The first real challenge to British authority came in the form of a popular revolt in AD 1857. It began with a mutiny of the soldiers but was soon joined by all sections of the Indian society. The revolt was a result of the numerous grievances of the people against the oppressive British rule. In order to underplay the importance of the event, British historians refer to it as only a “Sepoy Mutiny”, that is, one in which only the sepoys were involved. However, the revolt was so widespread in area as well as the involvement of people, that is would be appropriate to term it as the “First War of Indian Independence”.