There are various reasons for the Revolt of 1857. The Rebellion was started by the sepoys of Meerut. Poor salary and abuse by the British officers were the major reasons for their resentment. The rumour that the car ridge in the newly supplied infield rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs provoked Indians.
It wounded the religious sentiments of the Hindu and Muslim soldiers.The soldiers who were unwilling to use the new cartridge were punished by the officers.
Along with the kings and the sepoys, common people also took part in the revolt.
The British rule had adversely affected the kings too. In addition to the Doctrine of Lapse, the princely states were convicted of inefficient rule and were annexed by the British.This made the kings lead the Rebellion.The salient features of this Rebellion was the active participation of the common people like farmers and craftsmen.
Out of one and a half lakhs of people who were killed in the riots at Awadh, a princely state, one lakhs were the common people. The real strength of the rebellion was the Hindu Muslim unit. A spirit of cooperation existed among the soldiers, common people and the leaders.
The rioters captured Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah II as the emperor of India.The rioters could not overcome the superior military power of the British and the rebellion was extremely suppressed.Though the revolt could not succeed completely, it was marked as the foremost massive resistance of the Indians against the British.
1857 sepoy revolt brought several changes in the policies and administration of the British.The British parliament took over Indians from the British East India company. Economic exploitation of the British reached its extreme level in the post 1857 phase.
