Question

What was the immediate cause for the uprising of the Sepoy Mutiny?

• A. General Service Enlistment Act
• B. Doctrine of lapse
• C. Disparity in salaries of native sepoys and British soldiers
• D. Rumours of cartridges greased with the fat of cow or pig

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Rumours of cartridges greased with the fat of cow or pig

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