If 1857 "Sepoy Mutiny" was the First war of Independence, were we independent before British Rule in India?

Answer 1

In that first war for Independence from foreign rule the trader turned rulers (East India Company) became victorious due to poor planning by the Indian warriors. After the defeat of Indian warriors the British Crown took over the ruling over India from the East India company.

The real thrust of your question is why should we treat the pre-British rule as Independence since it is the Moguls who were ruling over India till 1760 and prior to that Lodis, Tuglaques, Khiljis, Ghoris etc. etc.. From 1760 onwards, after fall of Aurangzeb it was the East India Company which almost took over the ruling over India.

But before 1857 there was no effort or fight to seek Independence, it was first such attempt, which ended in failure.That is why it is called the First War of Independence.

Finally, it was in 1947 that India became Independent of foreign rule after British Government decided to quit India due to peculiar circumstances created by the conclusion of the World War II.

Answer 2

In 1857 there was no concept of one nation.India was made up of many small kingdoms.The Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was weak and incompetent.Various rulers were unhappy with the British for various reasons,the most important being that the British had annexed the kingdoms of these rulers on some pretext or the other.Some of these rulers decided to rise against them to regain their kingdoms and they were joined by some of the Indian sepoys in the British army who had their own grievances against their British masters.All these people were working only for their own interests.There was no feeling of patriotism or nationalism as there was no concept of one undivided country.So,to call the Sepoy Mutiny the 1st War of Indian Independence is to romanticise the whole event.

Answer 3

India celebrates 'Independence of India' not independence from British. As soon as Mughal empire lost it's hold over India, British came in. It's only after 1947, the whole of India attained total freedom. I've read a your previous questions too. Seems you are totally against muslims. Grow up man. Brotherhood is the only way to maintain harmony in the world. India is the only country with most diversified culture. It's home for Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis, and various sects of Hindus. when we talk about religious freedom, we are not talking about progress, we are talking about creating rifts. Let every Indian have the feeling of Indian-ness irrespective of religion, caste, culture, etc. And please don't make generalized suggestions based on postings on some forums. If you had gone through the whole forum you would have understood the authencity of the posting there. All the best... :-)

Answer 4

While Canada was technically governing itself from long before 1857, as outlined by the British North America Act, we were actually still subject to the British Crown, with no legal recourse (we are still but it is now a mere technicality) until Trudeau delivered us with the Charter of rights and freedoms and the Constitution of... you go look it up.

Answer 5

We were under Mughal rule to start with, they were foreigners, but as India always does it continues to breathe. As the cultuer of the Mughals and traditions were very similar and acceptable, we adopted them. Soon the Mughals became a part of India, and became Indians, and accepting our values.

They are part of what we are today

In way we are a country that infuses cultures and intergrates them easily, and this is what is so worrying about that now.

We are changing at a mad pace, and taking all that is bad of the Western Culture and adopting that as our own. I hope we are strong and mature enough to cope with the traumas that are sure to follow.

Answer 6

hey man "first war of independence" means first war for independence.hence we were not independent before .after the battle of buxar and plassey(18th century) the east india company took control of large parts of india which was foloowed by a number of annexations in the country by the company.hence we wetre not free for about a 100 years before that

Answer 7

No. We were under mughals,turks, and other foreigners .. major part of India. One who sat on the throne in Delhi was considered ruler of India, although there were many kingdoms under Indian rulers

Answer 8

India gained independence in 1947. so ya. and plus there was no 'war' there was just bunch protests rebellions and in the end they just left

and i think when they say 'first war of independence,' they only mean that country not the whole entire world.

Answer 9

no.we have been ruled by the mughals,turks,portugees,french,and many orther forgein rules.with my knowledge i think india had been under rulers 4 more than 1400 yrs.

Answer 10

You were slaves to your rulers and had no idea about democracy and free speech. You got that later from your British rulers and the education they gave you, which you used to free yourselves.