Causes of the Failure of the Revolt: The causes of the failure Revolt was following:

i. The Revolt of 1857 was localised, restricted and poorly organise Bombay and the Madras armies remained loyal. India south of very little disturbed. Sind and Raiasthan remained quiet and Nepal proved of great avail in the suppression of the Revolt dost Mohammad ruler of Afghanistan, remained friendly. The Punjab was effectively by John Lawrence. The worst affected area were Western Bihar, Rohilkhand, Delhi and the territory between the Chambal and the Narbada.

ii. The resources of the British Empire were far superior to those rebels. Luckily for the British the Crimean and the Chinese wars concluded by 1856 and British troops numbering 1, 12,000 poured in from all parts of the world. About 3, 10,000 additional Indian soldiers recruited in India.

The Indian soldiers had very few guns and must mostly fight with swords and spears. On the other hand, the soldiers were equipped with the latest weapons of war about which Nana Sahib said: “The blue cap kills before they fire”. The telegraph kept the Commander-in-Chief informed about the movement Indian rebels and their strategy. A concerted plan was formed to supp Rebellion.

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Russell, the Correspondent of The Times of London, sun the advantages of the electric telegraph thus: “Never since its disco had the electric telegraph played so important and daring a role as it now India, without it the Commander-in-Chief would lose the effect of force. It has served him better than his right arm”. Considering the vast the British Empire and her superiority, it may be said that English had been driven back to the coastal areas or into the sea, she would have conquered India by her superior military strength.

iii. The revolt of 1857 was main feudal in character carrying wit nationalistic elements. The feudal elements of Oudh, Rohilkhand and some other parts of Northern India led the rebellion; other feudal prices like the Rajas of Patiala, Gwalior, and Hyderabad helped in its suppression. European historians have -greatly praised Sir Dinkar Rao, the Minister of Gwalior and Salar Jang, the Wazir of Hyderabad, for their loyalty. In the movement of crisis Canning said:

“If the Sindhia joins the Mutiny, I shall have to pack off tomorrow”. Canning acted very wisely when he gave solemn assurances to the Indian princes and thus won over their support. The Indian princes were amply rewarded after the suppression of the Rebellion. The districts of Berar were restored to the Nizam and his debts remitted. Nepal was rewarded by the cession of some Oudh territory. The Sindhia, the Gaikwar and the Rajput princes also received some rewards or concessions.

iv. The Revolt was poorly organised. The leader of the Revolt were not lacking in bravery, but were deficient in experience, organising ability and concerted operations. Surprise attacks and guerilla tactics could not win them their lost independence.

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The various commissions’ and boards appointed by the Government of India and provincial governments after the suppression of the rebellion could not find any plan behind the rebellion or any scheme on which the movement was launched. The trial of Bahadur Shah II proved that the rebellion was as much a surprise to him as to the British.

v. The rebels had no common ideal before them except the anti -foreign sentiments. Bahadur Shah II was declared the Emperor at Delhi, while at Kanpur and Gwalior Nana Sahib was proclaimed the Peshwa. Hindu-Muslim differences lay dormant against the common enemy, but were not dead. The peasants and the inferior castes showed no active sympathies. The soldiers in” the Bombay and Madras armies were recruited from the lower castes and they remained loyal.

vi. The East India Company was fortunate in having the services of men of exceptional abilities in the Lawrence brothers. Nicholson, Outram, Havelock, Edwards etc. They fought the toughest battles in the initial stages of the revolt and controlled the situation till reinforcements were received from abroad.