Also called the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or (by Indian/Pakistani historians) the First War of Independence. This is the event that formally ended both Mughal rule and East India Company rule in one stroke.

Causes (background pressure that built up)

• Political: Doctrine of Lapse (annexation of princely states without a male heir) — widespread resentment among Indian rulers
• Economic: heavy land revenue extraction, destruction of local industry (esp. textiles) in favour of British manufactured goods, high taxation
• Military/social: Indian sepoys paid less than British soldiers, denied promotion beyond certain ranks, growing racial discrimination in the army
• Religious/cultural: fears that the British were deliberately trying to Christianize India — missionary activity, social reform laws (banning Sati, permitting widow remarriage) seen by conservative elements as interference in religion
• Immediate trigger: the new Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle used paper cartridges that had to be bitten open before loading — rumoured to be greased with cow fat (sacred to Hindus) and pig fat (forbidden to Muslims) — offended both major religious communities in the army simultaneously

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's own analysis (1858) — worth quoting in essays

In his monograph Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind ("The Causes of the Indian Revolt"), written to explain the uprising to the British, Sir Syed identified 5 core causes:

1. Lack of Indian representation in the legislative councils
2. Fear among Indians of forced religious conversion to Christianity
3. Poor management/neglect within the Indian Army
4. British neglect of Muslim interests specifically
5. Various other insensitive or misguided colonial administrative policies

Timeline of Key Events

Key Leaders of the Revolt

Why the Revolt Failed

• No central command/coordination — each regional centre (Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, etc.) fought its own campaign despite nominally recognizing Bahadur Shah Zafar