Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Introduce the answer by signifying Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and reflecting the military grievances
• Highlight major driving factors to the rebellion
• Conclude positively.

Introduction

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion or the First War of Indian Independence reflected deeper social, political, and economic anxieties prevalent in colonial India during that period.

• Undoubtedly, military grievances like lower pay and limited promotion opportunities for Indian sepoys compared to their British counterparts, acted as the immediate spark. However, the rebellion was more than just a military uprising.

Body

Major Driving Factors:

• Socio-cultural Factors:
  • British Interference in Customs: The introduction of reforms such as the abolition of Sati (widow immolation) and the policy of prohibiting child marriage were perceived as an attack on traditional societal customs and values.
  • Fear of Cultural Subjugation: The Indian sepoys (soldiers) and civilians alike harbored concerns about the imposition of Christian values and the potential threat to their religious identities.
  • Use of Cow and Pig Fat in Cartridges: The fact that the new cartridges used by the British were greased with cow and pig fat, deeply offended the religious sentiments of both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, leading to widespread resentment.
• Political Factors:
  • Erosion of Power and Privileges of the Indian Nobility: The British policies of annexation, such as the Doctrine of Lapse ()and the Subsidiary Alliance system, led to the loss of power and privileges for Indian rulers and the nobility, fueling their discontent. (e.g, e. Annexation was enforced in the Satara (1848), Baghat (1850), Jhansi (1853).
  • Expansionist Policies of the East India Company: The Company's aggressive territorial acquisitions and interference in the affairs of Indian states were perceived as a threat to the sovereignty and autonomy of Indian rulers.
• Economic Factors:
  • Economic Exploitation: The East India Company's policies of economic exploitation, such as the drain of resources and wealth from India to Britain, led to widespread economic discontent among the Indian population.
  • Impoverishment of Artisans and Weavers: The influx of British manufactured goods and the decline of traditional Indian industries, such as textiles, adversely affected the livelihood of artisans and weavers, fueling their resentment against the British.
  • Land revenue policies: The British land revenue policies, such as the Permanent Settlement in Bengal and the Mahalwari system in the North-Western Provinces, disrupted the traditional land tenure systems and adversely impacted the economic well-being of the Indian peasantry.

Conclusion

While the rebellion was ultimately quelled, it marked a turning point in British policy, leading to the end of the East India Company's rule and the establishment of the British Raj. The legacy of the Sepoy Mutiny lies in its role as a catalyst for the Indian independence movement.