Big and Small rebellions before 1857 revolt in British India

The 1857 uprising was the culmination of the recurrent, big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate.

The 1857 revolt was know as "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" through a hindi movie. The revolt mostly was well know to many Indians because of the British India's strong stand on using Enfield rifels. These rifles catridges are filled with Cow and Pig fat. In order to use these catridges the soilder have to bite . Both the muslim coummunity and Hindus felt humiliated and organised into a small rebellions for such anti religious sentiment.

                                                            The revolt even though not carried by every part of country, but many individuals taken leadership for the revolt. This inculde Jhani Laxmi Bhai, Tantia tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Kunwar Singh. All these revolts was covered in many places with details. The foundation of the 1857 revolt is not one day happening. It had many series of events where small and local revolts took place in many corners of the country. Due to delayed communications and poor visibility the revolts were not known and put down by the forces. 

• Tribal Movements:- In north-east and northern areas the British India, under company rule many ambitious plans for exploiting the forest resources for land and people were carried. In order to do, they put legal restrictions on customary and cultural rights of Tribals. Due to the moneylenders exploitation, tribals had experience of OUTSIDERS and led revolts with local leadership.

         Examples: Chaur Uprising-1766, Kol Mutiny-1837, Santhal Rebellion-1855 

• Under the Company many regressive laws were brought for subsuming the Indian soilders. The Indian soilders do not got equal treatment with White English people on many terms. The religious beliefs of Indian soilders are seen as barbaric and not encouraged to practice. The English White man get promoted to higher ranks and get better salary when compared to Indian soilders. During such oppresed situation many soilders break their ranks and revolted against the higher officials.

Examples: Mutiny of Sepoys in 1764, Vellore mutiny in 1806, Mutiny of sephors in Sholapur 1838

• The Peasent movements are one of the most heroic movements before 1857 revolt. The money lenders, contractors, landlords worked with English officers for exploiting the poor peasent who are uneducated. With heavy taxation and debt cycle, farmers are always exploited by merchants and landowners. These movements are not organised as country wide movement but created a base for Bigger revolt against the colonial masters.

Example: Rangapur uprising of 1757, The Ramosi Uprising of 1832, The Mappila Uprising of 1836

• Some Princely states were against British policies because of  "Doctrine of Lapse". Some of the Landowners also supported the peasent movements because of taxation and regressive laws brought by the British Indian system. The support by the princely state can be seen across the Awadh, Mughal Emperor etc. 

The Revolt of 1857 was consider as First War of Independence. But, many stories of courageous fighters are known through Big and Small rebellions much before 1857. These events gave moral courage to the later fighter and helped for Indian Independence.