question_answer

Describe the events during Sepoy Mutiny.                                                                                                         

Answer:

(i) Indian soldiers formed a major part of British troops. However, they faced discrimination on various grounds.

(ii) Outrage occurred when a rumour was spread that the cartridges were greased with fat of cow and pig.

(iii) Mangal Pandey, a Brahmin by faith refused to use the cartridges and organised a sepoy mutiny.

However, he was hanged to death for attacking his officer in Barrackpore.

(iv) As a result, eighty-five sepoys were dismissed from service and sentenced to jail for years for disobeying their officers. This happened on 9th May 1857.

(v) On 10th May, the other soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys.

(vi) British officers were killed, arms and ammunitions were seized and the buildings were set on fire.

Triumphant soldiers gathered around the walls of the Red Fort where the Badshah lived, demanding to meet him. The soldiers themselves proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader, which he had to accept. (5 marks)