Whatimpact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion haveon the people and the ruling families?
Whatimpact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion haveon the people and the ruling families?
Thoughthe rebels were determined to bring theEast India Company’s rule in the country to an end, they werefaced with the question as to who would rule the land once the spaceof power fell vacant. The answer to this question lay in Red Fort, inDelhi. That was where the aging Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafarhad been residing. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal dynastyhad declined and many smaller power centres had begun asserting theirauthority. Yet, the word of the Mughal king still held force forquite a number of ruling families. Threatened by the expansion of theBritish rule, many of them felt that if the Mughal emperor could ruleagain, they too would be able to rule their own territories oncemore. When the rebel forces reached Red Fort, Bahadur Shah wasreluctant at first to take on the might of the British. However, hehad to give in, and was thus proclaimed their leader. Having thissymbolic head inspired the rebels to fight the British with renewedconfidence, hope and courage. The emperor wrote letters to thevarious chiefs and rulers of the country to come forward and organisea confederacy of Indian states to fight the British. In consequenceof this action, the rebellion spread. The leadership of the Mughalemperor seemed to provide legitimacy to it. Regiment after regimentmutinied, and joined the rebel troops at Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow.After them, the people of various Indian towns and villages also roseup in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindarsand chiefs. This not only strengthened the rebel forces, but alsogave a national character to the rebellion.
Thoughthe rebels were determined to bring theEast India Company’s rule in the country to an end, they werefaced with the question as to who would rule the land once the spaceof power fell vacant. The answer to this question lay in Red Fort, inDelhi. That was where the aging Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafarhad been residing. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal dynastyhad declined and many smaller power centres had begun asserting theirauthority. Yet, the word of the Mughal king still held force forquite a number of ruling families. Threatened by the expansion of theBritish rule, many of them felt that if the Mughal emperor could ruleagain, they too would be able to rule their own territories oncemore. When the rebel forces reached Red Fort, Bahadur Shah wasreluctant at first to take on the might of the British. However, hehad to give in, and was thus proclaimed their leader. Having thissymbolic head inspired the rebels to fight the British with renewedconfidence, hope and courage. The emperor wrote letters to thevarious chiefs and rulers of the country to come forward and organisea confederacy of Indian states to fight the British. In consequenceof this action, the rebellion spread. The leadership of the Mughalemperor seemed to provide legitimacy to it. Regiment after regimentmutinied, and joined the rebel troops at Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow.After them, the people of various Indian towns and villages also roseup in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindarsand chiefs. This not only strengthened the rebel forces, but alsogave a national character to the rebellion.
