The great revolt of 1857, Indian History :
The great revolt of 1857, Indian History The English had used Indian soldiers to conquer India. By 1857 these sepoys or infantry and sowars or cavalry not only shared in the general discontent of the people, but also had specific grievances of their own. No Indian soldier could become a staff officer in the process. The highest-ranking Indian was subordinate to the most junior British subaltern. Once closely related officers and sepoys were eventually becoming distant.
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The foreigners were growing increasingly insensitive to Indian religious scruples. One common rumor that was circulated can be said as Hindu, Sikh and Muslim soldiers would be forcibly converted to Christianity. Some regiments had already been sent to Afghanistan against their wishes. Now it was said that sepoys would be compelled to cross the `black waters` of the ocean. At that time it was a thing forbidden by Hindu religion
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Also the political discontent aggravated the situation. Lord Dalhousie`s policy of annexation was unpopular with the men. In particular, his annexation of Avadh disturbed the many sepoys who came from that province. The mistreatment of the Mughal emperor Bahadur shah II offended many soldiers regardless of their religion. For these reasons, and others, it could be written by a contemporary Indian observer that by 1857 `all the native army, without exception, are inwardly dissatisfied with the government.`
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The British were aware of the changed climate in India. They felt that `danger was close, as though a mine were soon to explode`. All that was needed was a spark, and this was provided by the `greased cartridges`. A new rifle was introduced that used paper cartridges covered with grease to keep the powder dry.
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Before the cartridge could be loaded in the rifle, its end had to be bitten off. The sepoys were unwilling to do this action. They had reason to believe that the grease was made from the fat of cows or pigs. The first animal is held sacred by Hindus, while the Muslims consider the second one as unclean.
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In March 1857 trouble broke out over the new ammunition at Barrackpore in Bengal. Order was quickly stored. A sepoy named Mangal Pandey had defied the authority of his British officers, as executed. The next month in Meerut sepoys refused to touch the greased cartridges. The soldiers were court-martialed. They were put in shackles and confined to jail. In the following day on 10 may 1857, their comrades rose and freed them.
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