question_answer

How was the Revolt suppressed?

Answer:

The revolt met with some early successes but was eventually suppressed by the British within a year. The British were quick and reinforcements poured in from England.  Many British officers showed exemplary military skills in suppressing the revolt. New laws were passed by the British government so that the rebels could be convicted with ease. Troops from Punjab were rushed to Delhi. Tough resistance was offered by the Indian soldiers. Finally, after six days of street fighting, Delhi was recaptured. The Kashmere Gate was blown up and the city and the palace were recaptured by the British in September 1857. This action was the turning point in the campaign and is known as Siege of Delhi. Terrible vengeance was wrecked on the inhabitants of Delhi. The Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested. Two sons and a grandson of the emperor were publically shot. The emperor himself was exiled to Rangoon where he died in 1862, bringing the grand Mughal dynasty to an end. Rani Laxmi Bai was killed in Gwalior. Tantia Tope escaped into the jungles of central India and continued the struggle with the help of tribals. He was captured and after a hasty trial, he was put to death m 1859. Nana Sahib and Begum Hazrat Mahal fled to Nepal. Luck now was taken in March 1858. Many other leaders of the revolt were also dead by 1859, the year in which the British again established their authority over India. The British promised the rebels that if they surrendered and had not killed any white people, they would be safe. However, many rebels, landlords, sepoys and even nawabs were killed by the British.