Question

Study the picture and answer the following questions:
(a) Give three causes of the resentment of the Sepoys against the British
(b) What was the immediate cause of their resentment that led them to rise against the British?
(c) Mention three changes introduced in the organisation of the Army after the First War of Independence.

Answer 1

(a) Three causes of the resentment of the Sepoys against the British-

• Ill-treatment of India soldiers
• General Service Enlistment Act
• Bleak Prospects of Promotions
• Deprivation of Allowances

(b) In January 1857, there was a rumour in the Bengal regiments that the greased cartridge for Enfiled rifles had the fat of cow and pig. The sepoys were now convinced that the introduction of greased cartridge was a deliberate move to defile Hindu and Muslim religions as the cow is sacred to Hindus and the pig is a taboo for Muslims. So, both the Hindus and Muslims soldiers refused to use these cartridges and staged an uprising when they forced to use them.

(c) Three changes introduced in the organisation of the Army after the First War of Independence-

• The strength of European troops in India was increased. The general principle adopted was that the number of Indians sepoys should not exceed twice that of the European troops.
• European troops were kept in key geographical and military positions.
• The earlier policy of excluding Indians from the officer corps was strictly maintained.
• Newspapers, journals, and nationalist publications were prevented from reaching the soldiers to keep the Indians army separated from the life of the rest of the population.