MOTIVATION

The primary motivation behind Mangal Pandey's

behaviour is attributed to a new type of [[Cartridge
(firearms)|bullet cartridge]] used in the [[Royal Small
Arms Factory|Enfield]] [[Pattern 1853 Enfield|P-53 rifle]]
which was to be introduced in the Bengal Army that year.

The cartridge was rumoured to have been greased with

animal fat, primarily from pigs and cows, which could not
be consumed by [[Muslim]]s and [[Hindu]]s respectively
(the former being abhorrent to [[Muslims]] and the latter a
holy animal of the [[Hindus]]).Proceedings of a Special
Court of Inquiry concerning the Native Infantry, 6
February 1857.

Commandant Wheeler of the 34th BNI was known as a

zealous Christian preacher, and this may also have
impacted the Company's behaviour. The wife of Captain
William Halliday of 56th BNI had the [[Bible]] printed in
[[Urdu]] and [[Nagri]] and distributed among the sepoys,
thus raising suspicions amongst them that the British were
intent on converting them to Christianity.Memorandum
from Major-General J. B. Hearsey to Major W. A. J.
Mayhew concerning the rumour that sepoys must embrace
Christianity, 28 January 1857.

Also, the 19th and 34th Bengal Native Infantry were

stationed at [[Lucknow]] during the time of annexation of
[[Oudh]] because of alleged misgovernment by the Nawab,
on February 7, 1856. The annexation had another
implication for sepoys in the Bengal Army (a significant
portion of whom came from that princely state). Before the
 annexation, these sepoys had the right to petition the
British Resident at Lucknow for justice — a significant
privilege in the context of native courts. As a result of the
annexation, they lost that right, since that state no longer
existed. Moreover, this action was seen by the residents of
the state as an affront to their honour, the annexation
being done in violation of an existing treaty.

The sepoys were accordingly affected by the general

discontent which had been stirred up by the annexation. In
February 1857, both these regiments were situated in
Barrackpore.

The 19th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment is important

because it was the regiment charged with testing the new
cartridges on February 26, 1857. However, right up to the
mutiny the new rifles had not been issued to them and the
cartridges in the magazine of the regiment were as free of
grease as they had been through the preceding half
century. However, the paper used in wrapping the
cartridges was of a different colour, arousing suspicions.
The non-commissioned officers of the regiment refused to
accept the cartridges on the 26 February. This information
being conveyed to the commanding officer, Colonel
Mitchell, he took it upon himself to try to convince the
sepoys that the cartridges were no different from those they
had been accustomed to and that they need not bite it. He
concluded his exhortation with an appeal to the native
officers to uphold the honour of the regiment and a threat
to [[court-martial]] such sepoys as refused to accept the
cartridge. However, the next morning the sepoys of the
regiment seized their bell of arms (weapons store). The
subsequent conciliatory behaviour of Colonel Mitchell
convinced the sepoys to return to their barracks Durendra.