The Indian Mutiny

It all began with the Indian Mutiny, when a lone soldier acted against his commander by shooting him. Upon this action, many other rebellions took place in India proving a threat to the East India Company. The soldier’s feelings towards the East India Company were not alone, as many other Indian citizens had accumulated a hate for them too.

Following the widespread rebellion, the Indian rebels successfully defeated the East India Company (a wealthy trade company, who deployed small, private armies, gaining power in many parts of India), proclaiming an Indian rebel named Bahadur Shah the Emperor of India. Soon after, the British arrested the new Emperor, handing the power to Queen Victoria. Along with this shift in power, Britain formed

Therefore, the British were forced to divide the eastern Muslim areas from the western Hindu areas. For the British, this allowed for an easier, more efficient administration. The Hindus, however, believed this to be harmful, as they would be a minority their province. They thought the British were attempting to lessen the Bengali nationalism, which was very strong in Bengal. To appease the people of Bengal, Britain was forced to reunite Bengal as a whole. This change took place in 1911. While the Hindus were pleased with this act, the Muslims believed the change to be benefitting, and would be angry for years to

This allowed the British to imprison anyone without trial, for up to two years. The goal of this law was to suppress conspiracy and public unrest. Gandhi and other Indian leaders were angered by this law, and decided to fast, secluding themselves from the commerce of India, in order to express their feelings towards the British. After violent riots in multiple provinces, Gandhi was forced to end his seclusion, and put an end to the violence. While Gandhi did oppose British rule, he did not believe violence was an option.

Only a few months after the Rowlatt Act was enacted, non-violent protesters gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh Gardens to protest the arrests of two people, who had been taken to a place unknown to the citizens of India. On the order of General Dyer, a British army fired upon the large crowds at the protest, leaving 370 dead and 1000 wounded. This day “brutally stunned the entire nation, resulting in a wrenching loss of faith.”