<P> Almost from the moment the first sepoys mutinied in Meerut , the nature and the scope of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 has been contested and argued over . Speaking in the House of Commons in July 1857 , Benjamin Disraeli labelled it a ' national revolt ' while Lord Palmerston , the Prime Minister , tried to downplay the scope and the significance of the event as a ' mere military mutiny ' . Reflecting this debate , an early historian of the rebellion , Charles Ball , used the word mutiny in his title , but labelled it a ' struggle for liberty and independence as a people ' in the text . Historians remain divided on whether the rebellion can properly be considered a war of Indian independence or not , although it is popularly considered to be one in India . Arguments against include : </P>
<P> Almost from the moment the first sepoys mutinied in Meerut , the nature and the scope of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 has been contested and argued over . Speaking in the House of Commons in July 1857 , Benjamin Disraeli labelled it a ' national revolt ' while Lord Palmerston , the Prime Minister , tried to downplay the scope and the significance of the event as a ' mere military mutiny ' . Reflecting this debate , an early historian of the rebellion , Charles Ball , used the word mutiny in his title , but labelled it a ' struggle for liberty and independence as a people ' in the text . Historians remain divided on whether the rebellion can properly be considered a war of Indian independence or not , although it is popularly considered to be one in India . Arguments against include : </P>
who said 1857 revolt was a national rising
who said 1857 revolt was a national rising
Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli