Revolt of 1857 — Set 4

Correct Answer: D. R.C. Majumdar

• **R.C. Majumdar** stated 1857 was **'neither First, nor National, nor a War of Independence'**. • He argued the uprising lacked a **unified national character** — individual interests dominated. • His book **'The Sepoy Mutiny and Revolt of 1857'** challenged the nationalist interpretation. • 💡 Savarkar = 'First War of Independence'; Disraeli = 'National Revolt'; S.N. Sen = balanced official view.

Correct Answer: C. Colin Campbell

• **Sir Colin Campbell** suppressed the revolt in **Kanpur** — defeated Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope. • Also played crucial role in **relief of Lucknow** (November 1857). • He became the new **Commander-in-Chief** of India after Anson died of cholera. • 💡 Nicholson = Delhi; Hugh Rose = Central India/Jhansi; Hudson = arrested Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Correct Answer: B. Nana Saheb

• **Azimullah Khan** was advisor and secretary to **Nana Saheb** at Kanpur. • He visited **London** to plead Nana Saheb's pension case — failed to get it restored. • Played a **strategic role** in organizing the revolt in Kanpur; understood British weaknesses. • 💡 Kunwar Singh's advisor = different person; Lakshmibai = Tantia Tope helped; Bahadur Shah = Bakht Khan.

Correct Answer: A. Rani Laxmibai

• **Rani Lakshmibai** led the revolt in **Jhansi** after British applied Doctrine of Lapse (1853). • Refused to surrender the kingdom — fought valiantly; became **icon of resistance**. • Died fighting at **Gwalior on 18 June 1858** — praised even by enemy General Hugh Rose. • 💡 Doctrine of Lapse: Jhansi annexed 1853 (adopted son Damodar Rao denied); Gangadhar Rao = her husband.

Correct Answer: B. Syed Ahmed Khan

• **Sir Syed Ahmed Khan** wrote **'Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind'** (Causes of the Indian Revolt). • He analyzed causes from an **Indian perspective** — argued lack of Indian representation was primary cause. • He later founded the **Aligarh Movement** — worked for Muslim education and cooperation with British. • 💡 Mirza Ghalib = poet, not historian; Maulana Azad = 20th century leader; Liaquat Ali = Pakistan PM.

Correct Answer: D. Sambalpur

• **Surendra Sai** led the revolt in **Sambalpur, Orissa** — claimant to the Sambalpur throne. • Had been imprisoned by British; **escaped during 1857 disturbances** and continued resistance for years. • He was finally captured in **1864** and imprisoned in Asirgarh Fort till his death in 1884. • 💡 Khordha = Paika Rebellion (1817); Puri = Jagannath; Cuttack = administrative centre; Sambalpur = Surendra Sai.

Correct Answer: C. Serve overseas if required

• **General Service Enlistment Act 1856** required new recruits to serve **anywhere — including overseas**. • Crossing the sea ('**Kala Pani**') meant loss of caste for upper-caste Hindus — major grievance. • This Act created fear and resentment among sepoys alongside the greased cartridge issue. • 💡 Loss of caste = religious cause; Awadh annexation = political cause; cartridges = immediate/spark cause.

Correct Answer: D. Maniram Dewan

• **Maniram Dewan** led the revolt in **Assam** — planned to restore Ahom king **Kandarpeshwar Singh**. • Plot was discovered by British — Maniram Dewan was **executed** in 1858. • He was the first Assamese tea planter and a close associate of the Ahom royal family. • 💡 Lachit Borphukan = 17th century Ahom hero (not 1857); Gomdhar Konwar = minor participant; Maniram = leader.

Correct Answer: A. James Outram

• **James Outram** (and W. Taylor) called 1857 a **'Hindu-Muslim Conspiracy'** to restore Mughal rule. • They believed it was a plot to overthrow British — **modern historians consider this biased**. • This view ignored the genuine economic, political, and religious grievances of the people. • 💡 T.R. Holmes = called it 'Puritan Revolution'; Dalrymple = modern historian; Rees = another British view.

Correct Answer: C. 19th Native Infantry

• **19th Native Infantry** mutinied at **Berhampur** in **February 1857** over the cartridge issue. • They were **disbanded** by the British administration. • This event preceded the Barrackpore incident (Mangal Pandey, 29 March) and Meerut (10 May). • 💡 34th NI = Mangal Pandey's regiment (Barrackpore); 3rd Cavalry = Meerut; 19th NI = Berhampur (first mutiny).