Historiography of 1857 Revolt
THE Revolt of 1857
was born out of various features ranging from the British policy of conquest
and expansion to the colonial exploitation of India. Geographically speaking,
it affected north-western, north and central India. The ‘Sepoy Mutiny’– as it
was labelled initially by the colonial official writings, focused on the
‘Mutiny’ theme.
To colonial officials
and writers it was the handiwork of a set of discontented sipahis who were
unhappy with the introduction, in 1857, of the new Enfield rifle, with its
distinct ammunition, which required the bullet to be bitten before loading.
Rumours that the grease used on the bullets was either from the fat of cattle
or pigs had symbolic implications. Thus, whereas cows were considered ‘sacred’
by the Hindus, the Muslims considered pigs to be ‘polluting’.
