Revolt of 1857 — Set 11

Correct Answer: B. Subedar (junior commissioned officer) in the Bengal Artillery

Bakht Khan was a subedar (a junior commissioned officer rank) in the Bengal Artillery stationed at Bareilly before the revolt. He was an experienced soldier who had served in the First Anglo-Afghan War. When the revolt broke out at Bareilly, he led his forces to Delhi and became the commander-in-chief of the rebel forces there. His military experience and organizational abilities made him one of the most effective rebel commanders, though he faced challenges coordinating with the elderly and indecisive Bahadur Shah Zafar's court.

Correct Answer: B. Scindias of Gwalior

The Scindias (Sindhias) of Gwalior initially remained loyal to the British during the 1857 revolt. However, their own soldiers (the Gwalior Contingent) mutinied and joined the rebels, eventually allowing Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmibai to capture Gwalior in June 1858. The Scindia ruler himself fled to British protection. This was an embarrassment for British policy of relying on princely rulers, but ultimately the pro-British Scindia army helped in the overall suppression after the British retook Gwalior.

Correct Answer: B. British troops and their families who had surrendered to Nana Sahib were attacked while boarding boats at Kanpur

The Sati Chaura Ghat incident occurred on June 27, 1857, at Kanpur, when the British garrison that had surrendered to Nana Sahib boarded boats to evacuate. As they were boarding, firing broke out — the circumstances and who fired first remain disputed. Most British men were killed, and the surviving British women and children were taken prisoner to Bibi Ghar. The incident was seen by the British as a treacherous massacre of surrendered soldiers, and it hardened British determination for brutal revenge after they recaptured Kanpur.

Correct Answer: D. 160

The REB series contains 160 questions in English (REB001 to REB160), covering all aspects of the Revolt of 1857, including its causes, major leaders, British response, and aftermath. The series is designed to provide comprehensive coverage of this important topic for competitive examinations. Each question comes with a detailed 3-4 sentence explanation to help students understand the historical context and significance of each event or personality.

Correct Answer: B. They were a distinct ethnic and national group with their own traditions, not Hindu-caste sepoys, and had a treaty relationship with the British

Gurkha troops from Nepal were loyal to the British during the 1857 revolt for several reasons. They were ethnically distinct from the Bengal Army sepoys and had different religious traditions (though Hindu, they were not affected by the caste-based grievances of the Gangetic plain soldiers). The British had a treaty relationship with Nepal since 1816, and Nepal's ruler Jung Bahadur Rana actively supported the British. Gurkha soldiers were renowned for their fighting ability and became a key component of the British forces that helped suppress the revolt.

Correct Answer: B. False — Indians were not eligible for the Victoria Cross in 1857

Indians were not eligible to receive the Victoria Cross during the 1857 revolt. The Victoria Cross was established in 1856 but was initially restricted to British and Commonwealth subjects who were eligible, and Indian soldiers were excluded from the award at that time. Indian soldiers could receive the Indian Order of Merit instead. Indians only became eligible for the Victoria Cross in 1911. The Victoria Cross was awarded to several British soldiers for bravery during the 1857 revolt, such as those who blew up the Kashmir Gate at Delhi.

Correct Answer: B. It reduces a broad popular uprising to a mere military rebellion and denies its political and national character

Indian historians object to the term 'Mutiny' for 1857 because it reduces a complex, multi-layered uprising to a simple act of military insubordination. The term denies the political grievances, popular participation, and national aspirations that characterized the revolt. Calling it a 'Mutiny' implies that the Indian soldiers were simply disloyal employees rather than people with legitimate political and religious grievances against colonial rule. The Indian government and most modern Indian historians prefer terms like 'First War of Independence' or 'Great Uprising' to reflect its broader significance.

Correct Answer: C. 2007

The 150th anniversary of the 1857 revolt was commemorated in India in 2007, exactly 150 years after the revolt began on May 10, 1857. The Government of India organized numerous events to honor the memories of Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Veer Kunwar Singh, and other heroes of the revolt. Postage stamps were issued, memorials were inaugurated, and academic conferences were held across the country. The commemoration reflected the revolt's enduring significance in India's national memory and historical consciousness.

Correct Answer: C. Annexation on grounds of misgovernance

Awadh was not annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse (which required no natural heir) but on grounds of alleged misgovernance under its ruler Wajid Ali Shah. Lord Dalhousie claimed that Awadh was poorly administered and that it was the duty of the Company to save the people from their ruler's misgovernment. This justification was widely seen as a pretext, and the annexation was controversial even in Britain. The injustice of this annexation — which removed a popular and artistic ruler — created massive resentment in Awadh and contributed directly to the revolt.

Correct Answer: B. Rumor that cartridges were greased with a mixture that included animal fat, closely associated with the Enfield cartridge controversy

The 'neem and tallow' rumor was one of the early versions of the greased cartridge controversy. Sepoys heard that the lubricant used in the new Enfield cartridges was made from a mixture containing animal fat — either from cows (beef tallow, offensive to Hindus) or pigs (lard, offensive to Muslims). These rumors spread rapidly through the Bengal Army from early 1857 onwards. The British government attempted to reassure the soldiers and even allowed them to grease the cartridges themselves, but the damage to trust was already done and the revolt broke out regardless.