Eternal India Encyclopedia

FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Eternal India encyclopedia

The last major campaign of the British was against the Rani of Jhansi and Tantia Tope. Driven out of Jhansi, the Rani joined forces with Tantia to occupy Gwalior. In June 1858, clad like a man and mounted on a horse, she met her death in the defence of this last major rebel stronghold. Jhansi garrison comprised 10,000 Bundelas and

immediately attacked this force, but met with a stiff resistance. “Clad in the attire of a man and mounted on horseback, the Rani of Jhansi might have been seen animating her troops ' throughout the day. When inch by inch the British troops passed through the pass, and when reaching its summit Smith ordered the hussars to charge, the Rani of Jhansi boldly confronted the British horsemen. When her comrades failed her, her horse, in spite of her efforts, carried her along with others. With them she might have escaped but that her horse, crossing the canal near the (Phulbagh) cantonment, stumbled and fell A hussar, close upon her track, ignorant of her sex and rank, cut her down. She fell to rise no more. ” According to another account the Rani was struck by a bullet. Thus died the Rani of Jhansi, and Sir Hugh Rose, the Commander of the British army against which she fought from the beginning to end, paid her a well-deserved tribute when he referred to her as “the best and bravest military leader of the rebels." By the middle of 1858, most of the major centres of revolt such as Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi and Gwalior had been recap- tured by the British troops under John

Velaities and 1500 sepoys, while the British strength commanded by Rose consisted of two brigades (of 2,000 each). Despite these odds, Rose launched an

Nicholson, John and Henry Lawrence, Henry Havelock, Colin Campbell, James Outram and James Neill. Most of the leaders of the up- rising were either killed, captured or hanged and a few had to take shelter outside India. The suppression of the uprising had re- sulted in brutal massacres, mass executions, arson and plunder. In Oudh alone, 150,000 people were killed. The mutiny of the sepoys revealed the very weak foundation on which the British authority rested in India. The inferiority in generalship, strategy, military skill, and indiscipline of the muti- neers was an important cause for the failure of the outbreak. In spite of all their defects and drawbacks, the sepoys and Indian rebels, by their very number and favourable situation threatened to destroy the whole fabric of the British empire. They succeeded in shocking the British out of their smugness and thus set- ting the stage for a new relationship between the rulers and the ruled. The memories of the great rebellion con- tinued to haunt the British rulers for long and inspired the people of India in their struggle for freedom. The revolt marked a turning

offensive and raided the city and fort, on 22 March. He used his batteries to carry out heavy bombardment but, in spite of the heavy bombardment and the incessant fire from the British infantry, the besieged, under the inspiring guidance of the Rani, offered a gallant resistance, “Their guns never ceased firing except at night. Even women were seen working in the batteries, and distributing ammunition.” The seizure of Gwalior created a sensation throughout India only equalled by that which was caused by the first mutinies. Rebel leader's movements were unknown during the fort- night following the capture of Gwalior. In the meantime the British were regrouping and seized the strategic position of Morar Kotah- ke-serai on the outskirts. The Rani herself led the troops and took up her position on the range of hills between Gwalior and Kotah-ke-serai. Smith