History & Civics
The Sepoys or Indian soldiers in the Army were discontent against the British Raj on account of low Salary and poor prospects of Promotion leading to the First War of Independence. Explain this statement.
Answer
The Sepoys or Indian soldiers in the Army were discontent against the British Raj due to the following reasons:
- 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.
- 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.
Related Questions
Mention any two drawbacks of the First War of Independence.
What were the aims of India's foreign policy after the Queen's Proclamation?
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
These rebels of Delhi must be made an example to all their countrymen for ages to come of the consequences of such crimes, at the same time that every possible precaution is taken to do away with all temptation or provocation to future offences of a similar character.
— The Guardian, Manchester, June 30, 1857(a) Who are referred to as 'rebels of Delhi' in the excerpt above? When did they rebel and where?
(b) What was the temptation or provocation being talked about in the excerpt?
(c) What were the consequences of their alleged 'crimes”?
Arrange the following events in chronological order
(A) Battle of Plassey
(B) Queen Victoria's Proclamation
(C) Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh
(D) Introduction of Enfield Rifle- (A), (B), (C), (D)
- (C), (A), (B), (D)
- (A), (C), (D), (B)
- (A), (D), (C), (B)