What Rebels Wanted

The rebel released the Azamgarh proclamation which emphasized unity among all sections of the population, irrespective of caste and creed.
Appeals were made to both Hindus and Muslims to join the revolt, presenting the rebellion as a war where both communities had equal stakes.

The rebels rejected everything associated with British rule, referred to as "firangi raj."
Criticisms were directed at British annexations, broken treaties, and a lack of trust in the British administration.
Grievances included the impact of British land revenue settlements on landholders, the ruin of artisans and weavers due to foreign commerce, and the destruction of a way of life.

3. Fear of Cultural and Religious Conversions:

The rebels expressed widespread fear that the British intended to destroy the caste and religions of Hindus and Muslims, converting them to Christianity.
This fear contributed to the spread of rumors, urging people to unite and fight to preserve their livelihoods, faith, honor, and identity.

4. Attack on Oppressors:

The rebellion expanded in some places into an attack on those seen as allies of the British or local oppressors.
Rebels sought to overturn traditional hierarchies, and in villages, they burnt account books and ransacked moneylenders’ houses, reflecting a desire for a more egalitarian society.
While not explicitly articulated in proclamations, there was a glimpse of an alternative vision for a more just and equal society.

5. Search for Alternative Power:

After British rule collapsed in certain areas, rebels attempted to establish structures of authority and administration reminiscent of the pre-British world of the eighteenth century.
These attempts included the appointment of officials, arrangements for the collection of land revenue, and the organization of troops.
The rebels looked back to the administrative and cultural structures of the eighteenth-century Mughal world as a symbol of what had been lost.

Urjita Career School