Who led the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?

• Nana Saheb led the revolt of 1857 from Kanpur.
• The rebellion of 1857 was spread across the areas of Meerut, Agra, Mathura, and Lucknow near Kanpur.
• Nana Saheb, the adopted heir of Baji Rao II joined the struggle as he was denied the pension and honours on the ground that he was not the natural born heir.
• Tantia Tope assisted Nana Saheb in Kanpur as the Commander in Chief.

The Sepoy Mutiny

• The First War of Independence, known as Sepoy Mutiny, was the first rebellion against the British troops in India in 1857.
• The revolt began in Meerut and was led by Bahadur Shah II from Delhi, Begum Hazrat Mahal from Lucknow, Nana Sahib, and Tantya Tope from Kanpur, and Rani Laxmibai from Jhansi.
• The reasons behind the revolt were:

1. Destruction of Indian Economy and Land Reforms
2. Policies of Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse
3. Introduction of Enfield Rifles with fat coatings

4.Crimean War, Punjab War, and First Afghan War

Further Reading:

• First War of Indian Independence
• Doctrine of Lapse

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