General Service Enlistment Act facts for kids

The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 was an important new rule made by the British government in India. It said that soldiers in the Bengal army had to go fight in other countries if they were told to. This Act was a big reason why a major uprising happened in India a year later.

The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856

What Was the Act?

In 1856, the British Parliament, which makes laws for Britain, passed a new rule for soldiers in India. This rule was called the General Service Enlistment Act. Before this Act, soldiers in the Bengal army, a large part of the British Indian Army, usually served only in India. They were not forced to travel overseas for battles.

This new Act changed that. It made it a rule that every new soldier joining the Bengal army had to agree to go anywhere in the world for duty. This meant they could be sent across the sea to fight in other countries.

Why Was It Needed?

The British government in India needed this Act because of a war that was about to start. This war was called the Anglo-Persian War. The British wanted to send soldiers to fight in Persia (modern-day Iran). They did not want to send soldiers by land, because a previous war, the First Anglo-Afghan War, had been very difficult.

So, the British decided to send soldiers by sea to attack a port city called Bushehr in Persia. This was the main way to enter Persia at that time.

The "Kala Pani" Belief

Lord Canning was the Governor-General of India at the time. He knew that many Indian soldiers would not want to go overseas. This was because of a strong cultural belief called Kala pani.

"Kala pani" means "black water." It was a belief that crossing the ocean would make a person lose their social status and religious purity. Many soldiers believed that if they crossed the sea, they would be cut off from their families and communities. Lord Canning knew this would cause problems, but he passed the Act anyway.

A Spark for Rebellion

Because of the "Kala pani" belief, many Indian soldiers were very unhappy about the new Act. They felt that their religious and cultural beliefs were being ignored. This Act made them feel that the British did not respect their traditions.

This feeling of disrespect, along with other reasons, made the soldiers very angry. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 became one of the main causes of the Great Uprising of 1857. This was a major rebellion against British rule in India.