Revolt of 1857 — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. Required soldiers to serve overseas, which was taboo for high-caste Hindus

The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 required all new recruits in the Bengal Army to serve overseas if needed. For high-caste Hindu soldiers, crossing the sea (kala pani) was considered religiously polluting and meant loss of caste. This act was deeply resented as it threatened the religious and social identity of Hindu sepoys. It added to the existing military grievances and contributed to the explosive atmosphere that led to the revolt.

Correct Answer: B. Vellore Mutiny

The Vellore Mutiny of 1806 is considered an important precedent to the 1857 revolt. Indian sepoys at Vellore mutinied against new dress regulations that they felt insulted their religion, such as prohibiting caste marks and turbans. The mutiny was suppressed within hours but it showed that religious grievances could trigger armed resistance. It demonstrated the explosive potential of interference with the religious customs of Indian soldiers.

Correct Answer: B. A rebel leader from Bareilly who declared himself Nawab

Khan Bahadur Khan was the leader of the 1857 revolt in Bareilly (present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was a descendant of the former Nawab of Rohilkhand and declared himself the Nawab of Bareilly after the British were driven out. He organized and led the rebel forces in the Rohilkhand region throughout the revolt. After the suppression, he was captured, tried, and hanged by the British in 1860.

Correct Answer: B. A spiritual and military leader known as 'the Light of the Revolt' based in Faizabad

Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, also called 'Danka Shah,' was a powerful religious and military leader of the 1857 revolt in the Faizabad region. He preached resistance against the British and gathered large numbers of followers before the revolt officially broke out. The British put a price on his head and he fought bravely in several engagements near Lucknow and Awadh. He was eventually killed in June 1858 by the Raja of Puwayan who claimed the British reward.

Correct Answer: B. Bakht Khan

Bakht Khan was a subedar (junior commissioned officer) in the Bengal Artillery who led the rebel sepoy forces from Bareilly to Delhi in July 1857. He became the commander-in-chief of the rebel forces in Delhi and was a key military figure of the revolt. He tried to organize effective resistance against the British but faced challenges from lack of unity and coordination. After the fall of Delhi, he fled and continued to fight before eventually dying in Nepal.

Correct Answer: B. The Chief Commissioner of Awadh who organized the defense of Lucknow Residency and died during the siege

Sir Henry Lawrence was the Chief Commissioner of Awadh who organized the defense of the Lucknow Residency when the revolt broke out in 1857. He gathered British soldiers, civilians, and loyal Indian troops in the Residency and fortified it against the rebel siege. He died on July 4, 1857, from wounds received during the siege, having served with great courage. His epitaph, reportedly written by himself, reads: 'Here lies Henry Lawrence who tried to do his duty.'

Correct Answer: C. John Nicholson

John Nicholson was a British officer famous for his role in securing Punjab during the revolt and leading the assault on Delhi in September 1857. He commanded the column that stormed Delhi and played a decisive role in the recapture of the city from the rebels. He was mortally wounded during the assault and died on September 23, 1857. His aggressive leadership and personal bravery made him one of the most celebrated British officers of the revolt period.

Correct Answer: C. Colin Campbell

Sir Colin Campbell, Commander-in-Chief of India, led the final relief of the Lucknow Residency in November 1857. Earlier relief attempts had been made by Generals Havelock and Outram who had reached the Residency in September but were themselves besieged. Campbell organized a larger force and successfully evacuated the defenders in November 1857. He went on to suppress much of the remaining revolt and was later made Lord Clyde in recognition of his services.

Correct Answer: B. It transferred control of India from the East India Company to the British Crown

The Government of India Act 1858 was a direct consequence of the 1857 revolt and marked one of the most significant administrative changes in Indian history. It abolished the East India Company's rule and transferred governance of India directly to the British Crown. Queen Victoria issued a royal proclamation on November 1, 1858, promising equal treatment for Indians and non-interference in their religious affairs. A Secretary of State for India was appointed in Britain to oversee Indian administration.

Correct Answer: B. The Indian War of Independence 1857

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar wrote 'The Indian War of Independence 1857,' published in 1909, in which he presented the revolt as a planned national uprising and the first war of independence against British rule. The British government banned the book before its publication in India, which only increased its popularity among nationalists. Savarkar argued that the revolt was not merely a mutiny of disgruntled soldiers but a national struggle for freedom. His interpretation became influential in shaping the nationalist view of 1857.