Final answer:
The Great Uprising of 1857 exacerbated British-Indian relations due to heavy-handed British suppression and subsequent transition to direct rule under the British Raj, fostering long-lasting resentment and struggle for self-rule among Indians.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Uprising of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Rebellion or the Indian Mutiny, significantly embittered the relations between the British and the Indians. The uprising stemmed from various grievances, including disrespect for Indian traditions, such as the use of beef and pork fat on cartridges, which were offensive to Hindus and Muslims respectively.
The rebellion saw fierce battles and war crimes committed by both sides. After the British declared victory, they enacted mass executions of rebel leaders, which only deepened the resentment. Subsequently, the British government recognized that the British East India Company was not fit to govern India and abolished it in favor of direct rule under the British Raj, which lasted until Indian independence in 1947.
This transition did not ease tensions, as many Indians, not least the burgeoning Indian National Congress, continued to demand self-rule and opposed the British colonial presence. This period is marked by mutual distrust, hatred, and fear between the British and the indigenous population.