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Part 1 in my series on the Indian Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-58.

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The Indian Mutiny, or Sepoy rebellion or First War of Independence was the most critical challenge to British rule in India in the 19th century.

It resulted in the loss of thousands of British and Indian lives, it saw savagery that rivals any modern conflict and saw the snuffing out of the last vestiges of the Mughal Empire, the end of the powerful East India Company and the establishment of the British Raj.

It is an event that has shaped India, it shaped Britain and its idea of empire and it continues to impact on the world today.


Welcome to my first talk in a series on the Sepoy Mutiny in India in 1857-58.

In this particular episode, we will explore at why and how the rebellion broke out.

I will follow up in the coming weeks with the war itself: the siege and storming of Delhi, the massacre at Cawnpore, the siege of Lucknow, and the Indian warrior queen, the Rani of Jahnsi.
Along the way I will also cover the savagery conducted by both sides.

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Whilst the traditional reason given for the Sepoy mutiny was their refusal to use a new cartridge that they believed was smeared in animal fat, this was more of a pretext than the fundamental reason.

Resentment had been growing against East India Company rule in many quarters.
Hereditary rulers were losing power and status. 
Religious Indians feared the British wanted to convert them to Christianity.
Others resented the general replacement of Indian customs and laws with British ones.
Landowners resented losing rights to peasants.

Within the army, there was already disquiet over stagnation of wages, lack of promotion opportunities and a growing gulf between Indian sepoys and their British officers.
The Hindus in the Bengal army were also alarmed that the East India Company was recruiting a growing number of Muslims and Sikhs into their ranks - diluting their own identity and influence.

All it needed was a cause to coalesce around...and that is where the new cartridges came in.

As Indian (Hindu) sepoys refused to even touch the cartridges tensions grew.
Across northern Indian chappatis (flat bread) started to be passed from village to village.
No one knew where they came from or why they were being passed, but it was seen as a sign of monumental change.

That change came in May 1857 when the Indian troops at Meerut mutineed, killing British officers and civilians, before marching on (and seizing) the old Mughal capital, Delhi.

There, they captured the undefended magazine and were given the endorsement of the ageing Mughal Emperor.

Across northern India, sepoys began to follow their lead...

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