Indian People’s Uprising Against the British Colonial Rule

The armed struggle of the Indian people against the British colonists that took place 1857–1859.

On May 10, 1857, Indian soldiers of three regiments of the North Indian (Bengal) Army (known as “Sepoy or Sipahi”, different from European soldiers) revolted in Meerut, 60 kilometers northeast of Delhi. The uprising soon spread across the vast area of Punjab to Bengal and became a national war of liberation. The insurgents announced the restoration of the Great Mughal regime. Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow became important centers of the uprising, and governments were established to lead the uprising.

The uprising was suppressed at the end of 1859 due to the lack of unified leadership and the rebellion of some feudal lords. The uprising dealt a heavy blow to British colonial rule, fundamentally shaken British rule in India, and accelerated the demise of the East India Company.