Vellore mutiny

Vellore mutiny

Subject: Modern Indian History

Context: Descendants of Tipu Sultan who himself never had any links to the city find themselves in Calcutta and Vellore mutiny in 1806 is given reason for their ancestor migrating here.

Concept:

• It erupted on 10th July 1806 in Vellore, present-day Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the first major mutiny by the Indian sepoys in the East India Company.
• It killed 14 British officers and 115 Englishmen of the 69th Regiment and ended on the same day.
• Led by Tipu Sultan’s son Hyder Fateh they raised the flag of the Mysore Sultanate over the fort.
• From Arcot, British troops arrived led by Sir Rollo Gillespie to quell the rebellion.
• All three Madras regiments were involved and was disbanded after mutiny.

Causes:

• Disregarding the religious sensitivities of the Hindu and Muslim Indian sepoys. Ex- prohibiting soldiers from wearing religious marks on their foreheads and also to trim their moustaches and shave off their beards
• Resentment felt towards changes in the sepoy dress code: Wearing of new round hats instead of the traditional headgear led to believe that attempt was being made for conversion to Christianity.
• Punishment to soldiers who protested these orders.