Various reasons triggered Indians revolt against the British in 1857 (History Chunks 2014). To begin with, people started to find additional ideas for revolting against the British rule as the Indian revolt started to gain energy. Subsequently, princely families were able to join the Sepoy Mutiny because of the changes that were made on the inheritance laws that made children who were adopted ineligible to assume the throne (Exambin 2018). The rationale was an attempt by the British to start controlling royal succession in the princely states that operated independently. Besides that, the large landholders joined the uprising because of land confiscations and redistributions that were made by the British East Africa Company. Even less, the peasants were also dissatisfied by the heavy taxes that were imposed by the British.
The subject of religion also played a critical role in encouraging the Indians to join the revolt. The East Indian Company had forbidden some religious traditions and practices including widow-burning or sati, to the outrage of a majority of the Hindus. Moreover, the company had attempted to undermine the caste system. The British missionaries and officers started preaching Christianity to the Muslim and Hindu sepoys (Exambin 2018). Arguably, the Indians believed that their religions were prone to attack by the company. Lastly, the Indians revolted against the Indians regardless of religion, caste or class. They felt disrespected and oppressed by the company agents. It also seemed unfair that the company officials who murdered and abused the Indians were seldom punished as required. Although some of them were subjected to trials, they were rarely convicted (History Chunks 2014). Those who were convicted could sometimes avoid their punishments by filing multiple appeals. In other words, the justice system acted in favor of the British. There was an overall sense of racial superiority amongst the British that fueled the anger of the Indians in different parts of the country.
- Exambin. The Revolt of 1857 in India – Sepoy Mutiny – First war of Indian Independence. YouTube. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ataW-bloIEY
- History Chunks. The Indian Mutiny (1857-1858). YouTube. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2owPRaYbxWw
