Diplomacy and application of force turned the tide in favour of Britishers. John Lawrence, the administrator of Punjab through diplomacy made Punjab immune from revolution. The powerful Sikh regiment was away from revolutionary upsurge.

Presidency of Bombay, many parts of Rajputana and some places in Kashmir remained under control. Britishers got the support of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Begum of Bhopal, King of Nepal and Marhatta leader of Sindhia. The people of Deccan also did get the fire of revolution. Thus Britishers succeded startegy to localise and limit the area of revolt. General Nicholoson of Punjab succecded in restoring Delhi, Emporer Bahadur Shah II was taken as prisoner.

To supress the revolt General Havelock proceeded from Allahabad to Kanpur. He defeated Nana Sahib and moved towards Lucknow. General Havelock and Colonel Outram could not rescue the English soldier’s besieged at Lucknow.

They also suffered from the wrath of revolutionaries. Ultimately Campbell achieved success, pushed back the rebels and recaptured Lucknow. Rani Lakshmi Bai and Tantiya Tope provided stiff resistance. General Sir Huge Rose attacked Jhansi in March 1858. A fierce battle was fought between the British and the revolutionaries under Rani Lakshmi Bai and Tantay Tope from June 11 to 18, 1858. The personal valour of Rani and Tantya could not match the militarism of British.

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The Rani fell fighting to the British. Her death was a great blow to the strength of rebels. Sir Huge Rose has aptly said. “Laxmi Bai was the bravest and best military leader of the rebels.” Tantya tope was betrayed by Gwalior Chief Mansingh and fell into the hands of British he was subsequently hanged on April 18, 1859. Kunwar Singh fell in battle field on April 27, 1858, leaving behind a glorious record of valour and bravery. Nana Sahib was defeated and fled away to the dense forest of Nepal and escaped death.

The sepoy mutiny was ruthlessly suppressed. Though the fire of revolution was extinguished by the end of 1858, in the Sambalpur region of Orissa it continued for another four years. Sambalpur felt the heat of the revolution till 1862 when its leader Surendra Sai was arrested. Peace and tranquility was restored the proud Englishmen regarded the suppression of the revolt as the reconquest of India.