Revolt of 1857 of Rajasthan
During the 1857 several Rajputs of Rajasthan were against the British Government. They were not satisfied with the rule of the Britishers, and the seeds of revolution started to emerge against the government. Common public also joined them. In many areas of Rajasthan, there was a flame of revolt in which the following names are notable.
- Nasirabad
First of all, this revolt was started in Nasirabad. The main reason behind this was that the British government sent Ajmer’s 15th Bengal Infantry to Nasirabad because government had no faith in this Infantry. All the soldiers were angry with this decision of the government and they started the revolution against the British government. In addition, the British Government summoned the soldiers of Bombay to Nasirabad and asked them to investigate the whole army.The British government had made many cannons in Nasirabad. The soldiers of Nasirabad got angry from this and they rebelled. The army killed many Britishers as well as destroyed their property. These soldiers was joined by other people too.
This place was named for British officer Sir David Ochterlony, after Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II awarded him with the title of Nasir-ud-Daula (“Defender of the State”). The city is renowned for the cantonment area where several officers and army personnel were posted.
- Neemuch
After the news of the incident of Nasirabad, on 3 June 1857 Neemuch’s rebels killed many Britishers. Consequently, britishers also planned to take revenge. They took control of Neemuch on June 7. Later the rebels started moving towards other areas of Rajasthan.
- Jodhpur
Some people were angry with the rule of King Takhat Singh and one day the soldiers revolted agains him. He was accompanied by the anti-British Kushal Singh of Auwa.
To face Kushal Singh, Jodhpur’s army came with Lieutenant Heathkot but Kushal Singh defeated them. Later the British army tried to invade the fort of Auwa, but they also had to face the defeat but Briggedior Homs wanted to take revenge for that defeat, so he attacked Auwa. Now Kushal left the fort and went to Salumbar. A few days later, the British took control over Auwa and spread terror there.
- Mewar
The emperors of Mewar were angry with the Britishers and the Maharana. There were mutual conflicts among them. Maharana ordered the feudalists of Mewar to help the Britishers. At the same time Rawat Kesari Singh of Salumbar warned Maharana of Udaipur that if his customary rights were not accepted in eight days, then he would make their opponents as the ruler of Mewar. Rawat Kesari Singh of Salumbar gave shelter to Thakur Kushal Singh of Auwa. At the same time, the Tantia Tope travelled towards Rajputana. In 1859 Man Singh of Narwar cheated him and arrested him. Although the feudalists did not rebel directly to the British government but giving shelter to the rebels, they played an important role in this revolution.
- Kota
British officer Major Burton told the Maharaja of Kota that two- four anti british opponent officers should be handed over to the British Government. But when the Maharaja expressed his inability to do this work, the British accused the Maharaja that he supported the rebels. As soon as the news came, the soldiers killed Major Burton. The rebels surrounded the king’s palace, and then the king sought the help of the ruler of Karauli. The ruler of Karauli collaborated and pushed the rebels behind the castle. At the same time, General H.G.Roberts along with the army reached the banks of the river Chambal. Rebels fled from Kota after facing him.
- Rebellion in other areas of the state
Many of Alwar’s leaders participated in this revolt. In Jaipur, Usman Khan and Sadullah Khan revolted. The soldiers rebelled in Tonk and invited Neemuch’s rebels to come to Tonk. They trapped Tonk’s Nawab and collected the dues from him. Similarly, Bikaner’s ruler had assured to Nana Sahab for assistance and sent 10000
cavalry soldiers to help Tatia tope. Although most of the rulers of Rajasthan remained loyal to the British during the entire rebellion, yet due to the pressure of the rebels, they had to support the insurgents sometimes.
- Events of the Revolt in Rajasthan
Sr. Place and of Rebellion
1 Nasirabad, 28 May 1857
2 Neemuch, 3 June 1857
3 Erinpura, 21 August 1857
4 August, 4, 1857
5 Devli Cantonment, June 1857
6 Bharatpur, 31 May 1857
7 Alwar, 11 July 1857
8 Dhaulpur, October 1857
9 Tonk, june 1857
10 Kota, 15 October 1857
11 Central prison of Ajmer, August 1857
12 Jodhpur Legion, 8 September 1857
- First spark in Rajasthan
In this unique revolution-sacrifice, the sons of the princess also offered their peace. Like other centers of the country in Rajasthan, freedom fighters started from the military camps. At that time, the British had made six military cantonments in Rajputana. The most important camp was Nasirabad. Other cantonments were – Neemuch, Beawar, Devli (Tonk), Erinpura (Jodhpur) and Khairwada (100 km away from Udaipur). With the help of these cantonments, the British had occupied almost all the kings of Rajputana. Except of the two-four kingdoms, all the dynasties had made a treaty with the Britishers. Indian soldiers were adequate in these cantonments and the message of blood lotus and roti had come to them.
- Reasons of the failure of revolt
The main reasons for the failure of the revolt in Rajasthan were:
(1) Indigenous rulers were short-sighted, they were devotees of the British, so they did not support rebels.
(2) There was no definite leader of the rebels; in addition they lacked unity and organization.
(3) The rebels were not as skilled as the British in battle.
- Results of revolt
During the rebellion, the British were helped by the native rulers, so after the suppression of the rebellion, the British gave them titles and awards. Since the feudalism was done primarily by the feudalists, the British decided to destroy the power of the feudal system through various methods after the dissolution of the war. During the rebellion period, the British had to face great discomfort in sending their army from one place to another. Thus, after the dissolution, in 1865 AD, the road of Deesa for Jaipur to Ajmer and Nisirabad to Chittaur via neemach was constructed.
After the coup, there was a change in the traditional social structure of Rajasthan. Modern education was disseminated after the suppression of revolt and the English rules were executed in all the states, due to which the importance of Brahmins was reduced. This revolt created a new consciousness and awakening in the public. Thus the results of the rebellion were of great importance.
- Nature of revolt
According to Shri Nathuram Kharagawat, “The general public also participated directly or indirectly in this enmity.”