The revolt of 1857 is usually remembered as the First War of Indian Independence. It is associated with heroic figures such as Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Nana Sahib, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Tatya Tope, Azimullah Khan, Kunwar Singh, and Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah. The main reason for the Great Revolt is also usually understood as the introduction of new greased cartridges rumoured to contain cow and pig fat.
It is generally believed Hindu and Muslim soldiers considered these an attack on their religion and thereby revolted against the East India Company, making the revolt a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. It is also generally believed that the rebel soldiers had no political programme or ideology except to oust the British. However, recent historical research has shown that the above events are either untrue or only partially true. For example, the Indian sepoys who rebelled against the East India Company used those very rifles and cartridges that supposedly sparked the revolt in response to hurt religious sentiments.
The Indian sepoys revolted because of their exploitation, such as non-payment of salaries, cutting of allowances, miserable working conditions and, crucially, the racial discrimination
— source newsclick.in | Prabal Saran Agrawal, Harshvardhan | 10 May 2021