revenue system.
- The demand for revenue was heavy, and the manner of the collection was cruel;
- Thousands of zamindars and polygars lost their land either due to the extinction of their rights by the colonial state or by the forced sale of their lands because of their inability to meet the exorbitant land revenue demanded.
- The destruction of handicrafts by the British forced the artisans to flock into the already crowded agricultural sector and were forced to lead a life of misery.
- A new legal system was introduced which was based on rule of law but it favoured landlords and money lenders while the peasants got little justice. There was also rampant corruption in the lower levels of administration.
- The elite in the courts of the deposed rulers like scholars, religious preachers, priests etc., were impoverished due to lack of patronage and they incited anti-British feelings.
- Moreover, the very alien nature of the British rule where people felt humiliated to be under the foreigner’s heel, which generated the feeling of “Hurt Pride”, and inspired efforts to expel the British.