NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 5 When People Rebel

Since the mid-eighteenth century, nawabs and rajas had seen their power erode. They had gradually lost their authority and honour. Residents had been stationed in many courts, the freedom of the rulers reduced, their armed forces disbanded and their revenues and territories taken away by stages. Many ruling families tried to negotiate with the Company to protect their interests.

A very large number of people begin to believe that they have a common enemy and rise up against the enemy at the same time. For such a situation to develop people have to organise, communicate, take initiative and display the confidence to turn the situation around. Such a situation developed in the northern parts of India in 1857. After a hundred years of conquest and administration, the English East India Company faced a massive rebellion that started in May 1857 and threatened the Company’s very presence in India. Sepoys mutinied in several places beginning from Meerut and a large number of people from different sections of society rose up in rebellion.

After the death of her husband, Rani Lakshmibai wanted her adopted son to be recognized as the heir to the kingdom.

In 1850, a new law allowed an Indian who had converted to Christianity to inherit property of his ancestors. This law made it easier to convert to Christianity.

It was rumored that the new cartridges were coated with the fat of cows and pigs. This hurt the sentiments of both the Hindus and the Muslims.

The last Mughal emperor spent the last years of his life in a jail in Rangoon, along with his wife.

Within hundred years of assuming the Diwani of Bengal, the British became the unquestioned rulers over a large part of the Indian subcontinent. They rarely had to use force to take control over a territory. They were doing profitable trade which was their main objective. They also succeeded in winning the support of most of the local rajas and chieftains. These are some of the possible reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857.

Answer 6: The decision by Bahadur Shah Zafar to support the rebellion had dramatically changed the entire situation. Most of the smaller rulers and chieftains had been ruling over their territories on behalf of the Mughal ruler. They hoped that if the Mughal ruler could once again resume power, they would also be able to rule their own territories once again. People were emboldened by an alternative possibility.

The British also tried to win back people’s loyalty. Rewards were announced for loyal landholders. The loyal landlords were allowed to enjoy their traditional rights over the land. The rebels were told that if they submitted to the British, they would remain safe and their claims and rights would not be denied. But there was a condition that they had not killed any white people.

The British made various changes in their policies after the revolt of 1857. Some of them are as follows: The British Crown took the direct responsibility of governance in India. All the ruling chiefs and kings were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They could pass on their kingdom to their heirs; including the adopted sons. However, they were to accept the suzerainty of the British Crown. A decision was taken to increase the proportion of Europeans in the army. More people were to be recruited from among the Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans. It was decided to respect the local customs and traditions.

In Jhansi, the revolt of 1857 was led by Rani Lakshmibai. She was originally a vassal of the Peshwa. She join the forces with Tantia Tope and they captured Gwalior together. On June 1858, a battle was fought between the English and Rani of Jhansi was helped by Tantia Tope and the brave Afghans. It was a fierce battle in which the Rani made the English wonderstruck with her sword. She had been an unusual woman of her kind. The tales of her bravery, courage and military skills inspired generations of Indians since then. However, she laid down her life and died a martyr at Kalpi near Jhansi on June 17, 1858.