On the Rebellion of 1857: Journal Article by Peter Robb

Historical Background

The 1857 Indian Rebellion arose in response to the British East India Company's expanding control over India, marked by heavy taxes, land annexations, and disrespect for Indian social and religious customs. Indian soldiers, called sepoys, faced discrimination and were compelled to adapt to British military practices. The mutiny began with sepoys refusing to use rifle cartridges greased with animal fat offensive to their religions, sparking wider violent uprising across northern and central India from 1857 to 1859.

Colonial and Military Context

The rebellion, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence, reflects tensions from British colonial policies and the East India Company's imperial ambitions. The Company effectively ruled large parts of India as a business empire, backed by a British-led military, including native sepoys. Discontent with British racial discrimination, cultural insensitivity, and economic exploitation grew, as Indian soldiers and civilians alike suffered under unfair land laws, heavy taxation, and loss of traditional power structures. The uprising triggered widespread battles and sieges across key locations like Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur. It ultimately failed but ended Company rule, leading to direct British Crown control and a shift in imperial governance.

Intellectual and Interpretive Frameworks

Peter Robb’s article “On the Rebellion of 1857: A Brief History of an Idea” examines how the rebellion has been understood and framed historically. The event has been variously described as a “mutiny,” “rebellion,” or “war of independence,” reflecting differing colonial and postcolonial perspectives. Western narratives initially saw it as a military mutiny of disgruntled troops, while Indian nationalist interpretations positioned it as a foundational anti-colonial struggle and assertion of sovereignty. Robb’s work situates these debates within broader historiographical discussions, showing how the event’s meaning evolved alongside political contexts and collective memories over time.

Key themes

• The 1857 Rebellion is interpreted as multiple local uprisings rather than a unified national revolt.
• British narratives exaggerated religious motives, especially framing it as an Islamic conspiracy.
• Leadership combined traditional Mughal symbols with Company military structures.
• Regional loyalties and fragmented alliances hindered a consolidated resistance.
• The idea of a pan-Indian identity and nationalism emerged later, building on urban and class formations.

Symbols & ambiguities

The narrative uses symbols such as Mughal imperial forms to represent continuity of traditional authority, while the adoption of British-style command reflected hybrid power structures. The mutiny itself remains ambiguous—seen by some as a "mutiny" and others as a "war of independence." This duality highlights interpretive tension between colonial and postcolonial perspectives. The repeated focus on key locations like Delhi and Lucknow symbolizes focal points of rebellion but also illustrates its limited geographic spread and fragmented nature, adding complexity to its historical meaning.

Study questions

What does Robb suggest about the possibility of a unified Indian nation in 1857?
How do British accounts shape our understanding of the rebellion's religious aspects?
In what ways do traditional and colonial influences combine in the rebellion's leadership?
Why did local loyalties impede broader coordination against British rule?
How does the article explain the development of Indian national identity post-1857?
What role do symbols and memory play in how the rebellion is commemorated today?
How might the designation "mutiny" versus "war of independence" affect historical interpretation?
What implications does Robb’s analysis have for understanding colonial power and resistance?

Critical approaches & debates

Peter Robb’s article has prompted diverse readings, including postcolonial critiques emphasizing the Rebellion of 1857 as a birth of Indian national identity and resistance to imperialism, while formalist scholars focus on the narrative construction of rebellion itself as an idea. Some Marxist interpretations stress economic dispossession and class conflict underlying the uprising. Disagreements persist on whether the event was a cohesive nationalist revolt or a fragmented series of local mutinies. Robb’s work also spurs debate about historiography—how the idea of "rebellion" reflects shifting identities and political agendas rather than fixed historical realities.

Key passages

Robb’s analysis of the term "rebellion" unpacks it as a contested political symbol rather than a unanimous event. He reveals how British and Indian accounts use metaphor and narrative shifts to redefine the 1857 uprising over time, which illuminates why the event’s meaning varies by audience and period. This rhetorical turn deepens understanding of historical memory and identity formation around 1857.

Bibliography

Robb, Peter. "On the Rebellion of 1857: A Brief History of an Idea." Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 42, no. 19, 2007, pp.1696–1702. Foundational and recent studies include works on the Indian Rebellion by Percival Spear and recent postcolonial reviews addressing its representation and meaning. Primary accounts of the 1857 mutiny from British and Indian perspectives remain essential.