who called the revolt of 1857 as national revolt
Indian Rebellion of 1857 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'.[195] 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.[196] Historians remain divided on whether the rebellion can properly be considered a war of Indian independence or not,[197] although it is popularly considered to be one in India. Arguments against include: