sepoys

The East Indian Company's main goal in India was to make money. At the same time the company didn't exactly work to improve the living conditions of the people. By the early 1800s, British officials had spread western education and legal procedures. People known as missionaries tried to convert Indians to Christianity. Missionaries had the idea that Vhristianity was superior to Indian religions. The British also wanted social change. They tried to end slavery and the caste system and to improve women's positions in the household. One law that the company outlawed was sati, this was the custom mainly performed by the upper class Hindus, it required a widow to join her husband after his death by throwing herself on his funeral fire.During the 1850s, The East Indian Company made some choices and decisions that were very unpopular, and to some a disrespect to the Hindu religion. To begin with, they required sepoys, these were Indian soldiers in its service , to serve anywhere, this couldbe either in India itself or overseas. To most Hindus, traveling overseas was a major offense to their religion. After this the East Indian Company passed a law that allowed Hindu widows to remarry. From a Hindus point of view, these were seen as moves to undermine Indian beliefs. In 1857, the British issued new rifles to the sepoys. Troops were ordered to bite of the cartridges before loading them into the arms. This cartridges were greasd with animal fat, mainly cow and pig fat. In Hinduism, these animals are considered sacred, pig especially was forbidden to Muslims all together. When some of these troops refused the British's order they were sent home without pay. Later sources proved that this was a mistake from the British and that they never meant any disrespect. These sources also state that the animal fat cartridges were later replaced with vegetable oil fat cartridges.