Sepoys In The Army Of The British East India Company 1748-1858

The emergence of sepoys marked the change of the British East India Company’s goal in The South Asian Subcontinent from trade to colonization.Far away from the British,the company could not transport enough British soldiers,so it recruited a large number of sepoys in India,relying on them to complete the conquest of The South Asian Subcontinent.In the history of British East India company recruiting and using sepoys,Indian native culture and Western military concepts together created a special group of sepoys.Sepoys participated in British colonial expansion activities as soldiers and got corresponding economic returns,that is,the interaction between them was based on a kind of interest demand,which led to the relationship between the two sides always in an unstable state.The continuity of The South Asian Subcontinent wars ensured the dynamic balance of this interest combination to a certain extent.At the same time,the narrow national consciousness and the attraction of money and honor enhanced the dependence of sepoys on British East India Company.These three factors changed after the British conquest of The South Asian Subcontinent was completed.The military value of sepoys was weakened in a peaceful state.The British unilaterally reduced their salary,which led to the rising hostile consciousness of sepoys to Britain.Finally,the Indian Mutiny in 1857 was induced by religious factors.This mutiny triggered the Indian people’s anti-British struggle,which is very important It indicates that the Indian national consciousness is gradually strengthened,and the British government thinks it is necessary to carry out more powerful colonial rule over India.Therefore,the cancellation of the British East India Company as the employer,which also marked the end of the cooperative relationship between them.