What were the significant factors involved in the Sepoy Rebellion, or the Revolution of 1857, as Indian historians refer to it?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Out of resentment toward several British policies, sepoy troops rose up against the British EIC, presenting an extreme crisis to Britain, whose own units were vastly outnumbered by sepoy regiments. There were a number of complex reasons for growing discontent among the Indian population, but until 1857 most rebellions were spotty and poorly organized local issues. However, in 1857 Indian soldiers gave voice to a number of issues that became a flashpoint. The majority of the sepoy troops were Bengalese, and they resented the later recruitment of Sikhs and Gurkhas, who were not of the same ethnic groups. A law passed in 1856 also required sepoy recruits to be available for overseas duty, which clashed directly with Hindu religious prohibitions against traveling by ocean. The catalyst for violence occurred when the British used a new type of rifle that required soldiers to open ammunition cartridges with their teeth, and the cartridges were greased with animal fat. If fat from cows was used, Hindus would be offended; if fat from pigs was used, Muslims would be offended. This lack of sensitivity outraged the troops, and in 1857 a much more broadspread rebellion, including various social, religious, and economic elements of Indian society, broke out. Students should recognize various changes brought about by the Indian rebellion in 1857-1858. In addition to gaining a centralized government and national consciousness, Indians enjoyed the economic growth that accompanied tremendous improvements in transportation and infrastructure. In the government, Mughal and EIC rule ended, and a British governor-general took control. Indians were promised equal protection under the law. The elite Indian Civil Service controlled government administration and the judiciary. The British government invested heavily in the upgrading of harbors, waterways, and roads; it also felled forests to expand agriculture. Steamboats, telegraphs, and railroads expanded at rapid rates, and the economy boomed. However, there were still drawbacks. Some Indian craftworkers lost their jobs in the face of rising British imports, and the new centralized government was dominated by British interests. Many Indians lamented the failure of the 1857 rebellion and argued that ridding India of ethnic and religious divisions was the only way to unite the country under Indian leadership and achieve independence. Rammohun Roy's Brahmo Samaj (Divine Society) was one example of an early nationalist group, which combined Western secular values and learning with traditional Indian culture.