On 23 June 1757, the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-daulah was defeated by the East India Company at the Battle of Plassey. The battle was orchestrated by Robert Clive, who got the secret support of Mir Jafar (Siraj-ud-daulah's uncle and chief of his army) and help from the Jagat Seths (moneylenders of Bengal). Between 1757 and 1760 the Company received ₹ 22.5 million from Mir Jafar, the new Nawab. This money was invested to propel the industrial revolution in Britain, while India was led to de-industrialisation. This chapter traces peasant and tribal revolts, the Great Rebellion of 1857, the birth of the Congress, the Swadeshi Movement and the Home Rule Movement.
1. Peasant Uprisings – Types and Causes
There were nearly a hundred peasant uprisings during British rule. The rebels often sought the restoration of the pre-colonial order rather than the removal of the British.
| Category | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Restorative rebellions | Attempts to restore the old order and old social relations |
| Religious movements | Led by religious leaders, restructuring society on religious principles |
| Social banditry | Leaders seen as criminals by the British but as heroes by their people |
| Mass insurrection | Usually leaderless and spontaneous uprising |