Revolt of 1857 — Set 8

Correct Answer: B. May 11, 1857

After the Meerut revolt began on the evening of May 10, 1857, the rebel sepoys marched through the night and reached Delhi on the morning of May 11, 1857. They went to the Red Fort and demanded that Bahadur Shah Zafar accept their leadership and lead the revolt against the British. Though initially reluctant, Zafar eventually agreed, and Delhi became the center of the revolt. The proclamation of the aged Mughal emperor as their symbolic leader gave the revolt a national and historical significance.

Correct Answer: B. The rebels defeated the British forces under Lawrence, leading to the siege of Lucknow Residency

The Battle of Chinhat on June 30, 1857, was a major rebel victory near Lucknow, where Indian forces under Barkat Ahmad defeated the British column sent out by Henry Lawrence. The British defeat at Chinhat was disastrous and forced the entire British garrison in Lucknow to retreat to the Residency. This defeat initiated the siege of the Lucknow Residency that would last for months. Henry Lawrence himself was mortally wounded during the subsequent siege and died on July 4, 1857.

Correct Answer: C. Tantia Tope

Tantia Tope (Ramchandra Panduranga) was Nana Sahib's able military commander who displayed exceptional tactical skills during the 1857 revolt. He fought at Kanpur, then went on to assist Rani Lakshmibai at Jhansi and Gwalior. After the fall of these centers, Tantia Tope evaded the British for nearly a year, conducting a successful guerrilla campaign across central India. He was finally betrayed by Man Singh, a Maratha chief, captured in April 1859, and hanged at Shivpuri.

Correct Answer: B. It proposed allowing Indian judges to try Europeans, showing continued racial tensions from the post-1857 period

The Ilbert Bill of 1883 proposed to allow senior Indian judges to try European defendants in criminal cases — a basic matter of judicial equality. However, it faced fierce opposition from the British community in India who believed Indians were not fit to judge Europeans. The controversy reflected the racial hierarchy and tensions that had hardened after the 1857 revolt, when British attitudes toward Indians became more hostile and paternalistic. The eventual passage of a watered-down bill showed the limits of reform in post-1857 colonial India.

Correct Answer: B. He traveled to Britain and Turkey to seek support against the British and reported on British weaknesses during the Crimean War

Azimullah Khan was Nana Sahib's diplomatic representative and advisor who traveled to Britain in the early 1850s to plead Nana Sahib's case for his pension. While in Britain and Istanbul, he observed British society and the British military's difficulties in the Crimean War (1853-56). He reportedly drew the conclusion that Britain could be defeated and returned to India with knowledge of British vulnerabilities. He is credited with helping to plan and coordinate the revolt, though his exact role remains debated by historians.

Correct Answer: B. Railway expansion was accelerated to move troops quickly, showing the strategic importance the British placed on infrastructure for military control

One of the key lessons the British drew from the 1857 revolt was the strategic importance of railways for rapid troop movement. The inadequacy of transport infrastructure had hampered British response to the revolt, and railways had shown their value in moving troops where they existed. After 1857, the British significantly accelerated railway construction in India, with military and strategic considerations now given high priority alongside commercial ones. By the 1880s, India had one of the most extensive railway networks in Asia, partly built for military purposes.

Correct Answer: B. It was disbanded by the British as collective punishment

The 34th Bengal Native Infantry was disbanded by the British in May 1857 as punishment for Mangal Pandey's attack on British officers and the regiment's failure to intervene. The British saw the regiment's inaction — its members refusing to arrest Pandey or stop him — as collective guilt. The regiment was formally dissolved, and its members were stripped of their arms and dismissed. This dissolution itself became a grievance among sepoys and added to the tense atmosphere leading to the Meerut revolt on May 10, 1857.

Correct Answer: B. Refusing to use the greased cartridges during drill practice

The 85 sepoys of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry at Meerut who were imprisoned on May 9, 1857, had refused to use the new Enfield rifle cartridges during a practice drill, believing them to be greased with cow and pig fat. They were court-martialed, sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, and publicly humiliated by having their uniform buttons stripped in front of the assembled regiment. This public shaming of fellow soldiers outraged their comrades and directly triggered the Meerut revolt the following day on May 10, 1857.

Correct Answer: B. Pamphlets and proclamations were circulated by rebel leaders appealing to soldiers and common people to join the fight against the British

During the 1857 revolt, rebel leaders issued proclamations and pamphlets in Urdu, Hindi, and other languages appealing to Indian soldiers, zamindars, and the general public to join the uprising. These proclamations often emphasized religious themes — the threat to Hinduism and Islam — and called for the restoration of Mughal or Indian rule. Bahadur Shah Zafar's court issued such proclamations, as did regional leaders like Begum Hazrat Mahal. These documents are important historical sources that reveal how the rebel leaders framed and communicated their cause.

Correct Answer: B. A small group of British soldiers blew it up during the assault on Delhi, enabling British troops to enter the city

The Kashmir Gate of Delhi became a site of legendary British bravery during the September 1857 assault to recapture the city. A small group of British soldiers — Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, Sergeant Carmichael, and bugler Hawthorne, among others — crept up to the gate under fire and blew it up with powder bags. This breach allowed the British assault column to enter the city and begin the recapture of Delhi. Three of the men who blew up the gate were posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honor.