What are the causes of failure of war of independence of 1857?

Answer 1

Causes of failure of the WarWhat are the causes of failure of the War of Independence?

Causes of Failure of the War

The war of Independence of 1857 failed to achieve its immediate political objectives. There were many causes of this failure. Some are being detailed as follows:

1. Lack of Leadership and Discipline

The freedom fighters fought mostly in independent groups at different places. They were led by leaders of their particular regions like Nana Saheb, Rani Jhansi, Tatya Topee, Bahadur Khan, Bakht Khan and Kanwar Singh. There was no leader who could single handed lead all the groups. As a result the revolutionaries lacked discipline. Thus their efforts could not get the required momentum of the national level.

2. Lack of Unity

There was no unity among the freedom fighters. They fought independent of one another. As a result they could not assemble their resources against a common enemy. They were defeated at different places. Bakht Khan was defeated at Delhi, Begum Hazrat Mahal lost at Oudh, Rani Jhansi was routed at Jhansi. Nana Sahib lost at Kanpur and Bahadur Khan was defeated at Baraille. On the other hand the British fought the war of their survival with dedication and purpose.

3. Lack of Resources

The freedom fighters lacked resources of all types. They were short of not only war equipment but food stuffs also. They had to face an enemy which was well equipped and well organized. The Mughal Emperor had no treasury to support the war.

4. Lack of Popular Support

It is a stark fact that the war of independence never assumed the shape of a concerted national struggle. It lacked popular support. Although it spread to various parts of the country yet some places like the Punjab, Hyderabad, Gwalior and Nepal did not take part in the war.

5. Superior Technology of English Troops

The British fought with latest weapons. They had the backing of the latest technology. They were led by capable and experienced generals like Outram, Campbell etc.

6. Non-Cooperation of the Rulers of the States

The rulers of different states of Indo-Pakistan did not come to the help of the freedom fighters. Thus, die war of Independence remained confined to a few centers.

7. Non-Cooperation of Sikhs and Punjab

The Sikhs of the Province of Punjab considered the Muslims as their traditional enemies. Thus they decided to support the British in the war of Independence. The Sikhs soldiers played a decisive role in the recovery of Delhi from the freedom fighters. It is contended that had the Sikhs not assisted the English in the war the history of Indo-Pakistan would have been written differently.

8. Role of Traitors

The British succeeded in finding certain traitors in the ranks of the freedom fighters. For Example Maulvi Rajab Ali and Hakeem Ehsan Ullah blew off the royal ammunition depot at Delhi. Thus the revolutionaries suffered a great set back.

9. Return of British Troops from Crimea

The war of Crimea ended in 1856. Thus the British troops fighting there were then free to return to the Sub-Continent. The war of Independence started in 1857. In the beginning the Company had to depend on the few soldiers present in the country. But soon afterwards the surplus troops from Crimea started.