11.
What was the immediate cause of the
revolt?
Answers
Answer:
The immediate cause of the Indian Revolt of 1857 was a seemingly minor change in
the weapons used by the British East India Company's troops. The East India
Company upgraded to the new Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle, which used greased paper
cartridges. In order to open the cartridges and load the rifles, sepoys had to bite
into the paper and tear it with their teeth.
Rumors began in 1856 that the grease on the cartridges was made of a mixture of
beef and pork lard; eating cows, of course, is forbidden in Hinduism, while
consumption of pork is forbidden in Islam. Thus, in this one small change, the
British had managed to seriously offend both Hindu and Muslim troops.
The revolt started in Meerut, which was the first area to receive the new weapons.
The British manufacturers soon changed the cartridges in an attempt to calm the
spreading anger among the sepoys, but this move backfired as well - the fact that
they stopped greasing the cartridges only confirmed the rumors about cow and pig
fat, in the sepoys' minds.
Causes of Spreading Unrest:
Of course, as the Indian Revolt spread, it took on additional causes of discontent
among both sepoy troops and civilians of all castes. Princely families joined the
uprising due to British changes to the inheritance law, making adopted children
ineligible for their thrones. This was an attempt to control succession in many of
the princely states that were nominally independent from the British. Large landholders in northern India also rose up, since the British East India had confiscated
land and redistributed it to the peasantry. Peasants were none too happy, either,
though - they joined the revolt to protest heavy land taxes imposed by the British.
Religion also prompted some Indians to join the mutiny. The East India Company
forbade certain religious practices and traditions, including sati or widow-burning,
to the outrage of many Hindus. The company also tried to undermine the caste
system, which seemed inherently unfair to post-Enlightenment British
sensibilities. In addition, British officers and missionaries began to preach
Christianity to the Hindu and Muslim sepoys. The Indians believed, quite
reasonably, that their religions were under attack by the East India Company.
Finally, Indians regardless of class, caste or religion felt oppressed and
disrespected by the agents of the British East India Company. Company officials
who abused or even murdered Indians were seldom punished properly; even if they
were tried, they were rarely convicted, and those who were could appeal almost
indefinitely. A general sense of racial superiority among the British fueled Indian
anger across the country.
End of the Rebellion and Aftermath:
The Indian Revolt of 1857 lasted until June of 1858. In August, the Government of
India Act of 1858 dissolved the British East India Company. The British
government took direct control of the half of India formerly under the company,
with various princes still in nominal control of the other half. Queen
Victoria became the Empress of India.
The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was blamed for the revolt
(although he played little role in it). The British government sent him into exile in
Rangoon, Burma. The Indian army also saw huge changes after the revolt. Instead
of relying heavily on Bengali troops from the Punjab, the British began to recruit
soldiers from the "martial races" - those peoples considered particularly warlike,
such as the Gurkhas and the Sikhs.
Unfortunately, the Indian Revolt of 1857 did not result in freedom for India. In
many ways, Britain reacted by taking firmer control of the "crown jewel" of its
empire. It would be another ninety years before India (and Pakistan) gained their
independence.
Answer:
The immediate cause of the IndianRevolt of 1857 was a seemingly minor change in the weapons used by the British East India Company's troops. The East India Company upgraded to the new Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle, which used greased paper cartridges.
the main causes are..
Pathetic Socioeconomic Condition
Problems of Land Revenue
Destruction of Economy
Low position of Indians in Administration
Doctrine of Lapse
Ill-treatment with Bahadur Shah Zafar
Annexation of Oudh
Biased Police and Judiciary
Christian Missionaries
Education
Discrimination with Sepoys
The immediate result of the mutiny was a general housecleaning of the Indian administration. The East India Company was abolished in favour of the direct rule of India by the British government.