[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded]Contributions of UP in Pre & Post 1857 Freedom Struggles

1. Pre-1857 Resistance in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Questions focusing on “Civil Uprisings” and the role of specific regions before the Great Revolt.

Key Uprisings & Events

• Civil Uprisings: Resistance by local Zamindars and Polygaars against high land revenue assessments by the British East India Company.
• Aligarh Revolt (1814-17): Rebellion by Talukdar Dayaram against British annexation.
• Khandesh & Bundelkhand Uprisings: Early tribal and peasant resistance in southern UP borders.
• Mangal Pandey: Born in Ballia (Nagwa village); his revolt in Barrackpore (March 1857) triggered the sepoy sentiment across the Gangetic belt.

2. The Revolt of 1857: UP as the Epicenter

Trend: Shift from general causes to Region-Specific Contributions and Local Leaders.

Major Centers & Leaders

• Meerut (The Spark):
  • May 10, 1857: Start of the mutiny by the 3rd Cavalry.
  • Dhan Singh Kotwal: The “Kotwal of Meerut” who facilitated the revolt by opening jail gates.
• Lucknow (Awadh):
  • Begum Hazrat Mahal: Led the resistance from the Residency; crowned her son Birjis Qadr.
  • Uda Devi: Pasi community warrior who fought as a sniper at Sikandar Bagh.
• Kanpur:
  • Nana Saheb & Tatya Tope: Siege of Kanpur; Role of Azimullah Khan.
  • Sati Chaura Ghat Incident: A turning point in British-Indian relations.
• Jhansi:
  • Rani Laxmibai: Defense of Jhansi Fort; death in Gwalior.
  • Jhalkari Bai: Dalit warrior and commander of the Durga Dal (Women’s wing).
• Faizabad/Ayodhya:
  • Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah: Known as the “Lighthouse of Rebellion” (Danka Shah); fought the famous Battle of Chinhat.
• Allahabad (Prayagraj): Led by Maulvi Liyakat Ali (Parallel administration in Khusro Bagh).
• Bareilly: Khan Bahadur Khan (Rohilla leader) formed a temporary government.
• Baraut (Baghpat): Shah Mal, a Jat leader who organized peasants to destroy bridges and telegraph lines.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• Rani Durgavati & 1857 Legacy: While Rani Durgavati is medieval, 2024-25 saw massive celebrations of her 500th Birth Anniversary in Bundelkhand to highlight the region’s tradition of resistance, linking it to the 1857 spirit of Jhansi.
• Dhan Singh Kotwal: State Police Training College in Meerut has recently emphasized his role in the curriculum to instill regional pride.

3. Post-1857: Rise of Nationalism & INC

Trend: Questions on “INC Sessions in UP” and the role of the “Moderate Phase” leaders from the province.

Indian National Congress (INC) in UP

• Key Sessions held in UP:
  • 1888 (Allahabad): George Yule (First European President) – Symbolized secular nature.
  • 1892 (Allahabad): W.C. Bonnerjee.
  • 1899 (Lucknow): Romesh Chunder Dutt (Critical of Land Revenue).
  • 1905 (Varanasi): G.K. Gokhale (Swadeshi Resolution passed against Bengal Partition).
  • 1916 (Lucknow): The Lucknow Pact (Congress-League Unity & Moderate-Extremist Reunion).
  • 1925 (Kanpur): Sarojini Naidu (First Indian Woman President).
  • 1936 (Lucknow): Jawaharlal Nehru (Push towards Socialism).
  • 1946 (Meerut): J.B. Kripalani (Session before Independence).

4. Revolutionary Movement in UP

Trend: High focus on Kakori Action and the HRA/HSRA network.

Hindustan Republican Association (HRA)

• Formation (1924): Founded in Kanpur by Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Ram Prasad Bismil, and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee.
• Kakori Train Action (Aug 9, 1925):
  • Objective: To capture government treasury to fund the revolution.
  • Key Martyrs: Ram Prasad Bismil (Gorakhpur Jail), Ashfaqullah Khan (Faizabad Jail), Roshan Singh (Naini Jail), Rajendra Lahiri (Gonda Jail).
• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA):
  • Chandra Shekhar Azad: Operations from Alfred Park (Allahabad) and Jhansi (Orrcha forest).
  • Bomb Factory: Secret bomb manufacturing units in Agra and Saharanpur.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• Kakori Train Action Centenary Festival : The UP Government celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Kakori Action (Aug 2024 to Aug 2025).
  • Initiatives: A special “Kakori Stamp” was released.
  • Shaheed Smriti Vatika: Developed in Kakori to honor the martyrs.
  • Renaming: Official use of the term “Action” instead of “Conspiracy” in all state textbooks and documents.

5. Peasant and Tribal Movements

Trend: Focus on Kisan Sabhas and Eka Movement.

Peasant Uprisings

• UP Kisan Sabha (1918): Established by Gauri Shankar Mishra, Indra Narayan Dwivedi, and Madan Mohan Malviya in Lucknow.
• Awadh Kisan Sabha (1920): Led by Baba Ramchandra (Pratapgarh/Rae Bareli); fought against Bedakhali (Eviction) and Nazrana.
• Eka (Unity) Movement (1921):
  • Leader: Madari Pasi.
  • Region: Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur.
  • Issue: Recording rent at lower than actual rates; demand for receipts.
• All India Kisan Sabha (1936): First session held in Lucknow under Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.

6. Gandhian Era & Mass Movements in UP

Trend: Role of specific districts (Ballia, Gorakhpur) in mass movements.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)

• Chauri Chaura Incident (1922): The violent burning of a police station in Gorakhpur which led Gandhi to suspend the movement.
• Kashi Vidyapeeth: Established in Varanasi (1921) to provide national education.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

• No-Tax Campaign: Launched in Allahabad by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Salt Satyagraha: Symbolic manufacturing of salt in Agra and other districts.

Quit India Movement (1942)

• Ballia Parallel Government:
  • Chitu Pandey: Known as the “Sher-e-Ballia” (Lion of Ballia).
  • Significance: Established an independent government (Swaraj) for a few weeks, releasing all prisoners.
• Underground Activity: Role of Sucheta Kripalani and Acharya Narendra Dev.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• Chitu Pandey Memorial: In March 2025, the UP Government announced the construction of a grand memorial for freedom fighter Chitu Pandey in Ballia.
• Pension Hike: In June 2024, the state government hiked the Samman Pension for freedom fighters and their dependents, ensuring their welfare.