Q. What were the lessons learnt by the British from the revolt of 1857?
Approach:
Introduce by giving brief account of the revolt of 1857.
Discuss in brief what teaching the Britishers got from the revolt.
Highlight the steps undertaken by Britishers.
Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 was a watershed moment in the history of British colonial rule in India. It
significantly impacted British policies and administration.
Following are the lessons learnt by the British from the revolt of 1857:
Administrative lesson: Having recognised that the fragmented power structures had
contributed to the revolt's initial success, the British Crown assumed the direct control from
the East India Company, whose ineptitude was primarily blamed for the mutiny. It was
aimed to establish a more centralized and efficient administration.
Need for increased militarization: Recognizing the vulnerability of relying solely on Indian
sepoys, the British significantly increased the number of British troops stationed in India to
one-third as against 14% before 1857 revolt. This was aimed at addressing the immediate
threat of another large-scale rebellion.
Need for reorganization of the army: Understanding the significant role played by the army
in 1857 revolt, following changes were brought.
o Recruitment shifted towards favouring martial races, communities believed to be
more loyal and "martial" by the British, such as Sikhs and Gurkhas.
o No Indians were allowed in the officer rank.
o Communal, caste, tribal and regional consciousness was encouraged to check the
growth of nationalist feelings among soldiers.
o Conscious efforts were made to isolate the soldiers from life and thoughts of rest of
the population through measures such as preventing newspapers and nationalist
publications from reaching them.
Policy of appeasement: To cultivate the princely states as a buffer against future political
unrest and to reward them for their loyalty during the revolt of 1857, the policy of
annexation was abandoned.
Attitude towards Social Reforms: Fearing that the religious and cultural grievances could
fuel dissent, British decided to side with the reactionary elements of Indian society. The
British became more cautious in implementing any social reforms.
Policy of Divide and Rule: Having witnessed the participation of all sections in the revolt of
1857, the British intensified their policy of divide and rule, exploiting existing religious,
cultural, and regional divisions among the Indian populace to maintain control and prevent
unity against colonial rule.
The Revolt of 1857 served as a wake-up call for the British colonial administration, prompting
significant reforms and policy changes aimed at consolidating and strengthening their control
over India. However, these measures also contributed to the deepening of resentment, laying
the groundwork for subsequent movements towards Indian independence.
Q. Discuss the factors that caused the Russian Revolution, with special emphasis on World War I.
Approach:
Introduce by giving a brief account of the Russian revolution.
Enlist the various causes for the Russian revolution, with focus on the World War I.
Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a pivotal event in world history, resulting in the overthrow of
the Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of the communist state. It was a period of political and
social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire and began during the First World War.
The Russian Revolution was a result of long-standing issues within the Russian society, significantly
exacerbated by the strain of World War I as follows:
Exposed the ineffective leadership of Czar Nicholas II:
o Russia suffered significant military defeats, such as the loss at the Battle of
Tannenberg in 1914, which undermined morale and eroded confidence in the Tsarist
regime.
o Czar Nicholas II's decision to assume personal command of the military backfired.
He was away from the capital and increasingly blamed for mounting military losses,
eroding public confidence in his rule.
Lack of modernization: Russia's economy was largely agrarian and technologically behind
Western European nations. Further, the antiquated czarist regime’s determination to hang
onto power hindered modernization efforts, as a result, the Russia trailed behind the rest of
Europe in terms of economic and industrial strength. This vulnerability of Russia was
exposed in the World War I because its factories simply couldn’t produce enough arms and
ammunition to equip its army.
Strain on Resources and Logistical Failures:
o Russia's involvement in World War I strained its resources, leading to food
shortages, inflation, and economic instability.
o Wartime demands exposed inefficiencies in Russian infrastructure and supply
chains. Disruptions in transportation lines led to critical shortages of food and fuel,
particularly in the cities.
Growth of Intellectuals and Revolutionary Groups: Tsarist oppression and the impact of
World War I created an environment where revolutionary ideas flourished. Groups like the
Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, gained support by advocating ideas of radical change
which resonated strongly amidst the social and economic chaos caused by the World War I.
The World War I served as a catalyst for revolutionary change, exposing the vulnerabilities of the
Tsarist regime and creating conducive conditions for the rise of the Bolsheviks.
