The Indian Rebellion of 1857 (or) Revolt of 1857 was a major, but ultimately unsuccessful, uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the form of a mutiny of sepoys of the Company's army in the garrison town of Meerut, 40 miles northeast of Delhi (now Old Delhi). The article Revolt - 1857 will refresh everyone, by providing the factors realted to Revolt of 1857.

Revolt - 1857 - History - Political Causes:

• The policy of Doctrine of Lapse

Revolt - 1857 - Economic Causes:

• Heavy taxation, evictions, Discriminatory Tariff Policy against Indian products and destruction of traditional handicrafts that hit peasants, artisans and small zimindars.


• Military Discrimination as Indian soldiers were paid low salaries, they could not rise above the rank of subedar and were racially insulted.


• Grievances of Sepays: The introduction of Eneld ries, andits cartridge of which was greased with animal fat, provided the spark.


• British social reforms ( widow remarriage, abolition of sati, education for girls, Christan missionaries).

Revolt - 1857 - Cause of Failure:

• The Nizam of Hyderabad, the Raja of Jodhpur, Scindia of Gwalior the Holkar of Indore, the rulers of Patiala, Sindh and Kashmir and the Rana of Nepal provided active support to the British.


• Comparative lack of efcient leadership.

Revolt - 1857 - Impact of the Revolt:

• The control of indian administration was passed on to the British Crown by the Government of India Act, 1858.


• Reorgansiation of the army.


• After the revolt, the British pursued the Policy of Divide and rule.