Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Why did Indian soldiers oppose the use of Royal Enfield rifles/ guns?

seo-qna
Last updated date: 19th Sep 2024
Total views: 326.7k
Views today: 5.26k
SearchIcon
Answer
VerifiedVerified
326.7k+ views
Hint: A gun is a long-range weapon that fires solid projectiles from a shooting tube (gun barrel), although it can also fire pressurised liquid, gas, or even particles with a charge. Bullets and artillery shells are examples of free-flying solid projectiles (as with Taser guns, spearguns and harpoon guns).

Complete answer:
 Indian soldiers oppose the use of Royal Enfield rifles/ guns because the cartage is made up of cow fats and pictures, Indian soldiers oppose the Royal Enfield weapon. And before inserting it, a sepoy had to pause for a while. Hindus and Muslims in the region were both outraged by this.

Rumours that the oil on these cartridges supposed to keep them dry contained pork or cattle fat (pork being repugnant to Muslims, cows being sacred to Hindus), thus their refusal to eat them, were one of the stated causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Bullets for muzzleloading rifles provided to native soldiers in India were greased with beef tallow in some cases, and lard (pig fat) in others. Pigs (and pig fat) were considered unclean by the Muslim warriors, and their faith forbade them from eating them.

The Enfield Rifle was instrumental in putting down the 1857 insurrection. Much more than most British historians since 1947 or the British officers of the moment want people to know. This propensity is reasonable because it undermines the post-1857 sociopolitical scenario's carefully nurtured idea of "White Man's Superiority."

Note: A gun is a long-range weapon that fires solid projectiles from a gun barrel, though it can also fire pressurised liquid, gas, or even charged particles. Bullets and artillery shells are examples of solid projectiles that fly freely (as with Taser guns, spearguns and harpoon guns).