Question
What was the attitude of the Bengali middle class towards the Revolt of 1857? In this context, give an account of the Queen’s Proclamation.
Answer
Educated Bengali Society did not support the Revolt of 1857. They thought that the leaders of the revolt of 1857 wanted to reestablish medieval feudal society and the state system in place of modern education and reforms of the British. If we study contemporary papers and journals, we must see that educated Bengali society hated the mutineers but paid their respect and homage to the British administration. Iswar Chandra Gupta disliked Laxmibai, Tantia Tope, Nana Saheb etc. leaders.)
Proclamation of the Queen: After the end of the revolt of 1857, ‘An Act for the Better Government of India’ was passed on 2nd August 1858, by which the English East India Company’s rule in India was ended and the Viceroy’s (royal representative) rule introduced. Lord Canning after being appointed as the first viceroy of India, representing Victoria (1837-1901), the Queen of England, organised a formal court in Allahabad. In this court, on 1st November 1858, he read out a proclamation on behalf of the Queen. This came to be known as “The Proclamation of the Queen. In this proclamation, a number of promises were made for the benefit of India.
