Religious Causes of Sepoy Mutiny

One of the main causes of the revolt was the fear among the Hindus that their religion will be lost by Christianity. Both the army and the civil population were under the fear that the government intended to make everybody a Christian. Missionary activity was extended by Englishmen all over the country.

The Hindu law of property was changed with a view to facilitate the conversion of the Hindus to Christianity. The Sepoys had a belief that the Governor-General of India had promised the Home Government in England to convert the entire Indian population to Christianity within three years. The British made no secret of their intention and many of the prominent Englishmen openly declared that they wanted to convert the Indians into Christianity.

Most of the Missionaries who had come to India were intolerant, dogmatic and fired by the Victorian zeal and they quoted the Old Testament more than the New Testament. They regarded the matter of Indian conversion to Christianity only a matter of time. They were everywhere, not only in their churches but also in prisons, schools and market places. The Indians did not object propagating the religion but they found that they were not content with explaining Christ but were busy in ridiculing the rites and practices of the Indians.

The Missionaries regarded it not only as their vocation but also their positive duty to convert everyone with a dark skin. India was to be not only a jewel in the British Crown but also a Christian Jewel.

Therefore it is very evident that the leaders of the revolt of 1857 raised the cry of religion and faith in danger and the Indian sepoys rallied round the banner. The leaders of the Revolt felt that by creating a revolt against the Englishmen they would be able to protect their religion from getting lost.

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