Discontent against the British Raj was by no means confined to the civil population; it also extended to the Sepoys or Indian soldiers in the Army. In the context of the military causes of the First War of Independence give an account of the following:

(a) Discontent on account of low Salary and poor prospects of Promotion

(b) Discontent and Disaffection in the Bengal Army

(c) The General Service Enlistment Act

(d) Introduction of Greased Cartridges

Or

Give four causes responsible for Sepoys' resentment against the British that became a main factor leading to the First War of Independence in 1857.

The causes responsible for Sepoys' resentment against the British that became a main factor leading to the First War of Independence in 1857 were:

(a) Discontent on account of low Salary and poor prospects of Promotion —

1. Indians had poor prospects of promotion. All the high ranks in the army were reserved for the British only. The native sepoys could not rise above the rank of Subedar, even though their performance as a soldier was excellent.
2. Indian soldiers had low salary. The maximum pay that a subedar of the infantry could expect was less than the minimum pay of a raw English recruit. The sepoys were required to serve in areas far away from their homes without any additional allowance.

(b) Discontent and Disaffection in the Bengal Army —

1. The name 'Bengal army' was a misnomer, because Bengal had nothing to do with the personnel of the army.
2. The sepoys and officers of the Bengal army were mainly high-caste Hindus of Awadh.
3. During Anglo-Afghan war (1839-1842), they had to cross the Sindhu and go outside India.
4. They very much disliked it because they thought that sea voyage was forbidden by their religion.
5. In 1844, some Bengal regiments refused to serve in Sindhu till extra allowances were given to them.

(c) The General Service Enlistment Act —

1. The main provision of the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 was that all recruits to the Bengal army should be ready for service anywhere, whether within or outside India.
2. This act caused great alarm in the minds of the personnel of the Bengal army.

(d) Introduction of Greased Cartridges —

1. The immediate cause of the War of Independence was the introduction of Enfield rifles in place of the old iron made Brown Bess Guns.
2. The cartridges to be used for the Enfield rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.
3. The loading process of the Enfield rifle involved bringing the cartridge to the mouth and biting off the top greased paper with the teeth.
4. The cow is sacred for the Hindus and the Muslims consider pigs as unclean.
5. The information about the greased cartridges spread like wild fire.
6. The whole Bengal army was seized with panic.
7. The soldiers refused to use these cartridges and staged an uprising when they were forced to use them.