Sepoy Mutiny - First or Second War of Independence

Barrackpore, May 11 (UNI) The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was so long considered as the First War of Independence and accordingly special programmes were organised to observe the 150th anniversary of the 1857 Revolt in a befitting manner.

The Union Government also organised a commemorative function yesterday at the Central Hall of Parliament in Delhi where the president and prime minister, among others, addressed the gathering.

Incidentally, a question was raised whether the 1857 Revolt was actually the first movement against the British rulers for freedom or the second.

The confusion was created amongst the audience by the president's portal, who observed that the president's address began with the sentence, ''India's Second Freedom Movement and vision inspired the nation...'' One of the listeners asked, ''If the Sepoy Mutiny is considered the Second Freedom Movement, then which is the first?'' This led to an uncertainty on whether the 1824 Mutiny that rocked the Barrackpore garrison, in which hundreds of soldiers of the 47th Native Infantry Regiment had participated and which led to the hanging of Bindee Tewarree on November 10 by an order of the General Court Marshal, was considered as the First War of Independence.

The 1857 Mutiny was triggered off from the Barrackpore cantonment by Sepoy Mangal Pandey's revolt against the Britishers on March 29.

UNI