When Madras Army soldiers protested about the loss of extra pay

In December 1841 Indian private soldiers of the Madras Army stationed at Asirgarh and Secunderabad refused to receive their monthly pay. The sepoys were protesting at the removal of their allowance, or batta, which had been paid to troops stationed at a distance from their home Presidency to cover extra expenditure. They claimed that the amount of pay without batta was insufficient to maintain their families.

European officers and Indian officers and NCOs tried in vain to persuade the men to accept their pay without batta. They warned that refusal would be regarded as mutiny. At Secunderabad nearly 300 privates of the 32nd Regiment of Native Infantry persisted with their protest but obeyed when told to ground their arms. They were then taken prisoner by a party of Europeans. A similar situation developed with the 48th Regiment of Native Infantry.

The most prominent men in the protest were selected for trial by Court Martial. Good conduct pay was forfeited by those who had taken part but an amnesty was granted to the main body of offenders. However native officers and NCOs were punished for having failed in their duty, either through “ignorance of any plan of insubordination so settled and matured”, or from…

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