The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was also called India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, or the Sepoy Mutiny.It began on 10 May 1857, as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company 's army.he Indian Rebellion of 1857 was also called India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, or the Sepoy Mutiny.