12/01/2012

Atrocities Commited During The Sepoy Mutiny Of 1857

By Gloria Gardner


On 10 May 1857 there was a rebellion within the East India Company in Meerut in north east India. Over a short period of time the rebellion grew and covered much of central India and the Gangetic plain. Some people refer to The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 as being the first attempt at a war of Independence.

Sepoy was the name given to Indians who were in any European military. Without their support the occupation of India would have been much more transient. Although regular infantry soldiers they were treated as subordinate to the colonial army.

The majority of hostilities were around the modern day states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi and resulted in the fall of Gwalior on 20 June. After the end of hostilities British forces regained Gwalior and the rebellion came to an end. Outside the affected area there was little disturbance. Apart from a few isolated incidents the rebellion didn't spread beyond the affected states although there was increased tension in surrounding areas.

Mutineers were punished harshly. One of the most common punishments was a death penalty enforced by securing the mutineer to the end of a cannon with a rope and blasting them to pieces. This punishment was adopted from Mughal empire's practices, previous occupants of northern India.

The revolt was ended with what would be considered an atrocity by modern interpretation. In Delhi almost everyone within the city walls was massacred including some who were clearly not involved in the rebellion.

Newspapers in the United Kingdom heavily focused on reports of atrocities committed by the Sepoys. Modern allegations suggest that these stories were largely fabricated or greatly exaggerated, however they helped to secure extensive proletarian support.

the sepoy mutiny of 1857 resulted in the dispansion of the East India company. One year later the British crown and Raj disbanded the company and assumed control over all of India.




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