Sepoy Mutiny (First War of Indian Independence)

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was a major uprising against British rule in India. Indian soldiers, called sepoys, working for the British East India Company, started the rebellion due to cultural insensitivity, such as rumors that rifle cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat, offending both Hindus and Muslims. The mutiny quickly spread to Indian soldiers and civilians, challenging British authority. Although eventually suppressed, it marked a turning point, leading to the dissolution of the East India Company and the establishment of direct British government control over India, beginning a new colonial era.