The British largely dominate the historical records of the 1857 events, painting the rebels in a negative light. The perspective of the rebels, mainly illiterate sepoys and commoners, is limited, with only a handful of proclamations and ishtahars providing insight.

The Vision of Unity

Religious Harmony: The rebellion reached out to both Hindus and Muslims, emphasizing unity against the British. 

• Coexistence: This proclamation underlines the historical coexistence during the Mughal period.
• British Interference: Despite British efforts to stir religious discord, the unity of the rebels remained strong.
• Shared Values: The 1857 rebels sought to preserve their religion, culture, dignity, and economic interests against British transgressions. 
  • Their unity was rooted in these shared values and challenges.

The Azamgarh Proclamation (25 August 1857)

The Plight of Zamindars: The British imposed heavy revenue demands and disrespected the zamindars. 

• The Badshahi government offered more respectful and lenient terms.
• The Struggles of Merchants: The British monopolized major trades, leaving little for native traders. 
• • The Badshahi government pledged to support and free native trade.
• The Grievances of Public Servants: Under British rule, native public servants faced low pay and respect. 
  • The Badshahi government proposed higher salaries and positions.
• The Challenges of Artisans: British goods made native artisans jobless. 
  • The Badshahi government assured them exclusive employment opportunities.
• The Call to Religious Leaders: British were viewed as enemies of both major religions. 
  • Religious leaders were thus called to join the rebellion.

The Sepoys’ Perspective

A Historical Overview: Sepoys looked back at their long-standing service under the British. 

• They attributed British conquests in India to their support.
• The Trigger: The introduction of religiously offensive cartridges by the British sparked the rebellion. 
• • Subsequent punitive measures by the British deepened the sepoys’ resolve to fight for their faith.

Pursuit of Alternate Authority

Restoring Previous Power Structures: Following the collapse of British rule in certain areas, rebels aimed to reinstate pre-British systems, reminiscent of the 18th-century Mughal era.

• Efforts in Administration: Leaders attempted to form administrative systems, with appointments, revenue collections, and army orders focused on battling the British.
• The Mughal Connection: The eighteenth-century Mughal world was idealized as a symbol of what was lost under the British.
• Administrative Limitations: While these structures were mainly war-centric, they couldn’t withstand prolonged British opposition, except in Awadh where they persisted into early 1858.

Repression and British Countermeasures in 1857

The Challenge for the British:The Intensity of the Rebellion was so profound that the British faced immense difficulty in suppressing the 1857 revolt.

• Implementing Martial Law: As an emergency measure, before deploying troops, the British introduced laws in May and June 1857, placing North India under martial law.

• Challenges of Rural Resistance: A report from Awadh (Oudh) highlighted the challenges posed by villagers, who would disperse when confronted by Europeans, then regroup. 
• • Such villagers were large in number and heavily armed.
• Broad Power Allocation: Military personnel and even ordinary Britons were empowered to judge and penalize Indians suspected of revolting. 
  • Conventional legal processes were paused, with the sole penalty for rebellion being death.

Reconquering Strategy

Two-Pronged Approach: Realizing Delhi’s symbolic significance, the British launched dual attacks, one from Calcutta heading to North India and another from the comparatively calm Punjab region.

• Recapture of Delhi: Efforts to reclaim Delhi started in June 1857, but the city was only secured in late September due to heavy defenses by rebels from across North India.

Reconquest of the Gangetic Plain

Slow Advancements: The British found it challenging to regain territories in the Gangetic plain, necessitating a village-by-village approach.

• Widespread Rebellion: The British recognized the vast public support behind the uprising. 
• Rebellion Magnitude: In Awadh, an official estimated that about three-quarters of the adult male population was rebelling. 

• Duration of Conflict: Control was re-established only by March 1858 after prolonged conflict.

Tactics Employed by the British

Utilization of Massive Military Might: The British deployed extensive military resources.

• Divide and Rule: In regions like Uttar Pradesh, where there was joint resistance from large landholders and peasants, the British attempted to disrupt this unity. 
• Land Promises and Dispossession: They promised loyal big landholders their properties back, while rebels were dispossessed. 
• Fate of Rebel Landholders: Many rebel landholders either perished in battle against the British or fled to Nepal, while many succumbed to illnesses or hunger.

Conclusion

Beyond grievances, the rebels aspired for religious harmony and a return to pre-British systems. The Azamgarh Proclamation highlighted exploitation by the British. The rebels, including sepoys, sought to restore Mughal-era structures but ultimately faced brutal British suppression.