1857 in India

"See also:"
1856 in India, other events of 1857, 1858 in India and the
Timeline of Indian history.

----The Indian rebellions of 1857 (also known as the Sepoy Mutiny) or The First War Of Indian Independence as known to the Indians was a widespread uprising in northern and central India against the rule of the British East India Company 1857-1858. It is also known as the Sepoy Rebellion, the Great Mutiny, and the Revolt of 1857.

Key leaders were Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Tantia Tope.

Causes of the Revolt
Failure of the Revolt

Causes of the Revolt

Military Issues

Although Indian sepoys and sowars formed the majority of the part of the East India Company's Army, they were given lower positions and pay scales than their British counterparts. In the year 1857, the British Army inducted a new type of rifle, the Enfield, whose cartridge was said to be greased in cow and pig fat. Hindus consider the Cow a sacred animal and refrain from eating beef, while Muslims considered it an offense to consume pork. This rumour came at a time of tension, following the annexation of the Indian state of Oudah (from which many sepoys were recruited) in 1856.

The greater part of the Bengal Army of the East India Company rose in rebellion, although the Bombay and Madras Armies remained generally unaffected. In Oudah and other parts of northern India the sepoys were joined by local rulers and much of the population.

ocial, Economic and Political Issues

By 1857 many of the formerly independent Indian states had been annexed by the East India Company. Many of the Company's economic policies lead to disruption and loss of employment opportunities in existing Indian societies. The Company used India as a supplier of raw materials to British based industries and also as a market for the finished products. Local artisans were being ruined due to the introduction of railways as British made goods penetrated deep into the country. In rural areas peasants suffered under the permanent, mahalwari and ryotwari settlements.

Religious Issues

Aggressive evangelical Christianity pursued by some elements among the British in India produced widespread fears amongst the Hindu population that their religion was under threat.

Failure of the Revolt

The Revolt of 1857 was not confined to the northern part of the sub continent and did not enjoy support from either the Punjab or southern Indian.

It did however have a major impact on relations between Indians and British, arguably laying the foundations for independence ninety years later. The immediate results were to bring India directly under the rule of Queen Victoria, the abolition of both the East India Company and the Mughal Empire, and a change in the recruiting base of the new Indian Army to the martial races of the Punjab.