Revolt of 1857 — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Sepoys were forced to lick cartridges containing saltpeter during arms drill

Before the greased cartridge issue, there were already rumors and grievances related to the use of saltpeter (potassium nitrate) during weapons drill. Some sepoys alleged that they were being made to touch or lick substances containing materials that were religiously offensive to them. These earlier grievances about chemical substances in military use created a climate of religious suspicion. When the greased cartridge controversy broke out in 1857, sepoys were already primed to see it as part of a British conspiracy to destroy their religion.

Correct Answer: D. Gwalior

Gwalior was one of the last major strongholds to fall during the 1857 revolt, captured by the British in June 1858. Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmibai had captured Gwalior from its ruler who was loyal to the British, giving the rebels a major fort and treasury. The British launched a fierce counterattack and recaptured Gwalior on June 20, 1858, three days after Rani Lakshmibai died in battle. Even after Gwalior's fall, Tantia Tope continued guerrilla warfare until he was captured and executed in April 1859.

Correct Answer: C. 42 days

Mangal Pandey's attack on British officers at Barrackpore occurred on March 29, 1857, and he was executed on April 8, 1857. The formal outbreak of the revolt at Meerut happened on May 10, 1857, which was approximately 42 days after Pandey's incident. This gap shows that the revolt was not entirely spontaneous but had a period of building tension and communication among sepoys. The news of Pandey's incident and execution spread through the Bengal Army and contributed to the Meerut uprising.

Correct Answer: B. Son of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, proclaimed Nawab of Awadh

Birjis Qadar was the minor son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh and Begum Hazrat Mahal. When the revolt broke out in Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal proclaimed her young son Birjis Qadar as the Nawab of Awadh to give legitimacy to the rebellion. He was used as a symbol of the old Awadh dynasty's claim to rule against British annexation. After the revolt failed, both Birjis Qadar and his mother fled to Nepal where they lived in exile.

Correct Answer: B. The Bengal Army was reorganized, European troops were increased, and artillery was placed exclusively under British command

After the 1857 revolt, the British completely reorganized the Indian Army to prevent a future uprising. The Bengal Army, which had provided most of the rebel sepoys, was completely reconstructed. The proportion of British to Indian troops was increased, and artillery was placed exclusively under British officers' command. Regiments were reorganized on the basis of caste, religion, and ethnicity to prevent a unified Indian mutiny, following a policy of 'divide and rule' in military recruitment.

Correct Answer: C. Sikh soldiers loyal to the British after the Anglo-Sikh Wars

Sikh soldiers, who had been defeated in the Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845-46 and 1848-49) and incorporated into the British Indian Army, played a crucial role in helping the British suppress the 1857 revolt. The Sikh community had its own reasons to oppose the Sepoy-dominated Bengal Army, which had participated in the conquest of Punjab. Sikh and Gurkha regiments remained loyal and were used to help recapture Delhi and suppress revolts in other areas. This Sikh loyalty was later a cornerstone of British military policy in India.

Correct Answer: B. The mysterious passing of chappatis from village to village, possibly as a signal of impending revolt

In the weeks and months before the 1857 revolt, there was a mysterious phenomenon where chappatis (unleavened bread) were passed from village to village, supposedly as a signal or warning of impending trouble. The exact meaning and purpose of this 'chappati movement' has never been definitively explained by historians. Some viewed it as a coded message among conspirators, while others saw it as a folk tradition. This phenomenon contributed to the atmosphere of tension and anticipation that preceded the revolt.

Correct Answer: B. Pass secretly among sepoy regiments as a call to revolt

Similar to the chappati movement, lotus flowers were reportedly passed among sepoy regiments in the period before the revolt broke out in 1857. The exact meaning of the lotus symbol — whether it was a deliberate signal to revolt or had some other significance — remains unclear. Some historians believe these symbols were used as a covert communication network among sepoys planning to revolt. The passing of both chappatis and lotus flowers suggests a level of prior organization and communication among the rebels.

Correct Answer: B. Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General responsible for the annexation of Awadh (Oudh) in February 1856, just one year before the revolt. He justified the annexation on grounds of alleged misgovernment by the Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah. The annexation was controversial even among some British officials who felt it was high-handed and unjust. Dalhousie retired in early 1856 before the revolt broke out, and it was his successor Lord Canning who had to deal with the consequences of these annexations.

Correct Answer: B. Many initially submitted to the British but then joined the revolt after the British dispossessed them

The taluqdars (large landholders) of Awadh initially submitted to the British when Awadh was annexed in 1856. However, the British then dispossessed many taluqdars of their estates, alienating them from the new administration. When the 1857 revolt broke out, most Awadh taluqdars joined the uprising, providing it with resources, local knowledge, and the support of their peasant tenants. This gave the Awadh revolt a broad popular character that went beyond just the sepoys and made it one of the most tenacious centers of resistance.