History & Civics
Discuss the changes brought by the Great Uprising of 1857 in the army with reference to:
(a) amalgamation of troops of the Crown and the Company.
(b) number of European troops.
(c) artillery and other effective weapons.
(d) expenditure on the army.
Answer
(a) Since 1784 when Pitt's India Act was passed, the Company had two categories of European troops — one that were recruited from among the European settlers in India by the Company itself and the other were those recruited directly by the British Government in England and sent to serve in India.
(b) At the time of the Great Uprising the number of European soldiers was far less than the number of Indian troops. It had been a factor that encouraged the Indian sepoys to break out in open revolt. After the Uprising it was laid as a principle that in no case the number of the Indian sepoys would exceed twice that of the European troops.
(c) After the Uprising, Indian officers were never placed in charge of ammunition, nor were they allowed to use more sophisticated weapons of war. It was done primarily to desist the Indian soldiers from harbouring any design of breaking out in rebellion.
(d) A European soldier got salary 4 to 5 times more than an Indian sepoy. Therefore, it was natural that an increase in the number of European soldiers resulted in a proportionate increase in the expenditure.
Related Questions
There were many causes for the Great Uprising of 1857. In this context, state the following.
(a) Policy of economic exploitation.
(b) Military causes.
(c) Political causes.
Describe briefly the results of the Great Uprising of 1857 in the political and constitutional fields pertaining to
(a) end of the Company's rule.
(b) abolition of Peshwaship and the Mughal Line.
(c) policy of 'Divide and Rule'.
(d) rise of nationalism.
Discuss the changes brought by the Great Uprising of 1857 in the policy of the British Government in the social, religious and economic fields with reference to:
(a) religious freedom.
(b) admittance of Indians to service.
(c) relations between the Europeans and the Indians.
(d) economic exploitation.
Describe briefly the Great Uprising of 1857 with reference to:
(a) the Company's rule in India.
(b) rise of nationalism.
(c) policy of 'Divide and Rule'.
(d) change in the nature of the British rule.