A group of extraordinarily able British officers,…

Avoiding the administrative mistakes made earlier in Bengal, they introduce a number of reforms, while generally respecting local customs.

Punjab and Sindh had been ceded to the British Raj in 1857.

As the Subcontinent comes under the direct rule of the British Crown the Indians revolt in what is known to some Indian historians as the First War of Independence and is called by the British the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Rebellion.

In putting down the rebellion, British troops are aided substantially by their recently recruited troops from Punjab.

The failure of the risings of 1857 had dashed Muslim hopes of a restoration of their authority.

British distrust of Muslim aristocracy results from the rebellious sepoys' attempt to restore the power of the emperor.

Muslim leaders are alleged to have had a major role in planning and leading the revolt, although the revolt itself is a series of badly planned and uncoordinated uprisings and the principal leaders, Nana Sahib and Tantia Topi, are Hindus.