Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Numerous causes gave rise to the First War of Independence and its consequences led to several changes in the British Government in India. In this context, answer the following:
Briefly explain the immediate cause of the Great Revolt.
Advertisements
Solution
Immediate Cause
The British had introduced a new ‘Enfield Rifle’ in the army. This rifle needed a cartridge which had a greased paper cover. This paper cover had to be bitten off before loading the cartridge into the rifle. Rumours spread that the greased paper was made of beef and pork. The soldiers felt that it was a move by the British to defame their religion. Mangal Pandey urged his fellow soldiers to not use the rifle. On 29 March 1857, he attacked his officers in Barrackpore. He was later hanged.
On 9 May 1857, eighty-five Indian soldiers who had refused to use the greased cartridge were dismissed from their services and were jailed for disobeying their officers. This marked the beginning of the Sepoy revolt in Meerut which later spread to other parts of northern India.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
What happened to the Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, after the Revolt of 1857?
What was Nana Saheb’s grievance against the British?
“The introduction of Enfield Rifles was the major factor in causing the great upsurge of 1857.” Discuss.
What was the General Service Enlistment Act?
In the context of 1857 revolt, discuss about the subordination of Indian economy to British interests.
The Revolt of 1857 can be attributed to many causes. Explain the military causes which led to the revolt of 1857.
State whether the following is true or false:
Indian rulers were quite satisfied with Lord Dalhousie’s expansionist policies.
State whether the following statement is True or false:
Awadh was annexed on the ground of maladministration.
The First Indian State to enter into the Subsidiary Alliance with the East India Company was ______.
What was the immediate cause of the First War of Independence?
