1857: Mutiny or War of Independence

1857: Mutiny or War of Independence

1. The Causes

   • crucial turning point in India and British relationship was in 1857
   • near success of 1857 Indian Rebellion and brutal British reactions turned people away from colonial rule
     • Indian nationalists claim it is the 1st Indian War of Independence
   • By 1857, Company controlled app. 1.6 M square miles with military force of 238k
     • army divided into 3 separate forces
       • one in each major province
     • only 38K were European
     • Indians who served in EIC armies were called sepoys
       • means soldier, comes from Persian word sipahi
       • so historians call events of 1857-8 the Sepoy Mutiny
       • was already adapted to environment and climate = more useful than European troop
     • for EIC depending on Indian sepoys was much cheaper
       • was already adapted to environment and climate = more useful than European troop
     • EIC relied on personal networks to draw from some populations
   • soldiers were aggrieved by Company government's aggressive steps
     • Company's territorial control increased
       • Sind (1843)
       • Punjab (1849)
       • Awadh 1856

2. Narrative of Events

   • Rebellion began in May 1857
     • at an army garrison at Meerut
     • when 85 soldiers refused to eat pork because they were Muslims, English superiors humiliated them
       • in reaction, brother soldiers mutinied, massacred the English residents and military superiors of the Cantonment
         • pushed for Delhi
   • Colonel James Neill
     • officer of Madras Army
     • retake the fortress at Allahabad
   • with retaking of Gwalior in June 1858, end of mutiny

3. The Post-Mutiny Political Framework

   • parliament passed the Government of India Act of 1858
     • transferred all authority from EIC to crown
     • Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1858
       • responded to many presumed causes of the revolt
       • declared the Queen would not interfere with Indian religious beliefs or religion, respect customs, promote social advancement of Indians