Explain the grievances of the Indian sepoys against the British rule before the
revolt of 1857 with examples.
Answers
Answer:
(i) The Indian soldiers were given the Enfield rifles. The cartridges of this rifle were coated with the fat of cows and pigs. The soldiers felt that when they would bite these bullets, it would corrupt their caste and religion.
(ii) In many cantonments, the Indian soldiers refused to use the flour which had the bone dust of cows and pigs.
(iii) A law was passed in 1857 according to which the Indian soldiers could be sent across the sea to fight against any enemy. During those days, many Hindu soldiers considered it a sin against religion to go across the sea.
(iv) The Indian soldiers were maltreated during the parade. The Indians could not bear this humiliation and insult for long.
(v) There was discontentment among the Indian soldiers as they were paid less salary than their counterparts in the British. They also faced difficulty in getting leave.
(vi) The British officials often poked fun at the culture and civilisation of the Indian soldiers. So the Indian soldiers wanted to avenge their insult.
(vii) When Mangal Pandy, a soldier, was given cartridges coated with the fat of cows and pigs, he felt infuriated and killed a British official. So he was sentenced to death for this crime. It spread a wave of anger among all Indian soldiers. As a result, they rose in rebellion against the British.