The correct answer is: c) Sikh soldiers largely remained loyal to the British.
The Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny, or the First War of Indian Independence, was a major armed uprising against British rule in India. The revolt began on 10 May 1857 with the mutiny of the 3rd Bengal Native Infantry at Meerut, and spread rapidly to other parts of northern and central India. The rebels were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as resentment of British rule.
The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on British rule in India. The British government was forced to make a number of concessions to the Indian people, and the revolt led to the end of the East India Company’s rule in India.
The revolt did not erupt into widespread rebellion in Punjab for a number of reasons. First, the Sikh soldiers in Punjab were largely loyal to the British. The Sikhs had a long history of fighting against the Mughals, and they saw the British as their allies against a common enemy. Second, the British had been careful to cultivate good relations with the Sikh community in Punjab. They had granted the Sikhs a great deal of autonomy, and they had appointed Sikh leaders to positions of authority in the province. Third, the British had a strong military presence in Punjab. They had a number of well-equipped and well-trained troops stationed in the province, and they were able to quickly suppress any signs of rebellion.
The other options are not correct for the following reasons:
a) People were content with British rule. This is not true. The people of Punjab were not content with British rule. They had a number of grievances against the British, including religious and economic grievances.
b) The British successfully pre-empted revolt. This is not true. The British did not successfully pre-empt the revolt in Punjab. The revolt began in Punjab, and it spread rapidly to other parts of northern and central India.
d) Lack of strong local leadership. This is not true. There were a number of strong local leaders in Punjab who could have led a revolt against the British. However, the Sikhs were largely loyal to the British, and the British had a strong military presence in the province.