Explain the course of the 'Great mutiny'.
Answers
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India, followed an expansionist policy in India by British. Within 8 years they took over the control of Satara , Sambhalpur , Jhansi , Nagpur ,Jaipur and Bhagat. Dalhousie further proposed to abolish the title of the Mughal emperor after the death of Bahadur Shah II. These enraged the Indian rulers against the British government.
Indian resources were completely exported to London to promote British industries. Consequently, the country was reduced to poverty as traditional handicrafts and industries were ruined. Many people were rendered jobless and there was overcrowding in the agricultural sector.
The British looked down upon the Indians as inferior race and discriminated with them racially at every step. Indians were not allowed at many places such as railway compartments and public places as parks and hotels as these were reserved for the Englishmen. It hurt the Indian masses most and they began to regard the Englishmen as their worst enemies.
There was great inequality in treatment between the Indian and the British counterparts in terms of salary and other benefits. Majority of the Indian soldiers were sent to Crimea, China and Iran to fight wars of the English and English men were sitting and relaxing.
The Indian soldiers were considered inferior and were ill-treated by high officers. The high ranks in the army were exclusively reserved for the Englishmen and the Indians were deliberately excluded from responsible positions.
The immediate cause of the revolt was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle and the greased cartridge. In loading the rifle the sepoy before inserting the cartridge had to bite off its top. It was believed that the grease was made out of the fats of cows and pigs. This was objectionable to the Hindus and Muslims alike
This rumour sparked off fire of discontent against the British in the form of the revolt. The first sign of unrest appeared in 1857 at Barrack-pore in Bengal. A sepoy, Mangal Pandey on 29th March 1857, killed senior officers on parade and started the revolt.