Page 2 - ch 11

Module - III Revolt of 1857 and Reforms in the Indian Army

Military History of the
11.1.1 First war of Independence.
Colonial Era
This event occurred in 1857 not as a result of any single event, but as an culmination of
many happenings over time. We know that the Company's army recruited large number
of Hindu and Muslim sepoys as native soldiers. There were nearly 300,000 sepoys in
the army and the British were about 50,000. There was huge difference. The forces
were divided into three presidencies. When compared to Madras Army and Bombay
Note Army, the Bengal Army recruited higher castes like Rajputs and Brahmins. The selection

was not based on the physical fitness, willingness, courage and strength instead, it was
more on caste basis. What were the factors that led to a revolt?

 First was the policy of recruiting higher caste Brahmins in the army, thus causing
misunderstanding and rift within the sepoys.

 Second was the rumour that the British were converting hindus and muslims to
Christianity. The British were also working towards abolition of Sati (a practice
of the wife killing herself when her husband died).
 Then there were other smaller issues such as delayed promotions to Indian
soldiers and exclusion from Foreign Service.

 It has been said that the spark to start the mutiny was over the issue of rifle
cartridges (ammunition used in rifles) in which it was rumored that they were
made from pig/cow fat. To use the ammunition one had to use teeth to bite and
tear away the wrappings. This went against the sentiments of both the hindus
and muslims.

Do you Know?

Mangal Pandey was born in a high caste hindu family in Uttar Pradesh (Ballia).He
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joined the 34 Bengal native infantry as a sepoy at a young age. The legend describes
him as a 9ft. tall man! He got hugely enraged by the introduction of the New Enfield
rifle. It was rumoured that the cartridge was made up of animal fat mainly from Cows
and Pigs. To use this rifle the soldiers were to bite off the cartridge.
Enraged by this and to show his anger he decided to take violent action against the
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Britishers. He fired upon Lt. Baugh the Adjutant of the 34 Bengal native Infantry on
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29 march 1857.He encouraged his fellow sepoys to join him. He was later arrested
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in injured condition and was sentenced to death. He was hanged on 8 April 1857,
ten days before the fixed date of execution. The daring and dashing act of Mangal
Pandey triggered off series of revolts all over the country.
The Indian govt. issued a stamp to commemorate him in 1984.

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MILITARY HISTORY