The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was an extremely violent time for Britons and Indians alike. A British owned business, the East India Company, was in charge of great swathes of Indian land, and needed to employ local men as guards to enable their business to continue without disruption. Sepoys, as the Indian soldiers were called, were under the orders of the foreign officers.
Although the East India Company started just as a trading business, it expanded greatly and ended up controlling a extremely large area of India. This lead to tensions, as areas were taken over unjustly, the Indian people were dealt with very badly and charged extortionate taxes. Laws were also introduced making some traditional practices illegal, and the influx of lots of British missionaries at this time, suggested that they were trying to convert the Indians to Christianity.
Resentments against the East India Company led to soldiers feeling like their commanding British officers were on another side to them. They believed that those in command were out of touch with their concerns. These problems inevitably led to a lack of respect. When a new type of cartridge was introduced, many natives were very upset. These were coated in animal fat from cows and pigs and the men were required to bite off the top of them in order to load their rifles. This was a huge problem for Hindus and Muslims who are not allowed to consume these animals.
The uprising is commonly believed to have started with the actions of a man called Mangal Pandey, regarded by Indians as a hero. He was disgusted when his fellow soldiers, refusing to use the new cartridges for religious reasons, were punished. This man shot the commanding sergeant major and lieutenant. The event lead to more and more revolts across the north of India.
The punishments soldiers received for not using new cartridges were sometimes very unpleasant. In a place called Meerut, refusers were put in chains and their uniforms removed. This seemed horribly unjust to their colleagues, as these men were simply following their religious beliefs. This led to an uprising in which British civilians, including children and women, were attacked, not just officers. Delhi, not being far away, suffered when the violence spread and many people died.
In Cawnpore, now known as Kanpur, some officers surrendered and tried to leave the area along with many civilians. Uprisers attacked and killed the men, and took over two hundred women and children prisoner. The local leader asked butchers to kill the captives and throw them into a well.
Britons committed equally violent acts as the Indians, killing any mutineers that they managed to catch. As a warning to the soldiers not part of the revolt, they were ordered to watch the captives die. Perhaps the most horrible method used, was tying men to a cannon ball and firing the cannon. More men were sent from Britain, and with the aid of the loyal southern part of India, Britain finally ended the rebellion.
The government back in London, dissolved the East India Company, at the end of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The government then took control of India, which was ruled by Britain for a long time. Pandey, who started the revolt, is regarded as beginning the fight for Indian independence, however.
Although the East India Company started just as a trading business, it expanded greatly and ended up controlling a extremely large area of India. This lead to tensions, as areas were taken over unjustly, the Indian people were dealt with very badly and charged extortionate taxes. Laws were also introduced making some traditional practices illegal, and the influx of lots of British missionaries at this time, suggested that they were trying to convert the Indians to Christianity.
Resentments against the East India Company led to soldiers feeling like their commanding British officers were on another side to them. They believed that those in command were out of touch with their concerns. These problems inevitably led to a lack of respect. When a new type of cartridge was introduced, many natives were very upset. These were coated in animal fat from cows and pigs and the men were required to bite off the top of them in order to load their rifles. This was a huge problem for Hindus and Muslims who are not allowed to consume these animals.
The uprising is commonly believed to have started with the actions of a man called Mangal Pandey, regarded by Indians as a hero. He was disgusted when his fellow soldiers, refusing to use the new cartridges for religious reasons, were punished. This man shot the commanding sergeant major and lieutenant. The event lead to more and more revolts across the north of India.
The punishments soldiers received for not using new cartridges were sometimes very unpleasant. In a place called Meerut, refusers were put in chains and their uniforms removed. This seemed horribly unjust to their colleagues, as these men were simply following their religious beliefs. This led to an uprising in which British civilians, including children and women, were attacked, not just officers. Delhi, not being far away, suffered when the violence spread and many people died.
In Cawnpore, now known as Kanpur, some officers surrendered and tried to leave the area along with many civilians. Uprisers attacked and killed the men, and took over two hundred women and children prisoner. The local leader asked butchers to kill the captives and throw them into a well.
Britons committed equally violent acts as the Indians, killing any mutineers that they managed to catch. As a warning to the soldiers not part of the revolt, they were ordered to watch the captives die. Perhaps the most horrible method used, was tying men to a cannon ball and firing the cannon. More men were sent from Britain, and with the aid of the loyal southern part of India, Britain finally ended the rebellion.
The government back in London, dissolved the East India Company, at the end of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The government then took control of India, which was ruled by Britain for a long time. Pandey, who started the revolt, is regarded as beginning the fight for Indian independence, however.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.war-author.com for more helpful information about The Interesting Events Of The Sepoy Mutiny Of 1857
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar