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Question 100 of 108 · Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule
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The Vellore Mutiny, one of the earliest revolts of Indian sepoys against the East India Company, took place in:

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Answer: Option B — 1806

Detailed Solution

The Vellore Mutiny took place on 10 July 1806 at the fort of Vellore, in present-day Tamil Nadu; it was one of the earliest large-scale revolts of Indian sepoys against the East India Company.

Causes:

  • In 1805-1806, the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army, Sir John Cradock, introduced new dress regulations for the sepoys.
  • The sepoys were ordered to shave their beards, trim their moustaches, and not wear religious marks on their foreheads.
  • A new round turban (with a leather cockade) was introduced, which the sepoys felt was like a European hat.
  • The Hindu and Muslim sepoys felt that these rules were an attack on their religion and caste, and an attempt to convert them to Christianity.

The family of Tipu Sultan:

  • The sons and family of Tipu Sultan, who had been killed in 1799, were imprisoned in the Vellore fort.
  • They are believed to have encouraged the sepoys to rebel, and the flag of Mysore was raised during the mutiny.

The mutiny:

  • In the early hours of 10 July 1806, the sepoys of the Madras Army in the fort rose in revolt.
  • They killed about 100-200 British officers and soldiers.
  • They hoisted the flag of the Mysore Sultanate over the fort.

Suppression:

  • Colonel Rollo Gillespie rode from Arcot with British cavalry and artillery, and recaptured the fort within a few hours.
  • Hundreds of sepoys were killed, and many others were executed or punished later.

Results:

  • The new dress regulations were withdrawn.
  • The Governor of Madras, Lord William Bentinck, and the Commander-in-Chief, Cradock, were recalled to Britain.
  • Tipu's family was moved to Calcutta.

Significance:

  • The Vellore Mutiny is regarded as a forerunner of the Revolt of 1857, because both were caused partly by fears about religion.
  • A memorial pillar stands at Vellore, and India Post issued a stamp on its bicentenary (2006).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗1764 was the year of the Battle of Buxar; 1824 was the year of the Barrackpore mutiny; 1857 was the year of the great revolt.

Quick tip

Remember: Vellore Mutiny = 10 July 1806 (new dress rules; Tipu's sons imprisoned there; suppressed by Gillespie; Governor William Bentinck recalled).

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Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French in India, the growth of the East India Company, and the battles, wars and treaties through which British power expanded, including the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, and policies such as subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse. Typical questions ask which battle was fought in which year and between whom, which treaty ended which war, and which Governor-General introduced a policy. For example, the Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) gave the Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Practise the arrival of Europeans and expansion of British rule questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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