Revolt of 1857 — Set 7

Correct Answer: C. Lord Dalhousie

The Doctrine of Lapse was most aggressively implemented by Lord Dalhousie, who served as Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. Under this policy, he annexed Satara (1848), Jaipur (1849), Sambhalpur (1849), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854). He also annexed Awadh (1856) on different grounds of misgovernance. Dalhousie's aggressive annexation policies created widespread resentment among Indian rulers, their courts, and soldiers — contributing significantly to the causes of the 1857 revolt.

Correct Answer: B. Lord William Bentinck

The Sati Regulation Act of 1829 was passed under Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, declaring the practice of sati (widow immolation) illegal. While this was seen by British reformers and many educated Indians as a humanitarian reform, conservative sections of Indian society viewed it as interference in their religious customs. This act, along with other social reforms like widow remarriage and age of consent legislation, contributed to fears that the British intended to systematically destroy Indian religion and culture. These fears were a background cause of the 1857 revolt.

Correct Answer: B. He commanded the first attempt to relieve the Lucknow Residency

General Henry Havelock commanded the first British force that attempted to relieve the besieged Lucknow Residency in 1857. He recaptured Kanpur from Nana Sahib before marching to Lucknow, fighting several engagements along the way. He entered the Residency in September 1857 with General Outram, but his force was too small to evacuate the defenders and they too became besieged. Havelock died of dysentery at Lucknow in November 1857 just days after Sir Colin Campbell's final relief force arrived.

Correct Answer: B. Marked the transition from Company rule to Crown rule and inspired future nationalist movements

The Revolt of 1857 is a landmark event in Indian history for several reasons. It directly led to the end of East India Company rule and the beginning of direct British Crown governance through the Government of India Act 1858. The revolt demonstrated the potential of armed resistance against colonialism and later became a powerful symbol of inspiration for Indian nationalists. Events like the heroism of Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, and Veer Kunwar Singh became part of India's nationalist mythology and inspired freedom fighters in subsequent generations.

Correct Answer: D. Bahadur Shah Zafar II

Bahadur Shah Zafar II was the last Emperor of the Mughal dynasty, ruling a nominal kingdom in Delhi. He was a poet and calligrapher, known for his Urdu poetry, rather than a political or military ruler. When the 1857 revolt broke out, the rebel sepoys declared him Emperor of India, giving him a role he was reluctant to accept. After the revolt's failure, he was tried for treason, exiled to Rangoon, and died there in 1862, ending the Mughal dynasty that had ruled India for over 300 years.

Correct Answer: B. It legalized widow remarriage in India, which was seen by conservatives as British interference in Hindu religion and custom

The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 was passed by Lord Dalhousie's government to legalize widow remarriage, which had been banned by Hindu customs for upper-caste widows. While championed by social reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, conservative Hindus saw it as British interference in their religious and social practices. This act, coming just one year before the revolt, added to fears that the British were systematically dismantling Hindu traditions. These cumulative social reforms contributed to religious anxieties that made the sepoys more receptive to revolt.

Correct Answer: B. Maulvi Liaqat Ali led the revolt in Allahabad

Allahabad (modern Prayagraj) was a significant center of the 1857 revolt where Maulvi Liaqat Ali, a local Muslim leader, played a major role in leading the uprising. The rebel forces briefly captured the city, though the British suppressed the revolt there with particular ferocity. Allahabad was strategically important as a major garrison and administrative center. The British suppression in Allahabad under Neill was notably brutal, involving mass executions and destruction of villages.

Correct Answer: B. They had their own reasons including regional rivalries, past conflicts with other rebel leaders, or hoped to gain British favor and protection of their territories

Several Indian rulers, like the Maharaja of Patiala, Nabha, Jind (Sikh rulers of Punjab), and Scindias of Gwalior, supported the British during the 1857 revolt for various reasons. Some had benefited from British support against rivals, while others feared losing their own territories if the revolt succeeded and the Mughals regained power. Sikh rulers in particular had no desire to see Mughal or Maratha power restored. The British also promised rewards and protection of territories to those who remained loyal, providing strong incentives for collaboration.

Correct Answer: C. Transfer of India's governance from the East India Company to the British Crown

The most significant administrative change brought about by the 1857 revolt was the transfer of India's governance from the East India Company to the British Crown through the Government of India Act 1858. The Company, which had governed British India since the 18th century, was dissolved. A Secretary of State for India, assisted by a Council of India, was appointed in London. In India, the Governor-General received the additional title of Viceroy as representative of the Crown, beginning the era of direct British imperial rule known as the British Raj.

Correct Answer: B. A military and political system by Lord Wellesley where Indian states hosted British troops at their own expense

The Subsidiary Alliance was a political and military system introduced by Lord Wellesley (Governor-General 1798-1805) to extend British control over Indian states. Under this system, Indian rulers had to maintain a British subsidiary force at their own expense, accept a British Resident, and conduct all foreign relations through the British. States that couldn't meet the financial burden had to cede territory, gradually losing sovereignty. This system created dependent and eventually powerless Indian states, contributing to the resentment that fueled the 1857 revolt.