Revolt of 1857

11. Name the rebel who fought against the British in the battle of Chinhat

Name the rebel who fought against the British in the battle of Chinhat in the course of the 1857 Revolt ?

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Ahmadullah Shah
Shah Mal
Mangal Pandey
Kunwar Singh
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Ahmadullah Shah fought against the British in the battle of Chinhat in the course of the 1857 Revolt.
Ahmadullah Shah, also known as the Maulvi of Faizabad, was a prominent leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He led the rebel forces in the Battle of Chinhat (June 30, 1857) near Lucknow, inflicting a heavy defeat on the British forces led by Sir Henry Lawrence, before the British retreated into the Lucknow Residency.
Shah Mal was a rebel leader who organized villagers in the area around Baraut in the North-Western Provinces. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy whose actions in Barrackpore in March 1857 are often considered the spark that ignited the Mutiny, but he was executed early in the revolt and was not involved in Chinhat. Kunwar Singh was a prominent rebel leader from Jagdishpur, Bihar, who led the revolt in his region.

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12. Which one of the following was NOT a cause of the Revolt of 1857 ?

Which one of the following was NOT a cause of the Revolt of 1857 ?

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The rumour that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour being sold in the market
The prophecy that British rule would come to an end on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey on 23rd June, 1857
Popular discontent with British rule
The prophecy that the end of British rule would lead to the end of the Kali Yuga and the return of Ram Rajya
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The prophecy that the end of British rule would lead to the end of the Kali Yuga and the return of Ram Rajya was NOT a known cause of the Revolt of 1857.
The Revolt of 1857 had multiple causes, including political grievances, economic exploitation, social and religious factors, and military issues. Rumours, prophecies, and popular discontent played a significant role in igniting and spreading the rebellion.
Options A, B, and C are all widely recognized causes or contributing factors to the Revolt of 1857. The rumour about greased cartridges and contaminated flour (A) was a major immediate trigger, playing on religious fears. The belief tied to the centenary of the Battle of Plassey (B) reflects the anti-British sentiment and anticipation of the end of their rule. Popular discontent (C) was a pervasive underlying cause stemming from decades of British policies. While the revolt had religious dimensions and rebels often fought for the restoration of traditional rule (like the Mughal Emperor or Maratha Peshwa), the specific prophecy regarding Kali Yuga and Ram Rajya (D) is not typically listed among the established major causes or motivating factors of the revolt in historical accounts.

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13. Which of the following statements about the first act of the Revolt of

Which of the following statements about the first act of the Revolt of 1857 is/are true ?

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  • It occurred in Meerut when two sepoys stole a superior officer’s rifle.
  • It began when the Rani of Jhansi declared war on the British.
  • It began when Mangal Pandey fired at a European officer in Meerut.
  • It began when Mangal Pandey fired at a European officer in Barrackpore.

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2 only
1, 2 and 3 only
4 only
1 and 4 only
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The correct answer is C) 4 only.
Statement 1 is incorrect. While the Meerut mutiny of May 10, 1857, was triggered by the greased cartridges issue and the imprisonment of sepoys, the description of two sepoys stealing a rifle is not accurate as the “first act” of the revolt.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai, joined the revolt much later in response to events in her state, not as the initiator of the entire revolt.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Mangal Pandey did fire at European officers, but this incident occurred at Barrackpore, not Meerut.
Statement 4 is correct. Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry at Barrackpore, mutinied on March 29, 1857, firing at his Sergeant-Major and Adjutant. This act of open rebellion by an individual sepoy against his superiors is widely considered the initial spark or the “first act” of defiance that foreshadowed the larger revolt.
Although Mangal Pandey’s mutiny was suppressed and he was executed, the incident drew attention to the sepoys’ grievances and anxieties, particularly concerning the new Enfield rifle cartridges believed to be greased with animal fat. The more widespread and impactful beginning of the revolt is considered to be the mutiny at Meerut on May 10, 1857, which led to the sepoys marching to Delhi and proclaiming Bahadur Shah Zafar as Emperor, giving the mutiny a political and symbolic leader. However, the question asks for the *first act*, which points to the earliest significant violent defiance.

14. Consider the following statements : The Azamgarh Proclamation refers t

Consider the following statements : The Azamgarh Proclamation refers to
1. the declaration by the rebels of 1857
2. the statement by the leader of the underground movement in the Revolt of 1942
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 2 is not correct; the Azamgarh Proclamation refers to the declaration by the rebels of 1857, not the Revolt of 1942.
The Azamgarh Proclamation was issued on August 25, 1857, by Prince Feroze Shah, a grandson of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, from Azamgarh. It was a significant document articulating the grievances against the British and outlining the vision of the rebels for the future of India.
The proclamation addressed various sections of society – zamindars, merchants, public servants, artisans, sepoys, and pundits/fakirs – appealing to them to join the revolt and promising specific benefits or redressal of grievances under a new rule that would restore the old order and ensure justice and prosperity. It did not pertain to the Quit India Movement of 1942.

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15. Which one of the following towns was not a centre of the Revolt of

Which one of the following towns was not a centre of the Revolt of 1857?

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Ayodhya
Agra
Delhi
Kanpur
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Agra was not a major centre of the Revolt of 1857 in the same way as Delhi, Kanpur, or Ayodhya (within the rebel-held region of Oudh).
Delhi, Kanpur, and the region around Ayodhya (part of Oudh, with Faizabad being a major rebel hub) were key centers where the revolt saw major uprisings, sustained resistance, and prominent rebel leadership. Agra, while affected by the revolt and having a British-held fort that was briefly threatened, remained largely under British control and was not a center of rebel organization or leadership.
Major centers of the Revolt included Delhi (Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bakht Khan), Kanpur (Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope), Lucknow (Begum Hazrat Mahal), Jhansi (Rani Lakshmibai), Gwalior (Tantia Tope, Rani Lakshmibai), Bareilly (Khan Bahadur Khan), Arrah (Kunwar Singh), and Faizabad (Maulvi Ahmadullah). Agra served more as a British stronghold and administrative center in the region.

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16. The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on which one of the following

The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on which one of the following assumptions?

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The Talukdars were the rightful owners of the land.
The Talukdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land.
The Talukdars could evict the peasants from the lands.
The Talukdars would take a portion of the revenue which flowed to the State.
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The correct answer is B) The Talukdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land.
When the British annexed Awadh in 1856, they implemented a Summary Settlement with the aim of settling land revenue directly with the village proprietors, bypassing the Talukdars (large landholders). This policy was based on the assumption that the Talukdars were recent creations, often tax collectors or adventurers who had usurped their position and did not have historical rights or ‘permanent stakes’ in the land, unlike the village communities.
Before annexation, Talukdars controlled about 67% of the total number of villages in Awadh. The Summary Settlement drastically reduced their power and deprived many of them of their landholding rights, reducing their control to about 38% of villages. This policy severely alienated the Talukdars, who then joined the Revolt of 1857 against the British in large numbers, often bringing their peasant followers with them. After the Revolt, the British changed their policy towards the Talukdars, recognizing their importance in maintaining stability and granting them more rights.

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17. Who among the following was known during the days of the Revolt of 185

Who among the following was known during the days of the Revolt of 1857 as ‘Danka Shah’?

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Shah Mal
Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah
Nana Sahib
Tantia Tope
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The correct answer is B) Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah.
Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah, originally from Madras, was a prominent leader and preacher who travelled northwards and played a significant role in the Revolt of 1857, particularly in the area around Faizabad and Awadh. He was known for his fiery sermons urging people to rebel against the British and was famously referred to as ‘Danka Shah’ because he marched with a large number of followers announcing his arrival with the beat of a drum (danka).
Shah Mal was a local leader from the Baggat region near Meerut. Nana Sahib was a leader of the Revolt in Kanpur. Tantia Tope was the general of Nana Sahib and a key figure in central India, fighting against the British forces. Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah was considered a formidable opponent by the British, who even announced a reward for his capture.

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