The Indian Mutiny of 1857

The Indian Mutiny, as it was called, may better be considered the Indian Rebellion or India's First War of Independence. Colonel Malleson presents his account of the uprising, which stemmed from a toxic blend of politics and private enterprise becoming entwined with private military. Hundreds of thousands of Indians were enlisted in the three East India Company armies, where there was serious caste discrimination. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 changed the nature of the service, causing further resentment. Inevitably, though, it was the manipulation of the local cultures by the British that led to resentment. The infamous greased cartridges were just a sparking point and an example of how inconsiderate the company was of its people.