The sepoy armies, the outbreak of the 1857 rebellion and war of independence Flashcards
What were the three Presidency armies of the EIC?
The three Presidency armies were Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. They operated separately but under joint oversight.
How were the EIC armies structured?
British officers led the armies, but the majority of soldiers (sepoys) were Indian recruits. Each army had different recruitment policies and privileges.
How did caste and religious diversity differ among the three Presidency armies?
The Bombay and Madras armies were more diverse in caste, social status, and religion. The Bengal army mainly recruited high-caste Hindus like Rajputs and Bhumihars.
Why did Bengal sepoys feel the EIC protected their financial interests?
Despite lower base pay, Bengal sepoys were exempt from flogging, were not deployed overseas (to avoid caste pollution), and received bhatta (extra pay) for foreign service.
What was bhatta, and why was it important to Bengal sepoys?
Bhatta was extra pay for foreign service outside EIC-controlled territory. Bengal sepoys benefited from this as they often fought against princely states.
What were the key privileges of Bengal sepoys that Madras and Bombay sepoys did not have?
Exemption from flogging, no forced overseas deployment, and lucrative bhatta pay.
What restrictions did Bengal sepoys have regarding deployment?
They were not sent to regions requiring sea travel, such as Burma or China, due to caste pollution concerns.
What happened in the Vellore Mutiny?
In 1806, three sepoy battalions in Madras mutinied due to a new dress code banning religious marks and traditional turbans. They killed British officers and seized the fortress before being brutally suppressed.
How did the First Anglo-Afghan War impact sepoy morale?
The 1839-42 invasion of Kabul ended in a disastrous British retreat, with over 17,000 troops and civilians killed. This shattered sepoy confidence in British military superiority.
How did the annexation of Punjab and Oudh affect Bengal sepoys’ pay?
Bhatta was reduced as these territories became EIC-controlled, no longer qualifying as ‘foreign service’ areas.
Why did Bengal sepoys resent Sikh and Gurkha recruitment?
They viewed Sikhs and Gurkhas as lower caste and saw their increasing presence in the army as a threat to their privileged status.
How did British officers’ attitudes toward Indian culture change by the 1850s?
Unlike earlier officers who learned Indian languages and customs, later officers saw Indian culture as inferior and some actively tried converting sepoys to Christianity.
What was the General Services Enlistment Act?
Passed in 1856, it required new EIC recruits to serve overseas if ordered, alarming high-caste sepoys who feared caste pollution.
What was the spark for the 1857 rebellion?
The introduction of the Enfield musket, which required biting into greased cartridges rumored to contain cow and pig fat, offending Hindu and Muslim sepoys.
How did the British respond to cartridge rumors?
In early 1857, they allowed sepoys to tear cartridges by hand, but rumors persisted that the grease had been impregnated into the paper.
What was Mangal Pandey’s role in the rebellion?
On 29th March 1857, Mangal Pandey of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry attacked British officers at Barrackpore but failed to incite open revolt. He was executed on 8th April.
How did the Meerut sepoys react to the punishment of those who refused the cartridges?
On 10th May 1857, they mutinied, killing British officers and civilians before marching to Delhi.
Why did the rebels go to Delhi?
They sought leadership from the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, who reluctantly agreed to support the rebellion on 12th May 1857.
How did the rebellion spread beyond Meerut and Delhi?
It spread to Agra, Allahabad, and Ambala, with sepoys committing acts of arson and freeing imprisoned comrades.
Why do some British historians call the events a ‘Mutiny’?
They argue it was mainly a military revolt by disaffected sepoys rather than a wider nationalist movement.
Why do some Indian historians call it the ‘First War of Independence’?
They highlight Hindu-Muslim unity and the participation of landlords and peasants, arguing it was a nationalist struggle against colonial rule.
Why do many modern historians call it a ‘Rebellion’ rather than a ‘Revolution’?
The rebels aimed to restore the Mughal order, not create a new unified India. The rebellion lacked a coordinated plan or mass participation.
How did Sikh and Gurkha soldiers respond?
They largely remained loyal to the British, fearing the return of Mughal rule.
How did Indian landowners and peasants react?
In regions like Oudh and Bundelkhand, they supported the rebellion, seeing British landowners as more exploitative than Indian aristocrats.
