The Indian Mutiny

Britain's arrogance was also displayed in their social interaction with the Indian people. During the early stages of British presence, the Indians and Europeans developed a good relationship based on mutual respect and curiosity. However, as the EIC gained control they began to see the Indian's as inferior, employing them as servants and maids. The introduction of Waghorn's short cut to India Europeans encouraged more women to sail to India, drastically changing the way men were ruling India. The arrival of women influenced the use of cantonments, which were usually on the outskirts of cities, meaning European women had little connection with the outside world and the Indians, other than their association with Indians as their servants, whom they did not respect. This created a strain on the relationship between Indians and Europeans . The introduction of infrastructure demonstrated that the British had given up on accepting Indian traditions and were instead forcing them to conform to European standards. This all became to much when the Indian's believed the British were forcing them to disregard their religion.

The cultural changes made in India by the EIC created tensions between the Indian and British that led to the Indian Mutiny.  Indian people were deeply conservative and deeply suspicious of change. When the Enfield Rifle was introduced in 1857 the Indians believed the British were disrespecting their religion, causing the first act of rebellion. In smearing the cartridges with the animal fat and lard, and then instructing the Indian soldiers to bite the cartridges open with their teeth before inserting it, the Muslims and Hindus, who could not eat meat, were convinced that the British were planning to defile them and force their conversion to Christianity. Each regiment that refused to fire was then decommissioned from the army, removing the pride and status their uniforms had given them. Since religion governed every aspect of their life, the British's disrespect of their religion truly offended them and formed as deep hostility towards the EIC. The British continued to become involved with Indian social traditions, passing an act in 1856 allowing Hindu widows, the lowliest of outcasts, to remarry. They also abolished Sati, the practice of burning a Hindu widow on her husband's pyre. The EIC's involvement in ancient Indian traditions and practices became too much for the Indian people and it became a fight for dignity and freedom.

The economic, political and social changes began the belief that the Indian people needed to rebel against the British, to fight for their freedom. When the British became involved in their religious and cultural practices, the Indian mutiny was set alight, beginning the Indian people's fight for independence.

Events:

As the Indian resentment towards the British grew, the events of the Indian mutiny became increasingly violent and gruesome. They began as demonstrations of rebellion, though they later grew to attacks and war-like sieges.

• 22nd January there were fires in Calcutta
• A month later on 25th February, the 19th regiment mutinied at Berhampore
• On 29th March in Barrackpore, Mangal Pande shot his sergeant major as an act of rebellion against the Enfield Rifle
• April, more fires in Allahbad, Arga and Ambala
• May in Meerut, similar to Barrackpore, 85 sepoys in 3rd cavalry rebelled and refused to handle new cartridges. However, this began the stage where the attacks began more aggressive. They then released prisoners from jail and went to a European cantonment, killing all the Europeans and setting the building alight
• 5th-25th June in Cawnpore, they released prisoners from jail, looted the treasury and began a siege on a British area and held 1000 British men and 300 women captive. People were dying from hunger. Then on the 25th June, Nana Sahib sent a message for the men to lead the women and children out onto boats. Somehow, shooting began. The remaining women and children were taken to a Bibi-Ghar.
• On 15th July in Cawnpore, sepoys slaughtered women and children, throwing body parts down a well. This was another example of how demonstrations of rebellion transformed into violent and unbelievable slaughters. The sepoys were later forced to return to the Bibi-Ghar and lick the bloodied floors clean. They were later hung
• In May/June Lucknow, Henry Lawrence predicted a siege and gathered the entire European community and gained 1700 defenders, He gathered the entire European community and a defending force of about 1700 into the 33 acre compound. There were 9 buildings surrounded by a high mud wall and trenches and gun pits were dug and wire entanglement set out as the compound was in the centre of the city and narrow lanes came up to its walls. Sepoys tried to storm the wall but were beaten back, though they kept up a constant barrage of artillery and musket fire. Sepoys began tunnelling to undermine the walls and the British began to countermine and much fighting took place underground. Food ran short, casualties increased, rat population multiplied and the heat of July make conditions difficult. On 25th September, relief arrived with 1000 men and there were not a lot but were able to protect the walls, yet they placed a great burden on the already short food and medicine supply.
• In October/November another force came, pacified the town until on November 18th they led them out of the town

Effects:

The main consequence of the Indian Mutiny was the loss of trust the British and Indian had for another. This mean that the British had to be very careful with their relationships with the Indians, ensuring another mutiny did not take place.

The Bengal Army was completely reorganised in an attempt to create a more united army, where betrayal was limited.

• The company’s European troops were paid off or absorbed into the British army.
• Bengal army formed into community regiments – two battalions of which were always attached to a British battalion. (2:1 instead of 8:1)
• Brahmin (highest caste) element was strongly reduced as they were seen as leaders in the mutiny.

Britain decided to eliminate corruption in the Indian economy, aiming to appease both traders and peasants, leading to increased revenue:

• Financial experts were brought in from England to reorganise the Indian economy and clear out corrupt practice, through;
• Income tax
• Uniform revenue tax of 10%
• Paper currency (trade and wealth are controlled easier)
• Introduction of annual budgets and statements of accounts
• No need to rely on land tax

The EIC’s political control was given to the Queen, who aimed to create a more reasonable and equal ruling.

• The EIC and British must be more in touch with Indian opinion.
• More powerful Indians must be treated with more consideration and should be attracted to work with the British.
• Greater care should be taken by the British to not to interfere with established social and cultural practices and traditions.

The company itself was changed radically as a result of the Mutiny:

• Lost all trade and became a managing agency for the administration of India subject to the British government.
• Governing powers of the company were abolished.
• Crown – the Queen became the ruler of India (empress of India).
• The established a more personal relationship with British rule – ‘littered Indian cities with her statues.’
• Secretary of State for India to be appointed by PM.
• Creation of the Minister’s India Council.
• Indian administration could now come under daily Parliamentary scrutiny (look closely).
• Governor General retained, but also became Viceroy (second in charge to the king). 
• Legislative Council established that had some Indian representation – in practice there were aristocratic Indian Princes, landed gentry or state administrators. This council marked the beginning of the Indian participation in British colonial government.

Decision was made to make friends of and reward the princes and Indian landowners. They were seen as fundamental to the maintenance of good relationships between the Indians and the British.

• Their territories were guaranteed by the British and some were financially rewarded for their loyalty and service.
• Regarded by the British as members of the ruling order – not a group to be disregarded and dispossessed.
• They were to be taught British administrative techniques.

However policy was half-hearted and superior attitude of the British persisted.

British realised power of Indian landowners – there peasants were loyal to them.

• Landowners were treated as important people by the British and care was taken to make them feel valued members of the ruling order by giving them honorary magistracies etc.
• However as these landowners came closer to the British they lost their closeness to the peasants

The largest cause for the Indian mutiny involved the British involvement in their cultural and social practices. There was acknowledgement that India would not easily be converted to Western traditions.

• British considered that is was important that the Indian Upper Class that was very traditional in its approach be respected.
• The Indian Upper Class was seen as keeping those below them under control.
• Measures allowing widow’s to remarry were abandoned.
• However, British continued to feel that Indians were backward and did not know a good thing when they saw it – British continued to feel culturally superior.