The British, under the East India Company’s rule disrupted the whole economic order of India by draining Indian wealth, disrupting the traditional land system they destroyed the relationship between sectors of the Indian economy. Such unprecedented destruction of a whole economic order and of every class within it could not but produce a great social upheaval and that was the national uprising of 1857. The all-destructive British policy produced a broad popular rebellion against its rule.

Problems faced by the revolt which make people consider it a failure are:-

There were some constraints faced by the revolt in terms of

• No quick system of communication leading to lack of coordination
• Lack of broader goal of independence and political vision
• Not assessing the strength of British
• Lack of arms and ammunition
• Lack of spread across the nation
• Limited support from multiple sectors in the society like some intelligentsia actively supported British

For instance apart from some honourable exceptions like the Rani of Jhansi, Kunwar Singh and Maulvi Ahmadullah, the rebels were poorly served by their leaders. Most of them failed to realize the significance of the Revolt and simply did not do enough.

It cannot be considered a pure historical tragedy because of the following reasons:-

1. If the importance of a historical event is not limited to its immediate achievements the Revolt of 1857 was not a pure historical tragedy. It served a grand purpose: a source of inspiration for the national liberation movement which later achieved what the Revolt could not.
2. The outbreak of 1857 is the first great and direct challenge to the British rule in India, on an extensive scale. As such it inspired the genuine national movement for the freedom of India from British yoke which started half a century later.
3. Despite the sepoys limitations, their effort to liberate the country was a patriotic act, and a progressive step. They showed exemplary courage, dedication and commitment. Thousands of men courted death.
4. The Indian people got that experience which enabled them to build the modern Indian national movement on new foundations and with new ideas, and the lessons of 1857 proved inestimable.
5. After the revolt British changed some of their administrative policies and tried to focus on divide and rule ,appeasing some communities like princes, muslims etc

Conclusion:-

The memory of the revolt of 1857, distorted but hallowed with sanctity, perhaps did more damage to the cause of the British rule in India than the Revolt itself