Administrative and political causes: To fulfil the imperialistic ambitions of Britain Lord Welleselly merged the Princely States of Jhansi, Nagpur, Satara and Awadh in British empire. He took away the lands of Indian zamindars. He annoyed Muslims by insulting Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar. Indians were not given high posts in government services. Also they were not satisfied with the judiciaiy system of the British.
1. Social causes: The Company allowed the Christian missionaries to work in its territories. Laws were passed which made conversion to Christianity easier. Any person who had converted to Christianity could inherit his ancestral property. These who converted to Christianity, got opportunity of government jobs and other facilities. People felt that their religion and social customs were in danger.
2. Millitary causes: In 1857 AD, Indian War for Independence was started due to millitary discontent. Indian soldiers were discriminated on the issues of salary, posts, promotion, allowances. Some of the new laws violated their religious sentiments. The Indians took it as a major attack on their religion. In 1856, the British passed the order that every new recruit, in the army, had to serve overseas, if needed. Now, the Indian soldiers turned against the British. Indians were given Rs. 9 per month as salary while Britishers got Rs. 60 or 70 per month. On a minor mistake they were punished. This encouraged them to lift weapons against them. Defeat in Crimea war of Britishers encouraged Indian soldiers. Indian soldiers allowances were finished. In Second Burma War, Indians were ordered to go across the oceans but they opposed it, because in those times in Hindu religion sea voyage was against religion. Therefore, before 1857 many millitary revolts were held.
3. Economic causes: Due to policy of economic exploitation of the British, Indians had unrest. The objective of Britishers was to collect more and more wealth from Indian subcontinent. They had destroyed the self-dependent rural economic system of India. Britishers were becoming more rich and Indians were becoming more poor. Britishers imposed more fine (Lagaan) on farmers and zamindars even during the famine. They tortured and exploited them. It increased the discontent among Indians.
4. Immediate causes: In 1856 Enfield Rifle was given by the British government to the Indian soldiers. They were asked to break open the cartridge with their mouths. The soldiers refused to do so, suspecting the cartridges to be made of pork or beef fat. The British officers compelled the soldiers to use the cartridges. It was at this juncture that Mangal Pandey refused to open the cartridge on 29th March 1857 and killed the British officer.
He was arrested and hanged. A month after his execution, some soldiers in Meerut refused to use the new cartridges. About eighty five sepoys were arrested and sentenced to ten years in jail. This sparked off the revolt. On 10th May 1857, other sepoys marched to the jail, freed the imprisoned soldiers. They killed British officers. They set fire to the buildings and property of the British and declared war against them. From Meerut, the revolt spread to different parts of India like Delhi, Kanpur, Bihar, Rajasthan and South India. The soldiers were determined to end the British rule.
