SOUTH ASIAN HISTORY

SOUTH ASIAN HISTORY

The Resistance movement in India

The colonial Indian society was molded from three primary sources that served to influence the development of their state of mind. Social relations, modes of thought, and their belief system were maintained from the Mughal India era. The emergence of colonial states resulted in the second set of influences, which emerged from their need to maintain a competitive economic state. This was countered by the rise of rebellions around the region that were designated to fight these foreign forces, and maintain the integrity of their culture. This resistance appeared in both armed and unarmed formats, showing the unifying belief that was developed as a result of this rebellion.

The rise of the revolt in India in the 1800s demonstrated the local residents’ refusal to submit to their western rulers. It has been stated that there was an epidemic of armed rebellions around the region, with the revolution of 1857/8 being the foremost that comes to mind. These facts should serve to repel the myth that there was hardly any upheaval experienced during this period. As a matter of fact, sources have stated that the Indian rebellion posed a serious military threat during the revolt of 1857. It should be noted that these revolts arose due to the living conditions and policies the colonial government tried to implement with their rule.

Rebellion against the western forces was not the only incident taking place during this time. There were a number of internal conflicts that also occurred between different local groups, as well. Wars between colonial forces and significant landholders, for example, were usually about personal issues – such as tax increments or the deduction of their status. Disputes between wandering tribes and peasant farmers were also common due to what one party considered an invasion of their land.

The western government, however, did play a significant role in enhancing the discomfort of local lives – which led to their insurrection. Many of the policies implemented by British rule increased their revenue rates while enhancing the suffering of the local population. The local administrators maintained a strict hold over these requirements and refused to compromise no matter the situation. As a result, resistance was developed from a variety of avenues – including village leadership, rebel chieftains, and local rulers. Another common element that played a role during the development of the 1857 revolt was the gradual introduction of cash cropping, which set the scene for rural clashes. The economic potential of this venture led to a number of disagreements between groups such as landlords and tenants, as well as nomad herders and farmers.

It has been stated that there were a number of reasons behind the failure of the 1857 revolt, the primary one being the lack of cohesion between its recognized leaders. The social complexities of reinstating an Indian-style government became a problem due to the vague nature of these notions. Members of the Islamic rebellion, for instance, proved very effective when battling against the British forces. However, these accomplishments were downplayed by the social and theological differences within their community. Conflicts between the Shias and the Sunnis in many regions prevented these rebellions from gaining a unification advantage against their opponents. The aversion between Hindus and Muslims also made it difficult for both parties to maintain a cordial relationship while attempting to rebuild their society.

The revolt of 1857 has been described by some nationalists as the initial war for an independent India. Despite the complications encountered with its uprising, it still represented a severe threat against British rule at its highest peak. The civilian uprising combined with a military revolution encompassed one of the most significant eras of south Asian history. The development of social and economic unease within official ranks was due to some of the British Company’s activities. Actions such as smearing weapons with pig and cow fat was viewed as an underlying means of forcing Hindu and Muslim conversions.

Even though different groups had a variety of personal ambitions with their attacks, there was an established sense of patriotism with their decisions. The need to expel the western forces from their land was a unifying objective that brought a majority of groups together. There were a few cases where hierarchical differences proved inconvenient for certain parties, leading them to withdraw their full support until their grievances were atoned. Multifaceted approaches were implemented with some parts of the resistance, as different social groups played various roles in the revolution. The refusal of local kings to pay any tax revenues to their colonial rulers, for instance, was viewed as a blunt sign of revolt. This was due to the economic restraints this would imply to the western administration.

It was approximated that £50 million was needed to address the rebellion of 1857, portraying the all-round significance of this event. Some of the major influences that played a role in further antagonizing the situation were the racial hatred that developed between the warring groups. The colonial rulers were seen as racially arrogant and presumptuous of their status – which tended to enhance the contempt of the Indian community. The newly created crown Raj had to pay back this sum to their London colonizers – which represented a serious burden to the newly formed administration. The revolution did bring about some progress, however, such as Queen Victoria’s declaration to uphold all peace treaties with the local rulers henceforth.

Though this revolt may be seen as part of the past by some, it represents a significant factor in the underlying foundation of some relationships today. The brutality that occurred between the two sides adopted a two-way transition. This meant that the rebellion only helped to further inspire a sense of disunity between the two groups. Horrendous things were done to prisoners of the revolt, while the guerilla tactics implemented by some of the local opposition were cruel and unjust. The resistance did not find a way to improve the relationship between the different factions of revolting groups. Hindus, for example, were still not totally comfortable collaborating with their Islam counterparts.

Three northern cities, in particular, come to mind when discussing the heinous acts of both sides Lucknow, Kanpur, and Delhi resulted in an uprising in Central India that attracted the attention of the British forces. The march through this region resulted in encounters that ended in massive bloodshed and acts of horror. Both soldiers and civilians committed indiscriminate acts of violence during the fight that was motivated by racial savagery. This trend continued throughout the battle, despite attempts from British officials such as Lord Canning – who instated the Clemency Proclamation as a means of curbing this behavior. This was not as successful as the developer might have wished.

In retaliation to the random killings and other violent acts that were perpetrated to their people, the Indian rebels responded with aggression and terror of their own. A garrison was subjected to a hail of bullets by leader Nana Sahib, despite their surrender and his promise of safe passage. Hundreds of British women and children were also massacred during this period before the city of Delhi was retaken by the western forces. The change in power resulted in the exile of influential individuals such as Bahadur Shah, while some members of the royal family were murdered. The continuity of this trend made it difficult for the establishment of peace between various factions.

The racism and fear that represented the late 1800s were still to be experienced decades after the event. The British community insisted on the implementation of segregation tactics in a bid to enhance their security. Cities dedicated as civil lines were created, with the establishment of a reliable military presence situated with their emergence. The differences between these living conditions further enhanced the stark contrast between the new and older settlements. The disorder of previous urban settlements was further caused by rapid population growth – which led to desperate sanitary conditions and a rise of epidemics within the region.

A number of methods were implemented to try and bring about equality from 1897 onwards. Differences between Indian and British communities were contested by trying to implement a more active approach with regard to the former group. The development of a Hindu society that encouraged the participation of Indians around the region attempted to counter the influences set up by the western government. The emergence of the English-educated elite in India during this period also enhanced the level of communication that could be enjoyed by the community. Liberal discourse was one of the primary arguments that were implemented by this group when contesting British policies. Modern Indian languages that were developed during the nineteenth century also played a large role in establishing Indian culture and communal beliefs.

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