The drill officer had to report the matter to the Commanding Officer of Bahrampur, Michael, who was a strict disciplinarian. To add to it he was a racial bigot who believed in the white superiority. He looked down upon Indians and everything connected to them. He talked to Indian subordinates in a manner of a master talking to his slave. The fact was that the very sight of the Indians evoked revulsion in him.
The report of the Indian sepoys refusing to handle the newly arrived cartridges sent him in fury. He screamed at the drill officer and ordered him to bring the native officer who represented the sepoys.
The drill officer sent an Indian officer named Swaroop to the C.O. because he could speak English better than Ishwari Prasad.
Michael barked at Swaroop, “Why do stupid Indian sepoys refuse to handle the cartridges?”
Swaroop explained, “Sir, someone has told them that the wrapper of the new cartridge is greased with beef and pork lard. Hindus worship cow and the Muslims consider pork most undesirable thing. So…’’
The C.O. cut in, “Oh my God! What type of stupid people we are saddled with. Some one told me that Hindus believe that the earth was balanced on the horns of a cow. Is that also true?”
“It happens to be the truth sir. It is a matter of a religious belief. The talk of common sense or the scientific facts don’t cut ice here…’’
Michael hissed, “These people are the sepoys of British East India Company. So, they must learn to put faith in what we order. Or you know well how they will pay for the disobedience.”
Swaroop pleaded, “Sir, these natives are ignorant and blindly believe in their religion. They think that their life depends on it. In this matter of religion, I think sir, some careful handling in required…”
“Look, Indian officer! I am not going to tolerate this indiscipline. These irresponsible sepoys will be punished. They shall obey or…”
“Sir, why not convince them that the wrapper is merely a waxpaper. It does not contain any fat of whatever kind. Their only objection is to cow or pig fat. They just require to be assured that we are not violating their faith in any way,” Swaroop humbly suggested and added, “By heart they are loyal soldiers, sir.”
“Loyal my foot! Why should we get cowed down before their stupid religious blind faiths?”
“Sir, the fact is that in matters of religion Hindustanis are incredibly coward. The fear of violation of the religion makes them extremely touchy. They need time to learn to think in rational ways.’’
“Alright, native officer. This kind of refusal to obey orders shall not be tolerated again. Let them off with a warning. Tell them clearly that they should never again act stupid.”
“Thank you sir. I will tell them,” said the native officer and he spoke before seeking permission to leave, “Sir, the issue can be settled for good if we could produce authentic proof of the cartridges not having any kind of fat. We can convince them that it is only wax treated paper.”
Michael growled, “You are as stupid as they are. How many times we shall waste time in dealing with their stupidities? Next they will be asking us to show them that the earth was not sitting on cow’s horn!”
Swaroop quickly saluted the C.O. and exited.
The C.O’s pig headed behaviour raised several questions in Swaroop Singh’s mind. Why was Michael so insensitive to the religious sentiments of the Hindustani sepoys? What is so exclusively stupid about Hindustani faiths? All the religions are based on stupid beliefs? Why were not British doing a simple thing like giving a cartridge to an Indian expert and have him announce to the entire country that the cartridge wrappers contain no cow fat or pig fat? It was so simple. Or why don’t they explain the manufacturing process of the cartridges and the wrappers to the sepoys to show that at no stage any fat is involved? Why are British officers so shifty about it? Have they really something to hide?
Now Swaroop was himself having doubts about the cartridges. If the wrappers do contain the suspected fat then the British were guilty of cheating upon the Hindustani sepoys in a very unpardonable manner.
After Swaroop’s departure, the commanding officer sent for another white officer.
“Come in, Jones,” Michael said.
“So, I guess you have ordered the court martial of those impudent native sepoys,” Jones spoke entering the cabin.
“I pardoned them this time.”
Jones looked at Michael in surprise as if he had seen a leopard changing its spots. “Pardoned? I thought that you were hell bent on teaching a lesson to those brown monkeys!”
“I still am. I will teach them lesson, no doubt.”
“So?”
The Commanding Officer revealed, “The situation is a bit tricky. The religion is something that makes these brownies jump like babbling baboons. If I punish them the whole lot of them might rise up in revolt. We need adequate white force to bring them under control.”
“I see. That is clever,” Jones admitted.
“I don’t trust any of these natives. They are so emotional and unpredictable. Shifty like snakes. I am despatching an officer on horse to get our cavalry regiment and artillery brigade here. Then I will teach the lesson.”
Somehow the sepoys learnt about the move of the Commanding Officer and knew that they will be forced to accept the objectionable ammunition. The refusal will get them punished. They sepoys lost their cool.
An agitated sepoy screamed, “Brothers! The firangi has cheated us. I can hear the rumbling sound of the artillery and the cavalry arriving. Put your ears to the ground and listen.”
Several sepoys bent down to put their ears to the ground to hear clearly. There was no mistaking. The artillery and the cavalry had come. One of them hissed, “That Commanding Officer is a snake. Remember, how disdainfully he talks to us. That talk of pardon was a trick to buy time.”
The sepoys knew that they were in great trouble. No one had any idea what they could do in the present situation. Ishwari Prasad was nowhere in sight. And perhaps Swaroop Singh was sleeping in his quarter unaware of the treachery of the Commanding Officer. In confusion the panicky sepoys looked at each other.
A sepoy yelled, “Let us go and seize the armoury. We have the right to defend ourselves.” The sepoys ran towards the armoury blindly. No one had time to think. Their legs and hands were doing the thinking in a frightened state. In quick time they had armed themselves with guns and the same objectionable cartridges by handfuls. The sepoys took positions having armed themselves to teeth. Then, they waited for the enemy to show up.
Minutes later, the cavalry arrived with torches held high. The C.O. also materialised on a high horse back and took command of the cavalry regiment. He could see the armed sepoys in battle position in the parade ground. He ordered the cavalry to stop a little distance away from the rebels who could see the gleaming bayonets of the mounted soldiers.
The sight of illegally armed brown sepoys made Michael furious. He yelled to his soldiers, “Officers! Lay siege and make them lay down stolen arms.”
The cavalry soldiers moved their horses around and fanned out. Very soon the sepoys were surrounded by the cavalry soldiers and their horses. Their guns were pointed at the rebel sepoys. Behind the cavalry artillery units were positioning cannons.
Suddenly, a naik stood up throwing away his gun. With his hands raised he stumbled towards the Commanding Officer begging, “Sir…sir…please don’t shoot.”
Michael thundered, “I will have all you traitors blown away by cannons!”
The naik pleaded, “Sir, we are not traitors…we only…were…”
The Commanding Officer barked, “Stealing arms from armoury and disobeying the orders is treason, a crime that invites the capital punishment!”
“Sir! Those sepoys are stunned with fear. The fear of the punishment has benumbed their minds. They know not what they are doing. Let them cool their heels. In a short time their fear will die out. Then they will surrender. But attacking them now will provoke them into…”
“…Into what?” the C.O. stared at the naik.
“They will shoot being panicky as they are. They are armed as you can see. They can inflict some casualties on the cavalry which can be avoided.’’
Michael thought that it made sense. He too had no wish to see his officers get injured or killed. The Commanding officer thoughtful mood encouraged the naik to assure, “Sir, if you remove the cavalry and artillery from here without any action I guarantee you that I would bring those panic stricken sepoys to their senses. They will never again disobey orders.’’
The Commanding Officer nodded his head and spoke in authority, “All right. I will give you a chance to put sense in them this one time. They will of course be court-martialled for disobedience but shall be allowed to keep their jobs.”
The naik saluted the Commanding Officer.
The news of the rebellion by the sepoys of 19 Infantry Regiment of Bahrampur reached the ears of the Governor General, Lord Canning at Calcutta. It worried him. He talked the matter with his ADC, Mr. Blair. Blair agreed, “Yes sir, these kinds of rebellions can spread to other garrisons or cantonments. And we can’t adopt strong measures in the present situation. Any punishment or dismissals of the rebels can create sympathy for them among the native sepoys. That will be counter productive.”
“You are correct, Blair. So, what do you suggest?”
ADC replied, “Sir, before taking any punitive action we must arrange for British troops to be here ready to help. We can’t depend on the natives any more.”
The Governor General Lord Canning nodded his head in agreement and spoke, “We shall immediately arrange to ship British troops from Rangoon (Yangon) to Calcutta. Meanwhile, ask the Bahrampur C.O. Michael to shift the 19 Regiment sepoys to Barrackpore without telling them about the action we have decided to take. When the British troops arrive here all the rebel sepoys of that Regiment are to be dismissed.”
Lord Canning had a crooked smile on his face.
Blair said, “I will despatch the order right away.’’
A ship called ‘Bentick’ sailed from Rangoon the very next day loaded with the British troops. Its destination was Calcutta as per the orders of the Governor General. A batch of fifty white soldiers were rushed to Barrackpore as the immediate step pending the arrival of ‘Bentick’ with British troops.
The fate of the rebel sepoys of the 19 Infantry Regiment was sealed.
