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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Indian Mutiny
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(also known as the First War of Indian Independence, 1857–8) The most serious uprising in the history of British *India. There had been a long build-up of resentment against the western and Christian values being introduced by the British, but the immediate flashpoint was the cartridge for a new Enfield rifle. This came in greased paper which had to be bitten before use by the soldier (or sepoy). Animal rather than vegetable fat had foolishly been used, and the conviction soon spread among the Hindu soldiers that it was the fat of cows (a sacred animal) and among the Muslims that it was pig fat (unclean).
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Sepoys shot their European officers in a succession of incidents. They first captured Delhi, then Lucknow and other garrison cities. After much brutality on both sides, order was restored by the summer of 1858. The administration was to be much improved by this unpleasant shock. All the British in India, including even the soldiers, were at this time still employees of the *East India Company. The Indian army and the Indian civil service were now placed under government control.
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