Question

What was the General Service Enlistment Act?

Answer 1

Hint: Prior to the Revolt of 1857, a major cause of resentment that arose was because of the General Service Enlistment Act. The act was passed by Lord Canning in 1856.

Complete answer:
Earlier, men of the Bengal army had been granted the exemption to serve overseas. Particularly, they were enlisted only for providing services in the territories to which they could march. Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General at that time, saw this as an anomaly, as all soldiers belonging to the armies of Madras and Bombay, including the six “General Service” battalions of the Bengal Army had agreed an agreement to serve overseas if required. As a result, the two smaller Presidency Armies got all the burden of providing the contingents for active service in Burma and China.

As signed into effect by Lord Canning, the successor of Lord Dalhousie as Governor-General, the General Service Enlistment Act required recruits to the Bengal Army to accept a commitment for General Service. They were required to serve overseas if ordered.

The Bengal Army mainly consisted of soldiers who belonged to high caste, like the Brahmins. The Brahmin soldiers saw in it a defamation to their caste. According to their beliefs, it was considered a taboo for a Brahmin to cross the sea. As a result, they were quite angry with the Britishers.

Note: In India, the service conditions of the soldiers were adversely affected due to the extension of British dominion. The soldiers were required to provide services in areas away from their homes without any additional payments. In 1854, The Post Office Act, passed by Lord Dalhousie, withdrew the privilege of free postage enjoyed by the soldiers. It was also one of the cause of resentment that led to Indian Revolt of 1857.