ICSE Class 8 Answered

Like any other major historical event, there are different interpretations of the revolt of 1857. While the European historians see it as a sepoy mutiny, the Indian historians term it as the ‘First War of Independence’. The Indian historiographers eulogise the Hindu-Muslim unity which was achieved by the rebels who came together for the common goal of driving out the British from India. Those who became rebels actually shared the realisation of a sort of patriotic nationalism. The revolt may have been kickstarted by the mutiny of the sepoys against their military masters. However, it soon turned into a popular uprising wherein a large number of civilians too joined the ranks with them in order to uproot the British yoke.