Who among the following was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis an

Who among the following was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis and Fakirs conspiring against the British in 1857 ?

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Mangal Pandey

Bahadur Shah II

Queen Zeenat Mahal

Nana Sahib

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2017

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The question asks who among the listed leaders of the 1857 revolt was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis and Fakirs conspiring against the British. While the Sanyasi and Fakir Rebellions were earlier events, religious ascetics played a role in mobilising support during the 1857 revolt.

Historical accounts suggest that leaders of the 1857 revolt, in their efforts to rally support, did connect with various segments of society, including religious figures and groups. While none of the major 1857 leaders were directly leading the historical Sanyasi/Fakir movements of the 18th century, there is some historical interpretation that links Nana Sahib with attempts to mobilize support from religious networks, potentially including those associated with ascetic orders. Some accounts suggest he was perceived by some as a leader with religious legitimacy, capable of uniting various disaffected groups. Compared to the other options (Mangal Pandey, a sepoy; Bahadur Shah II, the elderly Mughal figurehead; Queen Zeenat Mahal, primarily involved in court), Nana Sahib was actively leading military and political resistance in Kanpur and seeking wider support, making him the most plausible candidate among the choices to be linked, in popular belief or rumour, with leading religious resistance groups like Sanyasis and Fakirs in the context of 1857.

The Sanyasi and Fakir Rebellions were significant uprisings against early British rule in Bengal in the late 18th century, famously depicted in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel ‘Anandamath’. While the specific *movements* predated 1857, the networks of religious ascetics and mendicants continued to exist and were sometimes involved in anti-British activities or were seen with suspicion by the British. The 1857 revolt saw the participation of various religious leaders and figures who helped in spreading the message and mobilising people. Given the options, Nana Sahib’s efforts to unify various groups and his position as adopted son of the Peshwa made him a focal point for resistance, potentially attracting the support of, or being seen as a leader by, diverse elements including religious zealots and ascetics.

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