Who was responsible for introducing Enfield rifles that used the greased cartridges which became the immediate reason of 1857 revolt?

The correct answer is Henry Hardinge.

Key Points

• Immediate Reason of Revolt of 1857:
  • The immediate factor was the introduction of the Enfield rifle.
  • The cartridge had to be bitten off before loading it into the gun.
  • Henry Hardinge, who was governor-general of India from 1844 to 1848, attempted to modernize the army's equipment as governor-general. The Enfield rifles that were first introduced used the greased cartridges that the Sepoys had rebelled against. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
  • Muslims had a belief that the cartridge was greased with pig fat where Hindus believed the grease was made from cow fat.
  • Thus the Hindu and Muslim soldiers were reluctant to use the ‘Enfield’ rifle. This was a flashpoint to enrage the soldiers against the Britishers.
  • This was believed to be the immediate factor for the revolt of 1857.

Additional Information

• Lord Hardinge (1844-48):
  • First Sikh war (1845-1846)
  • Treaty of Lahore (1846) - end of Sikh sovereignty in India
  • Prohibition of female infanticide and human sacrifice among Gonds of central India
• Lieutenant General Sir John Bennet Hearsey:
  • He was a commanding officer during the revolt of 1857 in Barrackpore.
• Sir Francis Grant:
  • He was a Scottish portrait painter who painted Queen Victoria and many distinguished British aristocratic and political figures.
  • He served as President of the Royal Academy.
• Lord William Bentinck(1828-1835):
  • First Governor-General of India as per the rules in the Charter Act of 1833.
  • He abolished the Sati system, suppressed the Thugee system along with infanticide and child sacrifices.
  • It was in his regime the English Education Act of 1835 was proposed and Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata was established.