What was the Indian Rebellion of 1857 ?

But he was also seen as a greedy speculator who used his political and military influence to amass a fortune.

Colin Campbell: A soldier of coolness and precision

From humble beginnings, Field Marshal Sir Colin Campbell rose to lead the Highland Brigade in the Crimean War and was in command of the 'Thin Red Line' at Balaklava.

He later led a relief army with great distinction during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

Independence and Partition, 1947

The birth of India and Pakistan as independent states in 1947 was a key moment in the history of Britain’s Empire and its army.

The main persons behind this rebellion were the soldiers [sepoy]. That is why it is also called sepoy Mutiny.

But the revolt did not remain limited to the soldiers, later it spread and took a massive form. Some people also called this-‘India’s first war of Independence’.

The revolt was started on 10th May of 1857 in the town of Meerut. Though in some places, fractional clashes began before that. It ended on 20 June 1858.

The first martyr of 1957 revolt was Mangal Pandey. He attacked his British sergeant on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore.

Some of the leaders of the rebellion were- Rani Lakshmibai [Jhansi],Kunwar Singh [Bihar], Bahadur Shah [Delhi], Nana Saheb [Kanpur], Tatia Tope [Kanpur], Begum Hazrat Mahal [Lucknow]. There was a deficiency of central leadership.

Lord canning was the governor general at that time.

The revolt was started due to the induction of enfield riffles in the army. It was believed that the cartridges used in the riffles were made of pig fat and cow fat which were restricted for the Muslims and Hindus respectively. They protested against these.

The revolt was failed to spread across the India. Some epicenters of the revolt were- Kanpur, Lucknow, Aligarh, Agra, Arrah, Delhi, and Jhansi.

The revolt was started due to the induction of enfield riffles in the army. It was believed that the cartridges used in the riffles were made of pig fat and cow fat which were restricted for the Muslims and Hindus respectively. They protested against these.

The revolt was failed to spread across the India. Some epicenters of the revolt were- Kanpur, Lucknow, Aligarh, Agra, Arrah, Delhi, and Jhansi.

Revolt of 1857 is considered as a watershed movement in history.

Historians like Sir John Seeley called the revolt a mere sepoy mutiny with no popular support and native leadership.

Dr. K Datta considers the revolt as a military outbreak , taken advantage of by some discontent landlords and princes who were suffering under the new political order.

VD Savarkar calls it the first war of independence. On the other hand historians like Thomas Metcalf and Stanley Wolpert tries to take a middle ground by stating that it was more than a sepoy mutiny, but less than the war for independence.

Marxist historians are of view that it was a struggle of soldier- peasant combine against feudal and foreign bondage. Some historians have tried to give it a religious angle by referring to it as a religious war.

Thus, there are different interpretations regarding the nature of the revolt.

collapse of traditional handicraft industries , increasing pressure on agriculture and land, high land revenue which was required to pay on a fixed date failing which lands were to be auctioned off .

corruption in the administration especially among petty officials, lower law courts and police.

corruption in the administration especially among petty officials, lower law courts and police.