Revolt of 1857 — Set 1

Correct Answer: C. V.D. Savarkar

• **V.D. Savarkar** called 1857 the **'First War of Independence'** in his 1909 book. • Book titled **'The Indian War of Independence 1857'** — written while imprisoned. • R.C. Majumdar disagreed; S.N. Sen was **official govt historian** for centenary 1957. • 💡 Others: Disraeli = 'National Revolt'; John Lawrence = 'Sepoy Mutiny'; S.B. Chaudhuri = 'Civil Rebellion'.

Correct Answer: D. Lotus and Bread

• **Lotus and Chapati (Bread)** were symbols passed village-to-village before 1857 revolt. • Chapati movement: exact origin/meaning still **debated by historians**. • Lotus = unity among sepoys; Chapati = signal to common people of coming uprising. • 💡 Wrong options: Gun+Rose, Eagle+Snake, Sword+Shield — none historically used as revolt symbols.

Correct Answer: D. Madras

• **Madras Presidency** remained largely peaceful during the 1857 revolt. • Revolt concentrated in **North + Central India** — Bengal, UP, Bihar, MP were epicentres. • **Punjab** also stayed calm; Sikhs even helped British suppress the revolt. • 💡 Awadh = most intense revolt; Rohilkhand = active; Bihar = Kunwar Singh; Madras = peaceful.

Correct Answer: A. 34th Native Infantry

• **Mangal Pandey** was a sepoy in **34th Bengal Native Infantry** at Barrackpore. • On **29 March 1857**, he attacked British officers — court-martialed and hanged **8 April 1857**. • The 34th NI was subsequently **disbanded** by the British after this incident. • 💡 19th NI = mutinied at Berhampur (Feb 1857); 3rd Cavalry = Meerut uprising (May 1857).

Correct Answer: B. Begum Hazrat Mahal

• **Begum Hazrat Mahal** led the revolt in **Lucknow** for her minor son **Birjis Qadir**. • She refused British annexation of **Awadh** (1856) under Dalhousie's maladministration pretext. • After British recapture, she escaped to **Nepal** where she died in 1879. • 💡 Tantia Tope = Central India commander; Rani Lakshmibai = Jhansi; Kunwar Singh = Bihar.

Correct Answer: B. 10 May 1857

• The revolt formally began at **Meerut on 10 May 1857** — sepoys broke jails and marched to Delhi. • Next day **11 May 1857**, rebels reached Delhi and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as leader. • Mangal Pandey's earlier incident at Barrackpore was **29 March 1857** — separate precursor event. • 💡 29 March = Barrackpore (Mangal Pandey); 10 May = Meerut (formal start); 11 May = Delhi reached.

Correct Answer: D. Viscount Palmerston

• **Viscount Palmerston** was British PM during the Revolt of 1857. • His government passed the **Government of India Act 1858** — ended East India Company rule. • Under Palmerston's tenure, Queen Victoria's **Royal Proclamation** was issued November 1858. • 💡 Gladstone, Churchill, Attlee = all later PMs; Palmerston was PM during 1855–1858 and 1859–1865.

Correct Answer: D. Rangoon

• **Bahadur Shah Zafar** was deported to **Rangoon (Yangon), Burma** after the revolt. • Tried for treason; exiled with wife **Zeenat Mahal** — died in Rangoon **1862**. • He was the **last Mughal Emperor** — his sons were shot dead by Lt. Hodson at Humayun's Tomb. • 💡 He was arrested at Humayun's Tomb Delhi; NOT sent to London/Andaman/Nepal.

Correct Answer: C. S.N. Sen

• **S.N. Sen** was the **official historian** appointed by Govt of India to write about 1857. • His book **'Eighteen Fifty-Seven'** published in **1957** — centenary of the revolt. • He gave a balanced view: acknowledged both **sepoy mutiny** and **popular rebellion** aspects. • 💡 Savarkar = 'First War of Independence'; R.C. Majumdar = critic; S.B. Chaudhuri = 'Civil Rebellion'.

Correct Answer: C. Hugh Rose

• **General Hugh Rose** defeated **Rani Lakshmibai** in battles of Jhansi and Gwalior (1858). • He called her **'the only man among the rebels'** — highest tribute from an enemy commander. • Rani died fighting on the battlefield at **Gwalior on 18 June 1858**. • 💡 Hugh Rose suppressed Central India; Colin Campbell = Lucknow/Kanpur; Nicholson = Delhi.