The Revolt of 1857 was conscious beginning of the independence struggle against the British. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

(i) What was the Doctrine of Lapse? Who introduced it?

(ii) The British Government interfered in the social and religious matters of the Indians. Mention any three socio religious causes to justify this statement.

(iii) Mention any four military causes which led to this Revolt.

(i) According to Doctrine of Lapse, if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would come under the Company's territory in India. It was introduced by Lord Wellesley.

(ii) Three socio-religious causes that show that the British Government interfered in the social and religious matters of the Indians are:

1. The reforms like the Abolition of Sati (1829), the introduction of the Widow Remarriage Act (1856) and the opening of Western education to girls were not welcomed by the masses.
2. In the 19th century, the British began to interfere with the local religious and social customs. They denounced idol worship and dubbed local beliefs as ignorance. The Indians did not like this interference in their religious matters.
3. Religious sentiments of the Indians were hurt by the official policy of taxing lands belonging to the temples and mosques.

(iii) Four military causes that led to the Great Uprising of 1857 were:

1. Ill-treatment of Indian soldiers — Indian soldiers were poorly paid, ill-fed and badly housed. British military authorities forbade the sepoys from wearing caste or sectarian marks, beards or turbans; and they showed disregard for the sentiments of the sepoys.

2. General Service Enlistment Act (1856) — As per this Act, Indian soldiers could be sent overseas on duty. The Act did not take into account the sentiment of the Indian soldiers. This led to a feeling of resentment among them.

3. Lower Salaries — The wages of the Indian soldiers were inadequate to support their families. On the other hand, the British soldiers received more than eight times the salary of the Indian soldiers.

4. Bleak Prospects of Promotion — No Indian soldier could rise above the rank of a Subedar. All high positions were reserved for the British soldiers only.