The First War of Independence (1857-58) was the most violent uprising against the British East India Company. The Doctrine of Lapse, issue of cartridges lubed with animal fat to Indian officers, presentation of British arrangement of training and various social changes had angered an extremely wide part of the Indian public, who rose up at various places all over India.

The East India Company was brought under the immediate control of the British Crown because of this uprising. There were several leaders of this revolt at different locations. Nana Saheb was one among them who led the revolt in Kanpur, Awadh. He was a Maratha. Nana Saheb was born in 1824 to Narayan Bhatt and Ganga Bai. In 1827 he was adopted by the last Peshwa Baji Rao.

Nana Saheb: Background

• He was born in Bithoor of Kanpur District in present day Uttar Pradesh in May 1824.
• He was initially named as Nana Govinda Dhondu Pant.
• His father travelled to the court of the Peshwa Baji Rao II in Pune and became his court official.
• He and his brother were adopted by the last Peshwa who in 1827. Nana Saheb’s mother was Peshwa's sister-in-law.
• Tatya Tope and Manikarnika Tambe (later Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi) were his childhood friends.
• Peshwa Baji Rao II then lived in an estate in Bithoor after the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
• He was given an annual pension by the British government.

• The Doctrine of Lapse established by Lord Dalhousie ahd the rule that any Indian State under the control of the British or any vassal of the British without its ruler having an heir would be annexed by the British.
• Hence after the death of Peshwa, the British stopped giving pension to his adopted son Nana Saheb and refused to accept him as the heir (since he was adopted).
• Britishers refused the claim of Nana Saheb to be the next peshwa, despite being stated as the heir in the will of Baji Rao II.
• This incident led Nana Saheb to take part in the revolt of 1857.

Role of Nana Saheb in the Revolt of 1857

• During the earlier phases of the First War of Independence in 1857, Nana Sahib pronounced his devotion to the British.
• He won the confidence of Charles Hillersdon, the governor of Kanpur.
• Nana Sahib promised to protect British with his 1,500 fighters, on the chance that the resistance spread to Kanpur.
• On June 5, 1857, at the hour of resistance by powers of the East India Company at Kanpur, the British had taken shelter at an entrenchment.

• In the midst of the overall disarray in Kanpur, Nana Sahib and his force entered the British safehouse.
• The warriors of the 53rd Native Infantry, which was guarding it, believed that Nana Sahib had come to watch them for the benefit of the British.
• When he entered there, Nana Sahib declared that he was a member in the disobedience to the British.

Attack on Wheeler's Entrenchment

• On 5 June 1857, Nana Saheb sent a letter to General Wheeler warning him to expect an assault next morning at 10 am.
• On 6 June, his force assaulted the Company entrenchment at 10:30 am.
• The Company powers were not enough ready for the assault however figured out how to protect themselves as the assaulting powers were hesitant to enter the entrenchment.

Satichaura Ghat Massacre

• The victims of the Assault were asked to go to Allahabad which was safe at that time.
• Boats were arranged on the Ganges, and they were asked to enter into the boats one by one to go to Allahabad.
• While they were going on board, men of Nana Saheb started to fire on them indiscriminately killing men, women, and children.
• Those who were not killed were later taken to Bibighar.
• This incident is known as the Satichaura Ghat massacre.

Bibighar Massacre

• Ladies and children who survived were taken to Bibighar.
• They had to be used as a bait against the British. However, when this plan by nana Saheb failed, he ordered his forces to execute them.
• These women and children were killed because of those orders.
• Dead bodies of these women and children were thrown into a nearby well.
• It became one of the darkest blotches in the First War of Independence.

Role of Nana Saheb in the Revolt

• In June 1857, Nana Saheb attacked the British entrenchment at Kanpur and captured it.
• In July 1857, the British successfully recaptured Kanpur by defeating Nana Saheb’s forces.
• It is said that Nana Saheb escaped to Nepal after this.
• There is no information about his death even today.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who was Nana Saheb in the context of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

A) A British military commander
B) A Maratha noble and leader of the rebellion
C) A Mughal prince
D) A prominent freedom fighter from Bengal

2. Which British policy led to Nana Saheb’s discontent and involvement in the rebellion?

A) Policy of annexing Indian princely states by the Doctrine of Lapse
B) The partition of Bengal
C) The Indian Penal Code
D) The Salt Tax

3. What was the outcome of Nana Saheb’s rebellion in Kanpur during the 1857 revolt?

A) Complete victory for Nana Saheb
B) A temporary British retreat followed by a brutal British retaliation
C) Establishment of a free Indian state
D) A peaceful negotiation with the British

4. Where did Nana Saheb go after the defeat in Kanpur?

A) He was captured and executed
B) He fled to Nepal
C) He went to England
D) He was captured by the British but later released

5. How did Nana Saheb’s actions impact future Indian resistance against British rule?

A) They led to the immediate formation of political parties in India
B) His rebellion inspired later freedom movements and leaders
C) They resulted in the withdrawal of British forces from India
D) His actions were ignored by subsequent generations

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the role of Nana Saheb in the First War of Indian Independence. Discuss his contributions and challenges.

Answer: Nana Saheb played a key role in the First War of Indian Independence (1857), particularly in leading the uprising in Kanpur. His rebellion was fueled by personal grievances, including the British annexation of his family’s estate through the Doctrine of Lapse. Nana Saheb’s leadership was significant in mobilizing local support and leading military actions against the British. Despite initial successes, his forces were defeated due to British retaliation, and he was forced into exile. The challenges Nana Saheb faced included a lack of adequate resources, limited military support from other regional leaders, and the overwhelming British military power. Nevertheless, his actions significantly contributed to the larger independence movement, highlighting the widespread discontent with British colonial rule.

Q2: Discuss the impact of the Doctrine of Lapse on Indian princely states and its role in the 1857 revolt.

Answer: The Doctrine of Lapse, introduced by Lord Dalhousie, allowed the British East India Company to annex Indian princely states that did not have a natural heir. This policy led to widespread resentment, especially among rulers who were directly affected by it, such as Nana Saheb. The annexation of Satara, which belonged to Nana Saheb’s family, was a significant trigger for his discontent with the British. This policy, along with other British actions that undermined Indian rulers and their sovereignty, contributed to the eruption of the 1857 revolt, as it was seen as an attack on traditional Indian authority and autonomy. The revolt led by Nana Saheb was one of the major reactions to the Doctrine of Lapse and its broader implications on Indian royalty.

Q3: Evaluate the legacy of Nana Saheb in the context of the Indian freedom struggle.

Answer: Nana Saheb’s legacy in the context of the Indian freedom struggle is significant despite the failure of his revolt. He became a symbol of resistance against British oppression. His leadership during the 1857 uprising inspired future generations of Indians to challenge British rule. While he failed to achieve his goals during the rebellion, the martyrdom of other leaders and the spread of nationalist sentiments following the revolt contributed to the growing demand for independence. Nana Saheb’s legacy continued to inspire prominent leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose and others, who carried forward the struggle for freedom in the following decades.

Previous Year Questions on Nana Saheb

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Nana Saheb was associated with which of the following events?

A) Salt March
B) 1857 Revolt
C) Non-Cooperation Movement
D) Quit India Movement

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Nana Saheb was one of the key figures in the 1857 Revolt, leading the rebellion in Kanpur against British rule.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Examine the role of Nana Saheb in the 1857 revolt and the challenges he faced."

Answer: Nana Saheb played a crucial role in the 1857 revolt by leading the rebellion in Kanpur. His challenges included inadequate resources, limited support from other rulers, and the superior military strength of the British. Despite these obstacles, Nana Saheb’s leadership in the early stages of the revolt demonstrated significant resistance against British colonial policies. However, the eventual defeat and his exile marked the suppression of the rebellion. Nevertheless, Nana Saheb’s revolt laid the foundation for the later movements that culminated in India's independence.