Strategic Understanding of 1857- War of Indepedence and lessons to learn

[vikram Bharat]

Why did our First War of Independence in 1857 fail? Because the British adopted a strategy that had a global impact and still has a national impact. First, they hastened the construction of the Suez Canal, which changed the geo political character of Euro-Asia. This cut the travel time from England to India from four-six months to four-six weeks. They then constructed railways all over India, which facilitated the movement of troops. India was linked to England via Europe telegraphically in 1866. Thus the strategic “external lines” were firmly secured.

Our leadership had no inkling. In fact, they were totally lost as far as strategy was concerned, right up to 1962. The main reason why the mutiny failed was because it had no central intellectual leadership or strategy. Given the absence of communications technology, it was tough for the mutineers to gather a critical mass. The fact that six big maharajas did not join in, and some even helped the British, made things easier for the latter. To ensure that the intellectuals got no further ideas, the British opened the Indian Civil Service for Indians, making them a part of the administration.

But the strategic move was was the formation of the Indian National Congress (INC). It was a British civil servant, Allan Octavian Hume, who founded it. Soon, the intellectuals joined INC and for years, it was nothing but a large “talk-shop” initially until Tilak, Rashbehari Bose, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bipin Chandra Pal Lala Lajpat Rai and Gandhi and other leaders saw through its ingenious plan.

The British got what they wanted. The creation of various political and non-political constituencies on the basis of religion, caste and language ensured that Indians spent (we still do) more time fighting amongst themselves than in fighting the British.

Six of the largest Indian rulers either actively cooperated with the British in putting the mutiny down or stayed away— Scindia of Gwalior, the Maharaja of Patiala, the Begum of Bhopal, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Sikh chiefs of Punjab and Gulab Singh of Kashmir. In fact, Patiala even supplied a force to the British. Scindia refused refuge to the Rani of Jhansi. In 1861, the Indian Councils Act enlarged the Central Legislative Council and the first three Indians rewarded for the “help” in 1857 included were the Maharaja of Patiala, Raja Dinkar Rao, the PM of Gwalior, and Raja Deo Narayan Singh. The British also ceded Jhansi to the Scindias.

Lesson to learn: British ruled us by keep us divided on the perceptions of region, religion and cast, current political dispensations rules us on same perception. How long it will take youth of this country to realize the he has to fight 2nd battle for independence and it will commence with self.

With Love and Care

Vikram Bharat
Gen. Secretary
Bharat Udhay Mission
Politics is a noble endeavor to transform the nation and maintain this transformation.
http://2ndfreedomstruggle.blogspot.com
"We have only one passion,
The rise of a Great Nation."

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