Here we are providing Class 12 History Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 11 Rebels and the Raj: The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations. Class 12 History Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.
Class 12 History Chapter 11 Important Extra Questions Rebels and the Raj: The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations
Rebels and the Raj Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type
Question 1.
Who was the last Mughal emperor?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Question 2.
Who started the Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie.
Question 3.
Which state was captured by the British on the issue of misgovernance?
Answer:
Awadh.
Question 4.
Who was Nawab of Awadh when it was captured in 1850 A.D.?
Answer:
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
Question 5.
Who led the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?
Answer:
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
Question 6.
Who led the revolt of 1857 in Awadh?
Answer:
Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Birjis Qadr.
Question 7.
Name the famous state captured under the Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
Jhansi.
Question 8.
What was the immediate cause of the revolt of 1857?
Answer:
The issue of greased cartridges.
Question 9.
Who said that ‘Awadh is just like a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’?
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie.
Question 10.
When and who started Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
Subsidiary Alliance was started by Lord Wellesley in 1798 A.D.
Question 11.
Where was Nawab Wajid Ali Shah exiled?
Answer:
He was exiled to Calcutta.
Question 12.
Name the major centres of the revolt of 1857.
Answer:
Merrut, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi etc.
Question 13.
Who painted ‘In Memoriam’?
Answer:
Joseph Noel Paton.
Question 14.
Who said, “Khoob Lari mardana woh to Jhansi Wali Rani thi”?
Answer:
Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
Question 15.
What was the role of cartridges covered with fat of animals in the mutiny of 1857?
Or
What was the immediate cause for the mutiny of 1857? ,
Answer:
In 1857, the soldiers were given new cartridges coated with the fat of cows and pigs. The soldiers had to peel them out with their teeth before using them. It corrupted their caste and religious norms. Therefore, the Hindu and the Muslim soldiers refused to use these cartridges. They revolted against the British to preserve their faith.
Question 16.
Give an example of a revolt by a famous tribe before the mutiny of 1857.
Answer:
Many peasant revolts were witnessed in different parts of the country before the rebellion of 1857. For example, Fraizies revolted against the oppression of farmers by the Zamindars of the Britishers. They were from a Muslim community.
Question 17.
Where was the fight for freedom fought in India? How did the Britishers crush it?
Answer:
The struggle for the freedom of India was fought in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab. The British crushed it with the help of their own power and the cooperation of a few kings of the Indian states.
Question 18.
How the revolt of 1857 acquired legitimacy?
Answer:
Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah accepted to become the leader of the revolt. Now, revolt could be carried on in the name of the Mughal emperor. In this way, Revolt of 1857 acquired legitimacy.
Question 19.
How events moved swiftly after 13th May in the mutiny of 1857?
Answer:
- Delhi was captured by rebels.
- Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah gave his support to the mutiny.
Question 20.
“Rebel Sepoys (1857) began their actions with any signal.” Give any two signals in this regard.
Answer:
- At many places, it was the firing of the evening gun.
- At few other places, this signal was the sounding of the bugle.
Question 21.
“Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving people to action before the Revolt of 1857.” Write any of the two rumours or prophecies in this regard.
Answer:
- There spread a rumor that the British had mixed bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour which was sold in the market.
- A prophecy was made that on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey, on 23rd June 1857, the British rule would come to an end.
Question 22.
Why did the British become increasingly interested in acquiring the territory of Awadh?
Answer:
- The Britishers felt that the soil of Awadh was very good for the cultivation of indigo and cotton.
- They also thought that this state could be developed into a principal market of North India.
Question 23.
When and who annexed Awadh into the British empire?
Answer:
Awadh was conquered and annexed into the British empire by Lord Dalhousie in 1856.
Rebels and the Raj Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type
Question 1.
How did the message about the Revolt of 1857 spread?
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 was associated not only with the people of the court but also with ordinary men and women. Besides the ranis, rajas, nawabs, and taluqdars, many common people, religious persons and self-styled prophets participated in it.
- The message of rebellion was carried by ordinary men and women.
- At some places, even the religious people spread the message of the Revolt of 1857. For example, in Meerut, a Fakir used to ride on an elephant. Many sepoys met him time and again.
- After the annexation of Awadh, Lucknow had many religious leaders and self-styled prophets who preached the destruction of the British rule.
- At many places, the local leaders played an important role. They urged the peasants, Zamindars, and tribals to revolt.
- In Uttar Pradesh, Shah Mai motivated and mobilized the residents of Barout paragana.
- Similarly, Gonoo, a tribal who cultivated in Singhbhum in Chotanagpur, became a rebel leader of the Kol tribe.
Question 2.
What were the causes for the discontent among the soldiers before the Mutiny of 1857?
Or
Discuss military causes for the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
There were many reasons for discontent among the soldiers:
1. Fear of New Cartridges: The sepoys were provided bullets which were coated with the fat of cows and pigs. Before use, the soldiers had to bite these bullets. So they feared that it would corrupt their caste and religion.
2. Grievances about Leave and Promotions: The sepoys were not easily granted leaves. They were also paid lower salaries as compared to the British soldiers. They were not given due promotions which enraged the soldiers and nurtured a sense of discontent among them.
3. Grouse Against Misbehaviour and Racial Abuse: Earlier, the British officials had very friendly relations with the sepoys. They joined them in their leisure activities and talked to them in the local language. They also familiarised themselves with their customs and culture. They posed themselves as fatherly figures to all the Indian soldiers. But after 1840s, there was a change for the worse. The British officers started considering themselves as superior. They treated Indian sepoys as their social inferiors and ignored their feelings and sensibilities. They even abused and assaulted them. It was naturally resented by the soldiers.
4. Nexus between Soldiers and Villagers: Awadh was the nursery of the Bengal Army. In other words, a large number of soldiers were recruited from the villages in the vicinity of Awadh. So these soldiers had a close relationship with the villages. Such a link between the two had grave implications during the mutiny.
Question 3.
List any five ways in which I taluqdars of Awadh were affected by the British Policy. (C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2011)
Or
How did the British dispossess the taluqdars of Awadh during 1857? Explain with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (D))
Answer:
The taluqdars of Awadh felt influenced by the British policy in the following way:
- The forts and castles of the taluqdars were demolished and their armed forces were disbanded.
- They were deprived of their lands under the Summary Settlement of 1856. Many taluqdars lost even more than half the villages under their control.
- Their freedom was snatched.
- They lost a lot of power and respect because of the loss of their land.
- The demand for revenue was doubled. It generated a sense of anger among the taluqdars.
Question 4. What was Subsidiary Alliance?
Or
Examine the provisions of the ‘Subsidiary Alliance System’ devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798 for India. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Answer:
Subsidiary Alliance was a system of land revenue introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1798 C.E. All the local rulers had to accept the following terms and conditions who entered into such an alliance with the British:
- The ally would have to keep a British armed contingent in his territory.
- The British would be responsible for the protection of their ally from any type of external and internal threats to their power.
- Resources for maintaining the British contingent would be provided by the ally.
- The ally could not enter into the agreement with other local rulers or foreign companies or engage in warfare without the permission of the British.
- One British Resident would be stationed in the Court of the allied king.
Question 5.
What was the thinking of the British behind the removal of taluqdars in Awadh? Up to what extent, this thinking was correct?
Answer:
The British land revenue officials thought that if they could remove taluqdars then they could give land to their actual owners. It will reduce the level of exploitation of peasants and increase the revenue returns for the State but this did not actually happen. There was a definite increase in revenue returns for the State but the burden of demand on peasants remained the same.
Officials soon came to know that most of the areas of Awadh were actually heavily overassessed. At some places, the increase of revenue demanded was from 30% to 70%. That is why neither taluqdars and nor the peasants were happy. The result of the dispossession of taluqdars was the breakdown of the whole of the social order. The ties of loyalty and patronage were disrupted which had bounded the peasants to the taluqdars.
Question 6. How the relationship of the sepoys with the British officers underwent a significant change in the years preceding the uprising of 1857?
Or
Examine the relationship of the Indian sepoys with their superior white officers in the years preceding the uprising in 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Or
“The relationship of the sepoys with the superior white officers underwent a significant change in the years preceding the uprising of 1857.” Support the statement with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.))
Or
How did the white officers make it a point during 1820 till 1840 to maintain friendly relations with the sepoys? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
During the years preceding the uprising of 1857, the relationship of the sepoys with their British officials underwent significant change. In the decade 1820, British officers stressed maintaining friendly relations with the sepoys. They would even take part in their leisure activities, wrestle with them, fence with them, and went out hawking with them. Some of these officials were fluent in speaking Hindustani and were familiar with local customs and culture. These officers had strictness and love of parents in them.
But this situation began to change in the decade of 1840. A sense of superiority began to develop among the officers and they started treating the Indian sepoys as their racial inferiors. They hardly cared about their sentiments. Abuse and physical violence became very common which increased the distance between sepoys and their officers. The place of trust was taken by suspicion. The episode of the greased cartridges was a classic example of this thing.
Question 7.
Which types of laws were used by the British to suppress the Revolt of 1857 in North India?
Answer:
The British passed a number of laws to help them quell the insurgency before sending their troops to reconquer North India. With the help of a number of Acts passed in May and June 1857, the British put the whole of North India under Martial Law. Military officers and ordinary Britons were given the authority to try and punish Indians who were suspected of rebellion. It was put out that only one punishment could be given to rebels and that was death.
Question 8.
How did the Mutiny of 1857 start? Give a brief description of the events concerning the uprising in Meerut.
Answer:
The uprising of 1857 started in the afternoon of 10 May, 4857 in the cantonment of Meerut. It broke out in the lines of the native infantry. It then quickly spread to the cavalry and soon engulfed the whole city. The ordinary people of the city also joined the sepoys who took up arms and attacked the white people. They ransacked their bungalows and burnt their property. They also destroyed the government buildings like the jail, the court, the treasury, and the post office and cut down the telegraph lines to Delhi.
The next day, i.e., on 11th May 1857, the sepoys reached the gates of the Red Fort in Delhi. They briefed Bahadur Shah, the last Mughal king, about the incidents in Meerut and requested him to both bless and lead the uprising against the white men. At first, the emperor was a bit hesitant but later on, he accepted their demand. His approval gave legitimacy to the revolt as it was carried on in the name of the Mughal emperor.
Question 9.
How did the Revolt of 1857 spread?
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 broke out on 10 May 1857. Starting from the cantonment of Meerut, it reached Delhi on the very next day. Within a few days, it spread to other parts of the country. Besides the soldiers, the ordinary people also participated in it. The soldiers took up arms and ammunition and attacked the white men. They destroyed government buildings and plundered public property.
At many places, the revolt started with a signal. But in many other places, it started with the firing of the evening gun or the sounding of the bugle. The Hindus joined hands with Muslims to exterminate the British. They also attacked the rich and the money-lenders who were allies of the British. They defied all kinds of authority and hierarchy. The mutiny had turned into a rebellion against the British. It had become the first war of independence in India. The British rule had fallen like a house of cards.
Question 10.
Describe the annexation of Awadh by the British. Why did the British take a keen interest in it?
Or
Explain the provisions of the subsidiary Alliance imposed on Awadh ] in 1801 by the British. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (D))
Or
Critically examine Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation in Awadh. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Answer:
The British had long cherished to occupy and control Awadh. In 1851 C.E., Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, had described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”. However, the British were able to annex Awadh to the British Empire in 1856 C.E.
The first step towards the acquisition of Awadh was the imposition of the Subsidiary Alliance in 1801 C.E. Subsidiary Alliance was a system devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798 C.E. It stipulated the following conditions on the Nawab:
(a) He will have to disband his military force.
(b) He will permit the British to send and station their troops within the kingdom.
(c) He will act in accordance with the advice of the British Resident.
(d) He will enter into agreements with other rulers or engage in warfare only with the permission of the British.
In other words, the Nawab had lost its independence and had become dependent on the British to maintain law and order within the kingdom. He had also lost his control over the rebellious chiefs and taluqdars.
The British Interest in Awadh: The British had a keen interest in acquiring the territory of Awadh. It is clear from the following points:
- The soil of Awadh was good for the production of cotton and indigo.
- It was ideally located to become the principal market of North-India.
Question 11.
How did the British display terror against the mutineers? Did they have any place for clemency?
Answer:
After the Revolt of 1857, the British felt shocked. They were filled with a feeling of anger, vengeance and retribution. It is seen from the brutal way in which they execute the rebels. Many rebels were blown from the cannons. Many other rebels were hanged from the gallows. To make them feel afraid of the British power, the British officials widely circulated the images of these executions through popular journals.
No place for pleas of Clemency: The British were blind because of the upsurge of vengeance and revenge in their hearts. So they ridiculed all pleas for moderation and clemency. The British Press mocked when Governor-General Canning declared to show leniency and mercy to win back the loyalty of the sepoys. The Punch, a British Journal of comic satire, published a cartoon in which Canning was shown as a fatherly-figure, keeping his protective hand over the head of a sepoy who still held an unsheathed sword in one hand and a dagger in the other.
It showed that both the sword and the dagger were dripping with blood. In other words, the British people and press were adamant not to show any mercy or clemency towards the Indian rebels.
Question 12.
Discuss the general causes for the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
The following were the main reasons for the Revolt of 1857:
1. Many Indians had turned against the British because of the policy of Lapse initiated by Lord Dalhousie.
2. The British considered India as a market for raw material to factories in England. So they made many efforts to destroy the Indian trade and industry. It increased poverty in the country and therefore people started despising the British rule.
3. The Indian sepoys had a feeling of discontentment against the imperial rule. They got low salaries as compared to the British soldiers and were also maltreated. They could not bear this insult for long.
4. In 1856, the soldiers were given the new ‘Enfield’ Rifles. The cartridges of these rifles were coated with the fat of cows and pigs. So the Indian soldiers refused to accept and use these cartridges. Slowly and steadily this incident led to the emergence of the Revolt of 1857.
Question 13.
What were the causes for the mutiny of Indian soldiers in 1857?
Or
Describe the grievances of the Indian sepoys against the British rule before the revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
The following causes were responsible for the mutiny of soldiers in India in 1857:
1. The Indian soldiers were given the new Enfield Rifles. The cartridges of these rifles were coated with the fat of cows and pigs. The soldiers felt that when they would bite these bullets, it would corrupt their caste and religion.
2. In many cantonments, the Indian soldiers refused to use the flour which was said to have the bone dust of cows and pigs.
3. A law was passed in 1857 according to which the Indian soldiers could be sent across the sea to fight against any enemy. During those days, many Hindu soldiers considered it a sin against their religion to go across the sea.
4. The Indian soldiers were maltreated during the parade. The Indians could not bear this humiliation and insult for long.
5. There was discontentment among the Indian soldiers as they were paid less salary than their counterparts in the British. They also faced difficulty in getting leaves.
6. The British officials often poked fun at the culture and civilization of the Indian soldiers. So the Indian soldiers wanted to avenge their insult.
7. When Mangal Pandey, a soldier, was given cartridges coated with the fat of cows and pigs, he felt infuriated and killed a British official. So he was sentenced to death for this crime. It spread a wave of anger among all Indian soldiers. As a result, they rose in rebellion against the British.
Question 14.
Discuss the legacy of the Revolt of 1857.
Or
Critically evaluate the long-term impact of the Revolt of 1857 on Indian Politics.
Or
“The national movement in the 20th century draws its inspiration from the events of 1857.” Support this statement with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Answer:
Undoubtedly, the Revolt of 1857 did not achieve the desired result. Although it did not succeed, it left a deep and long-term impact on Indian politics. It created an urge for freedom in the minds of the people. This seed of freedom planted in 1857 yielded its fruit in 1947 when India attained freedom. In fact, it was the first national struggle for freedom wherein the people wanted to get rid of British rule.
It prepared a base for the development of the modern national movement for independence. It left an indelible imprint on the minds of the Indians and initiated a new tradition of opposing the foreign rule at every step. Soon the heroic deeds of the heroes of this national struggle for freedom reached every home who became a symbol of power to the people.
Question 15.
Analyze the significance of unity amongst the Hindu and the Muslims during the events of 1857.
Answer:
Most of the strength of the Revolt of 1857 lay in the unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. This spirit of unity and harmony was visible in the soldiers, the leaders, and the people. Bahadur Shah Zafar was a Muslim but even then, all the rebels accepted him as their leader. Not only this, the Hindu sepoys of Meerut moved towards Delhi and reached Red Fort to seek the blessings of the Mughal Emperor. The soldiers, the Hindus, and the Muslims were considerate towards the feelings and sentiments of each other.
For example, wherever the revolt succeeded, the cow slaughter was immediately banned so that the Hindus may not feel hurt. Besides, the Hindus and the Muslims had an equal representation in the leadership of the rebellion. Regarding the Hindu-Muslim unity, a senior British official admitted that they had not been able to divide the Hindu and the Muslims this time.
Question 16.
Describe how the British celebrated those, who they believed, saved the English and repressed the rebels during the revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
Only a few Indian rulers played a constructive role in the revolt of 1857. They included Bahadur Shah, Kunwar Singh, Rani of Jhansi, and Nana Sahib. They were the victims of the expansionist policy of the British. Their kingdoms were usurped by the Britishers on one pretext or the other. So these leaders led the revolution in their respective regions or province. They valiantly faced the British forces but most of the Indian rulers were selfish and afraid of the British power. So instead of taking part in the revolt, they helped the Britishers in crushing the revolt of 1857.
The Sindhiyas of Gwalior, the Holkars of Indore, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Rajput rulers of Jodhpur and other regions, the Nawab of Bhopal, and most of the other Indian rulers helped the Britishers. In fact, the British Govt was able to crush the revolt because of the help and co-operation of these rulers. In this regard, Canning, the then Governor-General of India, had said that these Sardars (Chiefs) “acted as a dam before the storm, otherwise this storm could uproot us with even a single wave”. The British rulers rewarded these rulers of India with Jagirs and rewarding posts.
Question 17.
Describe the alternative power structure that the rebels tried to establish during the revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Or
Examine the structure of authority and administration that the rebels wanted after the collapse of British rule in India. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
The revolutionaries of 1857 were in search of an alternative strategy. For example, after the British rule was demolished in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, the revolutionaries wanted to set up a uniform rule or authority at all the places. Though this experiment did not succeed, yet it was clear from their efforts that they wanted to establish the rule that existed prior to the 18th century.
These leaders took the help of the old Darbari culture. They made appointments on different posts and made arrangements for the collection of land, revenue, and the disbursement of salary to the soldiers. They issued decrees to end loot. They also planned strategies to continue the war against the British rule and took steps to strengthen their control of the army. In all these attempts, the revolutionaries were taking the help of the Mughal period rulers in the 18th century. The Mughal period was a symbol of all those things which were lost.
Question 18.
How do the official accounts present the Revolt of 1857? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Many official accounts are available for the revolt of 1857. Colonial administrators and military men left their versions in letters and diaries, autobiographies, and official histories. We can also gauge the official mindset and the changing British attitude through a number of memos and notes, assessments of situations, and reports that were produced. Many of these have now been collected in a set of mutiny records.
These tell us about the fears and anxieties of officials and their perception of the rebels. The stories of the revolts that were published in British newspapers and magazines narrated in detail the violence of the mutineers- and these stories inflamed public feelings provoking demands of retribution and revenge.
Question 19.
Examine the proclamations issued by the rebels in 1857 and explain why did they want to reject everything associated with the British rule in India. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
1. In all their proclamations, the rebels repeatedly appealed to all sections of society. They did not take caste or creed into consideration.
2. Many proclamations were made by the Muslim princes. But all such proclamation took into consideration the sentiments of the Hindus.
3. This revolution was expressed in such a way that Hindus and Muslims will be equally affected by this.
4. Many pamphlets were issued which glorified the co-existence of different Communities under the Mughal Empire.
5. Bahadur Shah appealed in the name of Prophet Muhammad and Lord Mahavir to the public to rise against the white people.
Rebels rejected everything associated with the British rule in India because they had no faith in the British. They argued that the British had destroyed their traditional lifestyle “which they want to rejuvenate.
Question 20.
“The annexation of Awadh displaced not just the Nawab but also dispossessed the taluqdars of the region, causing break down of an entire social order.” Critically examine the statement. (CJB.S.E. 2011 (D))
Answer:
The annexation of Awadh not only displaced the Nawab but also dispossessed the taluqdars of this region. The whole of the countryside of Awadh was dotted with the forts and estates of taluqdars. These people controlled the land and power of their areas for centuries. Before the arrival of the British, these taluqdars maintained armed sepoys and had their own forts. The British were not ready to tolerate their power which is why, exactly after the annexation of Awadh, the taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were destroyed.
The entire social order was broke down with the dispossession of taluqdars. The ties of patronage and loyalty were disrupted that had bound the peasants to the taluqdars. Before the Britishers, these taluqdars were oppressed but some of them seemed to be generous father figures. They extracted a number of dues from the peasants but helped them during their bad times. Now during the British rule, the peasants were directly exposed to over-assessment of revenue and non-flexible methods of revenue collection.
Question 21.
How do the British pictures of the mutiny of 1857 offer a variety of images that were meant to provoke different emotions and reactions? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (iO.D.))
Answer:
British pictures offer a number of images that were prepared to provoke different emotions and reactions.
In some of the pictures made by the British, the British heroes were commemorated who saved the English and repressed the rebels. One of the painting ‘Relief of Lucknow’ was painted by Thomas Jones Barker in 1859, is an example of this type when the Lucknow was besieged by the rebel forces then the commissioner of Lucknow, Henry Lawrence, collected the whole of the Christian population and took shelter in the heavily fortified Residency.
Later on, Lawrence was killed but the Residency remained protected under the command of Colonel Inglis. On September 25, Henry Havelock and James Outram reached over there and cut through the rebel forces. They even reinforced the British troops. After 20 days, the new commander of British forces in India, Colin Campbell, came over there with his forces and saved the besieged British forces.
The British historians described the siege of Lucknow and their survival as the ultimate victory of the British power. The painting of Barker shows the moment of Campbell’s entry. It created a sense that the troubled times and the rebellion were over. The British emerged victoriously.
Question 22.
Explain how the merchants in India were badly affected by the monopolization of trade by the British Government, according to the Azamgarh Proclamation of 25th August 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
The Azamgarh proclamation of 25th August 1857 is one of the most important sources of our knowledge about what the rebels wanted. The Proclamation said that “It is well known to all, that in this age, the people of Hindustan, both Hindus and Mohammedans, are being ruined under the tyranny and the oppression of the infidel and treacherous English”. It also says that the British Govt had monopolized the trade and all the important merchandise. The British monopolized the trade of indigo and trade of unimportant things was left for the people. The British taxed with postages and tolls, etc., and merchants were liable to jail and had to face a lot at the complaint of a worthless person.
Question 23.
Explain how the mutinies were so organized in India in 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 was well-planned and well-coordinated. It is evident from the following points:
1.There was coordination and harmony between sepoys and the ordinary people. Both wanted to target the white people.
2. The revolt got a tinge of legitimacy as it was carried forward under the leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar the last Mughal Emperor in India.
3. The Hindus and the Muslims united and rose together against the white people.
4. There was communication between the sepoy lines of various cantonments.
5. Another example of good planning and organization can be cited from Awadh where Captain Hearsey of the Awadh Military Police was provided protection by his Indian subordinates during the mutiny. The 41st Native Infantry, which had killed all its white officers, insisted that the military police would either kill Captain Hearsey or hand him over as a prisoner but the military police refused to kill Captain Hearsey.
At last, they decided to settle the issue in a panchayat having native officers drawn from ehchsTegiment. In other words, many decisions during the rebellion were taken collectively.
Question 24.
Explain briefly how the rebel proclamations in 1857 were visualized to achieve unity among all sections of the population. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
The rebel proclamations in 1857 appealed again and again to all groups of population irrespective of their creed, caste, color, etc. Most of the proclamations were issued on the names of Muslim princes. But these proclamations also addressed the sentiments of Hindus. This rebellion was seen as a war in which Hindus and Muslims both had equally to gain or lose.
The British tried to create religious divisions among Hindus and Muslims but. these were hardly seen during the uprising. The British spend? 50,000 in Bareilly in western U.P., in Dec. 1857, to incite the Hindus against the Muslims but failed in their attempt.
Question 25.
Examine the participation of taluqdars of Awadh in the Revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Answer:
The taluqdars of Awadh felt influenced by the British policy in the following way:
- The forts and castles of the taluqdars were demolished and their armed forces were disbanded.
- They were deprived of their lands under the Summary Settlement of 1856. Many taluqdars lost even more than half the villages under their control.
- Their freedom was snatched:
- They lost a lot of power and respect because of the loss of their land.
- The demand for revenue was doubled. It generated a sense of anger among the taluqdars.
Rebels and the Raj Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type
Question 1.
To what extend the discontent against the foreign rule was responsible for the Revolt of 1857? Can it be called the first war of Iatliao Independence?
Or
What were the reasons for the revolt of 1857? Was it a mutiny of sepoys or a national struggle for freedom? Justify your answer with arguments
Answer:
The mutiny of 1857 is termed the first war of Indian Independence. It is true that tin’s rebellion was started by the sepoys but soon it had become a mass rebellion. It was a revolutionary uprising against the British. The main reason for this rebellion was extensive discontent among the common people. The people of India were oppressed by the policies and imperialist exploitation of the British. The native rulers, farmers, traders, soldiers, and the ordinary people all suffered insult and humiliation under British rule. All of them wanted to get free from th^ British by any means. So as the fire of rebellion broke out in 1857, the people belonging to different religions, castes, and sections of society participated in it. The following points will clarify that this revolt was the result of extensive discontentment among the people:
A. Political Causes:
- The Subsidiary Alliance of Lord Wellesley and the Doctrine of Lapse enforced by Lord Dalhousie generated a sense of discontentment and dissatisfaction among all the Indians.
- The pension of Nana Sahib was stopped due to which he turned against the British.
- The Rani of Jhansi was not permitted to adopt a son so she was also annoyed with the British.
- The Zamindars and chiefs were also against the British because their laid had been snatched by the British officials and rulers
B. Economic Causes:
1. Due to the industrial revolution, the things produced in England were quite cheap. As a result, the sale of British goods increased immensely. The Indian industry almost collapse and many artisans and craftsmen of India lost their means of livelihood and therefore they turned against the British.
2. Because of the British. the policy of trade, the Indian trade was shattered^ If Indian things were sent to England, a heavy-duty was imposed on these things. Consequently, the Indian goods became very costly, and therefore there was a decline in the demand for Indian goods. In fact, the Indian trade lost its ground.
3. During the British rule, the Zamindars were considered as the owners of the land. They collected a fixed revenue and deposited it in the government treasury. On the other hand, they collected revenue from the farmers as per their wish. As a result, the farmers felt suffocated and wanted to get rid of this oppression and exploitation.
4. Heavy taxes were imposed on the people of India. The taxes were so much that the people found it .difficult to survive. Ultimately they revolted against the government.
C. Social And Religious Causes:
1. The Christian missionaries were engaged in the process of religious conversion. They were exhorting Indians to adopt Christianity due to which many Indians turned against them.
2. William Bentinck had introduced many reforms in Indian society. He had abolished customs like Safi and permitted the remarriage of Hindu widows. He also banned child marriages. Many Hindus considered it as an interference in their religious affairs.
3. There was also widespread discontentment among the Indians because of the British system of Education. As the British introduced western education, western ideas, and western institutions, many Indians felt that it was an attempt to turn them into Christians.
4. Many Indians were enraged when the Christian missionaries criticized Hindu scriptures.
D. Military Causes:
1.In 1856, the British Parliament passed a law by which the Indians could be sent across the sea to fight against any enemy. During those days, the Hindus considered it a sin against their religion to cross the sea. So they opposed the British rule.
2. The Indian soldiers were maltreated during the parade. So they could not bear their insult for long.
3. The Indian soldiers got less salary as compared with their British counterparts. It generated a sense of discontentment among the Indian soldiers.
4. The British officials made fun of the Indian culture and civilization even in front of the Indian soldiers. Naturally, the Indian soldiers wanted to avenge their insult.
E. Immediate Cause:
The soldiers were given new Enfield rifles. The cartridges of these rifles were coated with the fat of the cows and pigs. So a few sepoys of the Barrackpur cantonment refused to use them. Mangal Pandey, a soldier, felt so enraged that he killed a British official. He was later on hanged to death for this offense. All other Indian soldiers lost their patience and revolted against the British.
Nature of the Rebellion
- People from1 all the sections of society
participated in the rebellion though their number was limited. - The people and the soldiers were against the British. They wanted to get rid of them.
- The soldiers revolted not to seek any concessions but to get freedom from the foreign rule.
- The rebellion did not spread in all parts of
a country. Many cities remained calm and quiet. If they were calm, it did not mean that they were with the British. They were silent due to their infirmities but were definitely against the British. - The Hindus and the Muslims unitedly fought against the British. They were not happy with the British rule. So they collectively rose against the British. Thus, the revolt of 1857 was not a mutiny but the first war of Indian Independence.
Question 2.
How the Revolt of 1857 began? How it spread everywhere or became a rebellion?
Or
Describe the main events of the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
1. Mutinies began at Cantonment of Meerut: The sepoys in the cantonment of Meerut broke out in mutiny on the late afternoon of 10th May 1857. The mutiny began in the lines of the native infantry. It very quickly spread to the cavalry and then in the city. The ordinary people of surrounding villages and towns also joined the sepoys. The sepoys captured the bell of arms where arms and ammunition were kept.
Then they attacked the white people and started to burn their bungalows and property. The record office, court, jail, treasury, post-office, etc., were plundered and destroyed. The telegraph line joining Delhi with Meerut was cut down. As darkness descended, many sepoys (a group) rode on horses towards Delhi.
2. Delhi: The group of sepoys arrived at the gates of the Red Fort on the early morning of 11th May 1857. It was the holy month of Ramzan in which Muslims pray and have the fasts. The Mughal emperor heard the commotion at the gates of Red Fort. The sepoys told him that they had come from Meerut after killing alb the English men there because they asked them to bite bullets which were coated with the fat of cows and pigs with their feet®. They also told him that it will corrupt the faith of Hindus and Muslims.
Then another group of sepoys also entered Delhi. Ordinary people of Delhi also joined them. A large number of Europeans were killed. Rich people of Delhi were attacked and looted. Delhi had gone out of control of the British. Some sepoys even entered the Red Fort and demanded the blessing of the emperor. Bahadur Shah was surrounded by sepoys and was left with no option but to comply. In this way, revolt acquired a type of legitimacy because now it could be carried on in the name of the Mughal emperor.
North India remained quiet through 12th and 13th May. Once the news spread about the fall of Delhi and Bahadur Shah’s concept of rebellion, the situation changed very quickly. Mutiny rose swiftly in Cantonment after Cantonment in the Gangetic valley and some to the west of Delhi.
3. Spread of Revolt: Sepoys began their activities with any specific signal. At many places, this signal was firing of the evening gun and at many places, it was sounding of the bugle.
The targets of attack widened when ordinary people began joining the revolt. Moneylenders and rich people became the objects of rebel wrath in major towns like Kanpur, Lucknow, and Bareilly. They were considered not only as oppressors by the peasants but were seen as allies of the British. Houses of the rich were looted and destroyed in many places. The mutiny of sepoys became a rebellion very quickly.
4. Awadh: The most dangerous form of the revolt was seen in Awadh where Nawab was removed by the British on the issue of misgovernance. Here, the leader of the revolt was the young son of Nawab Birjis Qadr.
Rebels and the Raj Important Extra Questions HOTS
Question 1.
Why did the moneylenders and the rich people become victims of the wrath of mutineers in the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
The rebels humiliated all the elites and specifically targeted the moneylenders and the rich people because they considered them as local oppressors and the allies; of the British. These people exploited and oppressed, the farmers. So the rebels attacked them. They looted and demolished their homes.
Question 2.
Why was the revolt in Awadh so extensive?
Answer:
Awadh was one of the major centers of the Revolt of 1857. It was because of the following reasons:
- Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the beloved and
popular leader of the people but the British dethroned him. They accused him of misgovernance and sent him on exile to Calcutta which increased discontentment among the people. - The British army recruited a large number of sepoys from the villages of Awadh. These sepoys were given low wages and faced difficulty in getting leave: So they felt discontent and unhappy at the events that happened in Awadh.
- The sepoys of Awadh were also enraged because of the greased cartridges.
Question 3.
Was the Revolt of 1857 a struggle for freedom or a sepoy mutiny? Give arguments in support of your answers,
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 was evidently a war for independence. It can be substantiated with the following arguments:
- It was a revolt in which sepoys, as well as the ordinary people, participated.
- The Hindus and the Muslims united to rise against the Britishers. They targeted not only the white men but also their allies like, the moneylenders who fleeced and oppressed the peasants.
- The people generally defied all kinds of authority and hierarchy.
Question 4.
How did the Nawab of Awadh become powerless with the Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
- The Nawab of Awadh was deprived of his military force with the subsidiary alliance. As a result, the Nawab became increasingly dependent on the British to maintain law and order within the state.
- Now he had no control over the rebellious chiefs and taluqdars.
Question 5.
What was the implication of a link between the sepoys and the rural world in the course of the uprising of 1857?
Answer:
The link between the sepoys and the rural world had a great impact on the nature of the uprising. When the sepoys defied the orders of their superiors and took up arms then they were quickly joined by their relatives of villages. Everywhere people went over to towns and joined the collective acts of rebellion.
Question 6.
“The condition of peasants of Awadh deteriorated with the removal of taluqdars.” Elucidate the statement.
Or
“The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.” Critically examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:
Taluqdars were oppressors even in the pre- British times but a number of taluqdars also appeared to be generous father figures in the eyes of masses. They used to extract a number of dues from the peasants but also helped them during their bad times. Now during the British rule, the peasants were directly exposed to the over-assessment of revenue and non-flexible methods of revenue collection.
There was no guarantee that the revenue demand of the state would be reduced or collection postponed in case of crop failure or in the times of hardship. Peasants also had no guarantee that they would get the loan and support in times of festivities which the taluqdars had earlier provided.
Question 7.
“Rumours circulate only when they resonate, with the deep fears and suspicion of the people.” How was this statement true in the context of the Revolt of 1857? (C.BS.E. Sample Paper 2011)
Or
“The rumours in 1857 began to make sense when seen in the context of the policies pursued by the British from the late 1820s.” Support your answer with evidence. (C.B.S.E, 2009 (D))
Or
Explain how rumours and prophecies played an important part in moving people to action during the Revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.B.))
Answer:
In reality, the rumours spread only if they create a feeling of awe and doubt among the people. The British policies created a sense of awe and terror in the minds of the people. So the rumours spread with a rapid speed. The following policies had a hand in the spread of the rumors:
- Under the leadership of Lord William Bentinck, the British Government was implementing special policies to reform the Indian society through the western system of education, western ideas, and western institutions.
- With the help of a few sections of society, they opened and established many English medium schools, colleges, and universities.
- The British formulated laws to abolish Sati Pratha in 1829 and legitimize the Hindu widow remarriage.
- The Christian Missionaries propagated Christianity in the whole of India.
- The adopted son was not recognized to inherit ’ the property of his parents.
- The cartridges were coated with the fat of cow or pig. The soldiers had to cut them, before use, with their teeth.
Question 8.
Art and Literature, as much as the writing of history, have helped in keeping alive the memory of 1857. Explain this statement by citing an example of Rani of Jhansi.
Or
“Visual images and literature as much as the writing of history have helped in keeping alive the memory of the revolt of 1857.” Assess this statement. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Or
Describe how art and literature helped in keeping alive, the memory of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
Art and literature played a significant role in keeping alive the memory of the Revolt of 1857. The writing of history also weaved around the revolt. It is evident from the following points:
1. The leaders of the revolt were presented as heroic figures. They were highly praised for having risen against oppressive imperial rule.
2. The events of 1857 were celebrated as the first war of independence in which all sections of the people of India put a joint battle against the repressive British rule.
3. The poets composed many heroic poems. For example, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan wrote the lines: “Khoob Lari Mardani Woh To Jhansi Wali Rani Thi”. The children in many parts of India grew up reading these lines about Rani of Jhansi who had fought valiantly against the British. She is often presented as a ‘mardana’ – masculine figure chasing the enemy.
She held a sword in one hand and the reins of the horse in the other. She wore armour and fought for the freedom of her motherland. She killed many British soldiers alone. She valiantly fought against the imperial rule till her last. So she is presented as a symbol of firm determination to resist injustice, oppression and alien rule.
Question 9.
Discuss the role of rumours and prophecies in the expansion of the Revolt of 1857.
Or
“Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving the people into action during the revolt of 1857”. Examine the statement with rumours and reasons for the believed.” (C.B.S.E. 2017 (O.D.))
Answer:
Rumours and prophecies played a significant role in the Revolt of 1857. It is clear from the following examples:
Rumours about Cartridges: There was a rumour that the new cartridges of Enfield Rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This rumor fried fire are the sepoy-lines of North India.
Rumors about Flour Mixed with Bone Dust: There was a rumor that the British had conspired to destroy the caste and religion of both the Hindus and the Muslims. Some people spread the rumour that the British had mixed bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour that was sold in the market. So the common people, as well as the sepoys in various cantonments, refused to touch and eat this flour. Some people considered it as the British attempt to convert Indians to Christianity. The British contradicted these rumours but nobody believed them.
Distribution of Chapattis: Another thing that defied any explanation was the distribution of chapattis from village to village. At night, a person gave five chapattis to the watchman of the village. He asked him to make five more chapattis and distribute them in the next village. The meaning and purpose of such distribution of the chapattis remained an enigma to most of the people.
Question 1.
Why were the Rumours Believed by the People? The rumours reflect the mind of the people who were agitated against the British. They brought out the fear and apprehensions, faiths and convictions of the people. They exposed the fears and suspicions of the people. It can be understood from the following points:
1.Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of the British Empire in India, introduced certain reforms in the Indian society. He introduced western education, western ideas, and western institutions. He set up English-medium institutions. But the Hindus considered his attempts as the methods of westernisation of Indiahi&ociety.
2. Lord William Bentinck abolished customs like Sati and child-marriage1,( British also permitted the remarriage of Hindu widows. But the traditional Hindus took these steps, as an interference in their religious affairs. They as if the British were bent upon to destroy all those sacred ideas that the Indians had long cherished.
3. As the people considered the alien rule as impersonal and oppressive, they believed in all rumors and prophecies about this British rule.
Question 2.
Why was the revolt in Awadh so extensive?
Answer:
Awadh was one of the major centres of the Revolt of 1857. It was, because of the following reasons:
- Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the beloved and popular leader of the people but the British dethroned him. They accused him of misgovernance and sent him on exile to Calcutta which increased discontentment among the people.
- The British army recruited a large number of sepoys from the villages of Awadh. These sepoys were given low wages and faced difficulty in getting leave; So they felt discontent and unhappy at the events that happened in Awadh.
- The sepoys of Awadh were also enraged because of the greased cartridges.
Question 3.
Was the Revolt of 1857 a struggle for freedom or a sepoy mutiny? Give arguments in support of your answers.
Answer:
The Revolt of 1857 was evidently a war for independence. It can be substantiated with the following arguments:
- It was a revolt in which sepoys, as well as the ordinary people, participated. ,
- The Hindus and the Muslims united to rise against the Britishers. They targeted not only the white men but also their allies like, the moneylenders who fleeced and oppressed the peasants.
- The people generally defied all kinds of authority and hierarchy.
Question 4.
How did the Nawab of Awadh become powerless with the Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
- The Nawab of Awadh was deprived of his military force with the subsidiary alliance. As a result, the Nawab became increasingly dependent on the British to maintain law and order within the state.
- Now he had no control over the rebellious chiefs and taluqdars.
Question 5.
What was the implication of the link between the sepoys and the rural world in the course of the uprising of 1857?
Answer:
The link between the sepoys and the rural world had a great impact on the nature of the uprising. When the sepoys defied the orders of their superiors and took up arms then the^were quickly joined by their relatives of villages. Everywhere people went over to towns and joined the collective acts of rebellion.
Question 6. “The condition of peasants of Awadh deteriorated with the removal of taluqdars.” Elucidate the statement.
Or
“The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.” Critically examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:
Taluqdars were oppressors even in the pre- British times but a number of taluqdars also appeared to be generous father figures in the eyes of masses. They used to extract a number of dues from the peasants but also helped them during their bad times. Now during the British rule, the peasants were directly exposed to the over-assessment of revenue and non-flexible methods of revenue collection.
There was no guarantee that the revenue demand of the state would be reduced or collection postponed in case of crop failure or in the times of hardship. Peasants also had no guarantee that they would get the loan and support in times of festivities which the taluqdars had earlier provided.
Question 7.
“Rumours circulate only when they resonate, with the deep fears and suspicion of the people.” How was this statement true in the context of the; Revolt of 1857? (CJ3.S.E. Sample Paper 2011)
“The rumours in 1857 began to make sense when seen in the context of the policies pursued by the British from the late 1820s.” Support your answer with evidence. (CJS.S.E. 2009 (D))
Or
Explain how rumours and prophecies played an important part in moving people to action during the Revolt of 1857. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.))
Answer:
In reality, the rumours spread only if they create a feeling of awe and doubt among the people. The British policies created a sense of awe and terror in the minds of the people. So the rumours spread with a rapid speed. The following policies had a hand in the spread of the rumors:
- Under the leadership of Lord William Bentinck, the British Government was implementing special policies to reform the Indian society through the western system of education, western ideas, and western institutions.
- With the help of a few sections of society, they opened and established many English medium schools, colleges, and universities.
- The British formulated laws to abolish Sati Pratha in 1829 and legitimize the Hindu widow remarriage.
Rebels and the Raj Important Extra Questions Source-Based
Question 1.
The Azamgarh Proclamation, 25 August 1857
This is one of the main sources of our knowledge about what the rebels wanted:
Section III — Regarding Public Servants: It is not a secret thing, that under the British Government, natives employed in the civil and military services have little respect, low pay, and no manner of influence; and all the posts of dignity and emolument in both the departments are exclusively bestowed on Englishmen, …… Therefore, all the natives in the British service ought to be alive to their religion and interest, and abjuring their loyalty to the English, side with the Badshahi Government, and obtain salaries of 200 and 300 rupees for the present, and be entitled to high posts in the future……..
Section TV—Regarding Artisans. It is evident that the Europeans, by the introduction of English articles into India, have thrown the weavers, the cotton dressers, the carpenters, the blacksmiths, and the shoemakers, etc., out of employ, and have engrossed their occupations, so that every description of native artisan has been reduced to beggary. But under the Badshahi Government, the native artisans will exclusively be employed in the service of the kings, the rajahs, and the rich; and this will no doubt ensure their prosperity Therefore, these artisans ought to renounce the English services.
(i) How did the introduction of English articles affect the artisans?
Answer:
With the arrival of a large number of foreign goods in India, the British established their sole control over all kinds of artisans. As a result, they became unemployed. Their condition became like that of the beggars.
(ii) How did the conditions of the artisans improve under the Badshahi Government?
Answer:
In the monarchical government, the native craftsmen were employed in the service of the kings and the rich people. In this way, they got a chance for their development. It brought a considerable change in their condition.
(iii) Why were the Public servants dissatisfied with the British Government?
Answer:
In the British government, the government servants were not given any respect. They were paid less. They were even devoid of any power. The status posts were given only to the Englishmen. So the Indian government employees were not satisfied with the British government.
(iv) What did the rebel proclamation repeatedly appeal for?
Answer:
The declarations of the revolutionaries appealed time and again that all the Indians should take special care of their religion and interest. They should give up their loyalty and service for the British and side with the monarchical government.
Question 2.
What the Sepoys Thought
This is one of the artist (petition or application) of rebel sepoys that have survived:
A century ago the British arrived in Hindostan and gradually entertained troops in their service, and became masters of every state. Our forefathers have always served them, and we also entered their service…By the mercy of God and with our assistance the British also conquered every place they liked, in which thousands of us, Hindustani men were sacrificed, but we never made any excuses or pretenses nor revolted…
But in the year eighteen fifty-seven, the British issued an order that new cartridges and muskets which had arrived from England were to be issued; in the former of which the fats of cows and pigs were mixed; and also that attach of wheat mixed with powdered bones was to be eaten; and even distributed them in every Regiment of infantry, cavalry, and artillery…
They gave these cartridges to the sowars (mounted soldiers) of the 3rd Light Cavalry, and ordered them to bite them; the troopers objected to it and said that they would never bite them, for if they did, their religion and faith would be destroyed… upon this the British officers paraded the men of the 3 Regiments and having prepared 1,400 English soldiers, and other Battalions of European troops and Horse Artillery, surrounded them, and placing six guns before each of the infantry regiments, loaded the guns with grape and made 84 new troopers prisoners, and put them in jail with irons on them… The reason that the sowars of the Cantonment were put into jail was that we should be frightened into biting the new cartridges.
On this account we and all our country-men having united together, have fought the British for the preservation of our faith…. we have been compelled to make war for two years and the Rajahs and Chiefs who are with us in faith and religion, are still so and have undergone all sorts of trouble; we have fought for two years in order that our faith and religion may not be polluted. If the religion of a Hindoo or Mussalman is lost, what remains in the world?
(i) With which rebellion were these sepoys associated?
Answer:
These sepoys were associated with the Revolt of 1857.
(ii) How did the Indian Youth help the British?
Answer:
The Indian youth won many regions for the British. They made many sacrifices to conquer these territories. They never retreated from achieving their mission.
(iii) Which order of the British led to the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
In 1857, the British issued an order that the Indian soldiers would have to use the new cartridges and muskets. These cartridges and muskets had the coating of the fat of cows and pigs. Besides the Indian soldiers were given the flour of wheat to eat. But this flour was mixed with bone dust of animals. The Indian soldiers felt that if they complied the British order, their religion and faith would be destroyed. So they united for the preservation of their faith. There was an acute dis¬contentment among them because of new cartridges and muskets.
(iv) How were the sepoys treated when they refused to use the new cartridges?
Answer:
When the Indian sepoys refused to use new cartridges and muskets, they were not treated well. The British became cruel and inflicted all kinds of troubles and tortures. All the Indian soldiers were surrounded and six guns were placed before each of the infantry regiment. Eighty-four soldiers were put behind bars to frighten all other soldiers.
Question 3.
Rebel of Rebellion Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an important part in the revolt of 1857. Educated in Hyderabad, he became a preacher when young. In 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jihad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. He moved in a palanquin, with drumbeaters in front and followers at the rear. He was therefore popularly called Danka Shah—the maulvi with the drum (danka). British officials panicked as thousands began following the Maulvi and many Muslims began seeing him as an inspired prophet.
When he reached Lucknow in 1856, he was stopped by the police from preaching in the city. Subsequently, in 1857, he was jailed in Faizabad. When released, he was elected by mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader. He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat in which the British forces under Henry Lawrence were defeated. He came to be known for his courage and power. Many people in fact believed that he was invincible, had magical powers, and could not be killed by the British. It was this belief that partly formed the basis of his authority.
(i) Who was Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah?
Answer:
Many maulvis played a significant role in the revolt of 1857. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of them.
(ii) Discuss his activities against the British in 1856.
Answer:
In 1856, he went from village to village and preached Jihad (religious war) against the British. He urged all the people to rebel against the British. He moved in a palanquin. The drum¬beaters moved before him. His followers moved at his back. So he was popularly called as Danka Shah, that is, the maulvi with a drum.
(iii) Why were the British officers tense? What did they do to control the activities of Ahmadullah Shah?
Answer:
The British officials felt tense and panicky when thousands of people followed the maulvi. He had become an inspired prophet for many Muslims. So the British wanted to control and check his activities. They stopped him from preaching in Lucknow in 1856 and he was sent to jail in Faizabad in 1857.
(iv) What did the people think about him?
Answer:
The people respected the maulvi for his courage and power. They considered him invincible and possessing magical powers.
Question 4.
The Rebel of 1857: Shah Mai
Shah Mai lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a clan of Jat cultivators whose kinship ties extended over chaurasia des (eighty-four villages). The lands in the region were irrigated and fertile, with rich dark loam soil. Many of the villagers were prosperous and saw the British land revenue system ass oppressive: the revenue demand was high and its collection inflexible. Consequently, cultivators were losing land to outsiders, to traders and moneylenders who were coming into the area.
Shah Mai mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasia des, moving at night from village to village, urging people to rebel against the British. As in many other places, the revolt against the British turned into a general rebellion against all signs of oppression and injustice. Cultivators left their fields and plundered the houses of moneylenders and traders. Displaced proprietors took possession of the lands they had lost. Shah Mai’s men attacked government buildings, destroyed the bridge over the river and dug up metalled roads – partly to prevent government forces from coming into the area, and partly because bridges and roads were seen as symbols of British rule.
They sent supplies to the sepoys who had mutinied in Delhi and stopped all official communication between British headquarters and Meerut. Locally acknowledged as the Raja, Shah Mai took over the bungalow of an English officer, turned it into a ‘hall of justice”, settling disputes and dispensing judgements. He also set up an amazingly effective network of intelligence. For a period the people of the area felt that firangi raj was over, and their raj had come. Shah Mai was killed in battle in July 1857.
(i) Name any four rebels of the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
(a) Bahadur Shah
(b) Nana Sahib
(c) Shah Mai
(d) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah.
(ii) Who was Shah Mai?
Answer:
Shah Mai lived in a large village which fell in Barout pargana in Uttar Pradesh. He was a Jat cultivator. His kinship ties extended over eighty-four villages.
(iii) What was the reason for the prosperity of most of the people of his village?
Answer:
Most of the villagers were prosperous because of the following:
(a) The land was fertile and well-irrigated.
(b) It had a rich dark loam soil.
(iv) Why were the people annoyed with the British Government?
Answers
The people were discontent with the British Rule because of the following:
(a) Their land revenue system was oppressive.
(b) The revenue demand was high.
(c) The collection of revenue was inflexible.
Question 5.
Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times
What happened in the cities during the months of the revolt? How did people live through those months of tumult? How was normal life affected? Reports from different cities tell us about the breakdown in routine activities. Read these reports from the Delhi Urdu Akhbar, 14 June 1857:
The same thing is true for vegetables and saag (spinach). People have been found to complain that even kaddu (pumpkin) and baingan (brinjal) cannot be found in the bazaars. Potatoes and arvi (yam) when available is of stale and rotten variety, stored from before by farsighted kunjras (vegetable growers). From the insides of the garden the city, some produce does reach a few places but the poor and the middle class can only lick their lips and watch them (as they are earmarked for the select).
There is something else that needs attention which is causing a lot of damage to the people which is that the water-carriers have stopped filling water. Poor Surface (gentility) are seen carrying water in pails on their shoulders and only then the necessary household tasks such as cooking, etc. can take place. The halalkhors (righteous) have become haramkhors (corrupt), many mohallas have not been able to earn for several days and if this situation continues then decay, death and disease will combine together to spoil the city’s air and an epidemic will spread all over the city and even to areas adjacent and around.
(i) From where has this report been taken?
Answer:
This report has been taken from the Delhi Urdu Akhbar dated 14 June 1857.
(ii) How was the normal life of the cities affected?
Answer:
Because of the Revolt of 1857, the normal life of the cities was affected. There was a complete breakdown of routine activities.
(iii) What was the position of vegetable supply in the cities?
Answer:
The supply of vegetable was disrupted. The people complained about the non-availability of even pumpkin and brinjal. If potatoes and; jam were available, they were stale and rotten. No doubt, some people brought vegetable from the gardens that existed in the cities. But these vegetables was very costly. Only the rich and the middle classes could afford it.
(iv) What does the second report tell us?
Answer:
According to the second report, the water- carriers had stopped filling water. Many people carried water in pails on their shoulders. It was used mostly for cooking.
