Vellore Mutiny – 1806

The Vellore mutiny took place in the year 1806, on the 10th of December. It took place in Vellore, which is the present day Tamil Nadu.

The sepoys were influenced by the English officers. They had ordered them to disregard their own religious practices and follow the new rules and regulations, as laid by them.

The Governor of Madras presidency at the time of Vellore sepoy mutiny was William Bentinck. He was also the first governor-general of British India.

The Indian sepoys refused to wear the new headdress which led to the mutiny. It was made of leather and had replaced the existing turbans. The Hindus and Muslim felt deeply offended. This new headdress invoked a suspicion in the minds of the Indians, that the Britishers might be converting them into Christians.

Major Coops an English Major was outside the fort when the mutiny started. He had alerted the British force in Arcot.

The Vellore mutiny was suppressed by Sir Rollo Gillespie. MajorCoops had alerted the British force in Arcot. They had arrived within 2 hours. Gillespie was an important and energetic leader who had a single troop of 20 men.

1. 1. Tipu’s Son - Fateh Hyder. On 10 July 1806, the sepoys had raised the Mysore Sultanate flag over the Vellore Fort and had declared Fateh Hyder as their king.

2. Agnew - Turban. Agnew was a British officer that belonged to the Madras army. He had ordered the Indian sepoys to follow certain rules and regulation that were not in regard to their own religious practices.

3. Sepoys - Mutineers. A mutineer is a sepoy or a soldier who refused to obey the orders of the concerned authority.

4. Governor of Madras - Bentinck. The Governor of Madras presidency at the time of Vellore sepoy mutiny was William Bentinck. He was also the first governor-general of British India.

The Vellore Mutiny was a major act of defiance that took place on July 10, 1806 and marked the first ever large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company.

The July 10 outbreak, though encouraged by the Mysore princes, was basically caused by resentment at new British regulations that ordered changes in headgear and shaving style and the prohibition of ornaments and caste marks for the Indian troops. Little effort was made by the British to reassure the men or listen to their grievances, which included the belief that the regulations were detrimental to the religious practices of both Hindus and Muslims.

The immediate causes of the mutiny revolved mainly around resentment felt towards changes in the sepoy dress code, introduced in November 1805.

After the incident, the incarcerated royals in Vellore fort were transferred to Calcutta. The Governor of Madras, William Bentinck, too was recalled, the Company's Court of Directors regretting that "greater care and caution had not been exercised in examining into the real sentiments and dispositions of the sepoys before measures of severity were adopted to enforce the order respecting the use of the new turban." The controversial interference with the social and religious customs of the sepoys was also abolished, as was flogging within the Indian regiments

Vellore Mutiny took place on the 10th December 1806, in Vellore which is in the present day Tamil Nadu. It was a serious and violent mutiny between the Indian sepoys and the East India Company. Although it lasted for a day, it left a serious impact on the British regime.

The main causes for Vellore mutiny are mentioned below:

The new restrictions imposed by the British army were in complete disregard to the sentiments of the Indians.

Sir John Craddock, the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army, had imposed a new rule prohibiting the Hindus to wear religious marks on their forehead and ordered the Muslims to shave their heads.

They were asked to wear their new headdress instead of the traditional headgear.

The new round hat was a sign of Europeans in the general, but Christianity in particular. This invoked a feeling of suspicion in the minds of the Indians, that the Britishers are trying to convert them to Christianity.

Craddock was warned against his actions by his seniors, but he refused to obey them and continued to act on his own accord.

A few sepoys had rebelled against this, so they were to Ford St. George and punished severely. 2 of them were given 90 lashes, and 15 of them were given 50 lashes.

The wife and children of Tipu Sultan were in the Vellore fort. They were kept in a palace within the fort. The sons of Tipu Sultan also instigated the mutiny.

Thus, all of these caused led to the revolt of 1806. called the Vellore Mutiny.

Vellore Mutiny took place on the 10th December 1806, in Vellore which is in the present day Tamil Nadu. It was a serious and violent mutiny between the Indian sepoys and the East India Company.

The course of the mutiny was as follows:

On 10th July 1806, the Indian sepoys killed 14 of their own officers and 115 British men of the 69th regiment.

The commander of the Vellore Fort, Colonel St. John Fancourt was also killed.

The mutiny was started at midnight but gained full course till dawn.

The sepoys raised the flags of Mysore Sultanate over the fort and declared Fateh Hyder, the son of Tipu Sultan as their king.

A British officer, Major Coops was outside the fort. He went to Arcot and alerted the British army.

A relief force, led by Sir Gillespie, immediately began its way from Arcot. They covered a distance of 26 kms within 2 hours.

Gillepsie was one of the most energetic and important leaders of the British army. He arrived with a a troop of 20 men.

Approximately 100 soldiers, were brought out of the fort, who were seeking refuge there. They were asked to stand in a line against the wall, and were shot there.

A total of 350 men were killed, and 350 men were wounded

Although it lasted for a day, it left a serious impact on the British regime.

A few facts about the Vellore fort are mentioned below:

It is situated in present-day Tamil Nadu.

It was the place were the first mutiny took place against the British army.

The Jalakanteswarar Sanctuary in the fort was used as a place to hold secretive weapons by the British army.

The main architects of the Vellore Fort were Thimma Reddy and Chinna Bommi Reddy,

During the British reign, the family of Tipu Sultan was held as captives inside the fort.

The tombs of Bakshi Begum, Padshah Begum, Tipu’s sons are inside the fort.

An excellent network of canals is surrounding the fort for his protection.

It was constructed completely out of granite brought from Arcot and Chittoor.

The Indian government and the Archaeological Department of India (ASI) are responsible for its maintenance.

Since it had different occupants at different point of time, the fort displays a variety of cultures and religions.

The statement that “Vellore revolt a forerunner for Indian Independence” is correct due tot he following reasons :

On 10th December 1806, the first mutiny broke out against the East India Company in Vellore, which is in the present day Tamil Nadu. It was the first large-scale mutiny which paved its way for the Revolt of 1857. Although it lasted for just a day, it was brutal as it killed approximately 200 soldiers. Even 700 Indians were deeply injured and killed during this. It managed to leave a powerful impact on the Britishers.

It is usually said that the first war of Independence was led by Mangal Pandey, but it is not true. It was organised by the Indian sepoys in 1806, which is 21 years before the birth of Mangal Pandey.

This revolt was not as big as the other revolt. It was only limited to one part of India and only the Indian sepoys participated in it. This set the way for the future revolts. For example, the revolt of 1857. It was not only limited to the sepoy. Kings, peasants, artisans etc took part in it. The reasons behind this war were also multiple such as the zamindari system, religious faith etc.

Thus, it is rightly said that Vellore revolt was a forerunner for Indian independence.

Vellore Mutiny took place on the 10th December 1806, in Vellore which is in the present day Tamil Nadu. It was a serious and violent mutiny between the Indian sepoys and the East India Company. Although it lasted for a day, it left a serious impact on the British regime.

It was the restrictions imposed by the British army that had caused the Vellore revolt. The Hindus were prohibited from wearing turbans and the Muslims were asked to shave their heads. Sir John Craddock, the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army had issued orders prohibiting soldiers to wear their traditional headdress and wear a new round hat. This was related to the Europeans in general but Christianity in particular. This invoked a feeling of suspicion in the Indians, that the Britishers might be trying to converting them to Christianity. In May 1806, some sepoys protested the new rules. They were given 90 lashes and dismissed from the army. Craddock was warned against his misdoings, but he did not obey the rules and continued to work according to his own rules. The wife and children of Tipu Sultan were in the Vellore fort. They were kept in a palace within the fort. The sons of Tipu Sultan also instigated the mutiny.

Thus, the sepoys rebelled against the Britishers on the 10th of July 1806. Although it caused a serious condition of chaos and havoc, it led a powerful impact on the Britishers.

The aftermath of the mutiny is mentioned below :

All the three British regiments involved in the mutiny were disbanded

After a trial, sepoys involved in the mutiny were punished by death.

John Craddock and other senior British officers responsible for the new regulations were called back to Britain.

The new regulations were abolished.

Tipu Sultan’s family was moved to Calcutta.

Vellore Mutiny is also partly responsible for the Southern sepoys not participating in the Indian Revolt of 1857.