PDP6 - The Azamgarh Proclamation
Author Bio: This is written by the rebels in India who were rebelling against the British imperialist rule. They are very biased toward their cause and every event they speak of is based on the idea that what the British are doing is wrong and they are right. They violently opposed the English and are therefore very biased against them.
Date/Context: This document comes at a time when the English had invaded India and were the ruling government through the East India Company. They had taken power from the Mughals and ruled through sepoys which were native troops. The Indians were beginning to realize that the British were ruling to benefit themselves and that they wanted to get rid of them. They felt they needed to protect their culture and right to rule themselves so they used violence to try to oppose the English rule. This document shows the ideals of the rebels and what they thought each group of people in society should do about it.
Summary: In this proclamation the rebels are arguing that Hindoos and Mohammedans should join together against the common enemy, the British, to rebel in the name of the descendant of the last Mughal emperor and reestablish a Badshahi Government. The rebels claim they may soon get support from the west. They also claim that the fortune-tellers of each religion predict the British will lose their footing in India. They reaffirm that despite minor inconveniences these will not be indicators of how they will rule. The rebels call upon the landholders, merchants, public servants, artisans and learned persons to support the cause. The rebels rant about the high taxes, unfair arrests, monopolies on goods, low standing of the soldiers, and unemployment of artisans. After listing the faults of the British they go on to issue their own promises. They promise low taxes, fair judicial dealing, help for native merchants who wish to sell their goods, heaven for those that fight for the cause, pay for the soldiers, and employment by the wealthy for native artisans; all in order to appeal to the afore mentioned groups. The final thought in the proclamation is a threat to those that stand against their cause.
Key Quotation: “...it is the imperative duty of all to take [the proclamation] into their careful consideration, and abide by it.”
Sydney did a good job in bringing up most of the important details that were brought up in the Azamgarh Proclamation. It is important that she talks about what the rebels are upset with. It is also important to discuss the promises that they had made to the people. Sydney chose a good key quotation that the people should abide by the proclamation.
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