The Revolt of 1857, often hailed as the first war of Indian independence, was a significant but uneven uprising against British rule. Despite its grand scale and widespread support among certain segments of Indian society, the revolt was not uniform across the entire country and failed to mobilize all social and regional groups.

Geographic Limitations of the Revolt

1.Non-participation of South, East, and Western India: These regions did not participate significantly in the revolt. Prior repeated rebellions in these areas possibly led to a sense of fatigue or a strategic choice by the British to pacify these regions effectively before the 1857 uprising. Thus, Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and western Punjab remained relatively undisturbed.

2.Previous Rebellions: Areas that had experienced frequent earlier rebellions possibly had a reduced inclination or capacity to join another uprising, leading to a lack of revolutionary activity in 1857 in these regions.

Role of Indian Rulers and Zamindars

1.Support for the British: Many Indian rulers and large landowners, or zamindars, sided with the British. Figures like the Sindhia of Gwalior, the Holkar of Indore, and the Nizam of Hyderabad, among others, actively helped suppress the revolt.

2.Fear and Self-Interest: The reluctance to join the rebellion among many rulers and zamindars stemmed from a combination of fear of British military might and self-interest in preserving their own power and estates under the British administration.

3.Impact of Previous Policies: The British policy of divide and rule, along with various diplomatic and coercive strategies, had effectively ensured the loyalty or neutrality of significant segments of Indian royalty and aristocracy.