Indian Revolt of 1857 Practice Questions

Correct answer: Lord Canning

Lord Canning was the Governor-General when the revolt broke out. After the uprising, he also became the first Viceroy of India under the Government of India Act 1858.

Correct answer: Satara

Satara was annexed in 1848, marking the first application of the Doctrine of Lapse. This policy, which denied adopted heirs the right to the throne, was a major political cause of the 1857 revolt.

Correct answer: Barrackpore

On March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey of the 34th Native Infantry attacked his British officers at Barrackpore. This event is often cited as the immediate spark that led to the wider uprising.

Correct answer: Peshwa Nana Saheb

Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, led the struggle in Kanpur after being refused his pension by the British. He was ably assisted by his loyal commander Tantia Tope.

Correct answer: Bahadur Shah Zafar

Though elderly and having little actual power, Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the 'Shahenshah-e-Hindustan' by the rebellious sepoys. Following the revolt's failure, he was exiled to Rangoon by the British.

Correct answer: Lucknow

Begum Hazrat Mahal took charge of the affairs in Lucknow (Awadh) on behalf of her minor son, Birjis Qadr. She was one of the most resilient leaders, refusing to accept British pension or terms.

Correct answer: John Nicholson

John Nicholson led the siege of Delhi and was mortally wounded during the assault. The fall of Delhi in September 1857 was a decisive blow to the morale of the revolutionaries.

Correct answer: Kunwar Singh

Kunwar Singh, a local zamindar of Jagdishpur, led the revolt at the age of nearly 80. Despite his age and a severe injury, he fought several successful guerrilla battles against British forces.

Correct answer: Ramchandra Pandurang

Ramchandra Pandurang was Nana Saheb's general and is celebrated for his brilliant guerrilla tactics. He was eventually betrayed by a friend, captured, and executed by the British in 1859.

Correct answer: Government of India Act 1858

The Government of India Act 1858 ended the Company's rule and brought India under the direct governance of the British Crown. It established the office of the Secretary of State for India.

Correct answer: Sir Hugh Rose

Sir Hugh Rose led the British campaign in Central India and captured Jhansi. He paid this tribute to Rani Laxmi Bai after she died fighting valiantly on the battlefield at Gwalior.

Correct answer: Meerut

While Barrackpore saw an early incident, the organized mutiny began at the Meerut cantonment. The sepoys killed their officers, released their comrades, and marched toward Delhi.

Correct answer: Karl Marx

While V.D. Savarkar wrote 'The Indian War of Independence', Karl Marx wrote a series of articles for the New York Daily Tribune later compiled under this title. He analyzed the revolt as a national uprising against colonial rule.

Correct answer: Faizabad

Known as the 'Lighthouse of Rebellion', Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah led the resistance in Faizabad. He was considered a formidable enemy by British officers due to his ability to mobilize large crowds.

Correct answer: Peel Commission

The Peel Commission recommended increasing the ratio of European soldiers to Indian sepoys. It also introduced the policy of 'divide and rule' within the army by recruiting based on caste and region.

Correct answer: Khan Bahadur Khan

Khan Bahadur Khan, a descendant of the Rohilla chief, established his own government in Bareilly during the revolt. He was eventually captured and executed by the British after the town was retaken.

Correct answer: The introduction of Enfield Rifles

The introduction of the Enfield Rifle required soldiers to bite off the ends of cartridges rumored to be greased with beef and pork fat. This offended both Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments, triggering the mutiny.

Correct answer: Colin Campbell

Sir Colin Campbell, the Commander-in-Chief, led the final relief of Lucknow in March 1858. He played a central role in suppressing the uprising across North India.

Correct answer: Secret rebellion signals

Historians note that chapatis and lotus flowers were circulated among villages and military stations prior to the revolt. While their exact meaning is debated, they are widely seen as symbols used to coordinate the upcoming rebellion.

Correct answer: The Educated Indians

Many educated Indians viewed the revolt as a backward-looking movement and hoped that British rule would modernize India. Additionally, most big zamindars and several princely states provided active support to the British.