Causes of the Revolt
Latest cause
• Dissatisfaction in the sepoys community
○ RANK -Discrimination and racist treatment with Indian soldiers with respect to
§ Salary and facilities
§ Post and promotion
○ CASTE – Army discipline and equality concepts – in conflict with beliefs and prejudice of upper caste Hindu who dominated the Army
○ RELIGION – Threat to Religious sentiments – terms and conditions
§ Going abroad = ostracised by society
§ Use of animal fat in new rifles- cow and pig
§ Rumour of promoting conversion to Christianity
○ POLITY Sepoys came from Indian population(esp. peasantry) – suffering hardships by new land revenue system => political character
Economic
• Peasantry – excessive and irrational taxation, coercive collection and continued increased in rate as well coerciveness => impoverishment, indebtedness and land losses
• Artisans and craftsmen – job losses
○ States merged/annexed – patronage of kings gone
○ British goods – promotion = > domestic industry severely damaged
• Aristocrats (Zamindars) – confiscation of land => threat to economic and social status
○ e.g. Taluqdars in Awadh
Political
• States annexed or control taken by British under various doctrines
○ Subsidiary alliance
○ Doctrine of lapse
○ Effective control
• Foreign Affairs : Recent defeats and retreats of British army
○ 1st Afghan war (1838-42)
○ Punjab war (1845-49)
○ Crimean war (1854-56)
Social
• Religious insecurity
○ reforms – sought by orthodox as interference
○ Christianity – thought to be forcefully imposed
• Racism
Administrative
• High corruption – administration e.g. police = alienation of citizenry
• Foreign character – hurting self-pride
• Sepoy mutiny resulted in civil rebellion as the fear of state vanished.