PART 3 CH11 Rebels And The Raj (Important Question Answer)
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III
CH11 REBELS AND THE RAJ
(1857 REVOLT AND ITS REPRESENTATION)
IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWER
Q1 Examine how Lord Dalhouse policy of annexation created dissatisafaction amongst the people of Awadh.
Ans 1 The Nawab of Awadh had been loyal to the British East India Company from the very beginning. But, the loyalty of awadh was of no significance to lord dalhousie imperialistic ambitions. Awadh could not be annexed on the basis of the doctrine of lapse as Wajid Ali Shah, as the Nawab of Awadh had several successors. So, the British especially lord Dalhousie used a number of mischievous tricks to annex the Awadh and dispossessed the taluqdars.
These were -
(i) On 13th february, 1856 Awadh was annexed to the british empire on the grounds of maladministration.
(ii) Nawab wazid ali sahib was sent to calcutta with an annual pension of Rs 12 lakh. With the dissolution of the royal administration, number of courtiers, official and taluqdars became jobless.
(iii) Jagirs of taluqdars were confiscated. This upheavel was aggravated by immediate material losses.
(iv)The British were not willing to tolerate the power of the taluqdars.
(v)With the removal of Nawab, all taluqdars of the awadh were also dispossessed, taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were destroyed.
Q2 With the help of specific examples examine the nature of Indian leadership that emerged against British in the revolt of 1857.
Ans 2 During the revolt few leaders participated very enthusitically while some other participated because they had no choice. They had to participate in the revolt for the sake of their reputation.
For e.g. Bahadur shah was reluctant to join the rebellion but due to demands of sepoys, he joined the revolt and it was fought under his name. Similarly, sepoys and peopele of kanpur choose.
Nana Sahib as their leaders and he joined the revolt.
Rana Lakshmibai of jhansi participated because her kingdom had been annexed to empire by "Doctrine of Lapse" and there was also popular pressure on her take the leadership. In Awadh, their was deep resentment against annexation, dispossession of nawab and oppressive rule of British, People of Awadh declared Birjis Qadar, The young son of dispossessed Nawab as their leader.
Apart from the royal families, local leaders also emerged during the revolt like Kuwar singh in Arrah, fakir in lucknow, shah mal in Barout and Gonoo, a tribal cultivator in singhbhum. Although the leaders of 1857 revolt participated in this war, but they had separate goals which made the revolt unsuccessful against British.
Q3 Explain the provision of "Subsidiary Alliance System" devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798 for Indian.
Ans3 The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by lord wellesley in 1798. All those who entered into such as alliance with the British had to accept certain terms and conditions.
These were :
(i) The British would be responsible for protecting their ally from external and internal threats to their power.
(ii) In the territory of the ally, a British armed contingent would be stationed.
(iii) The ally would have to provide the resources for maintaining the contingent.
(iv) The ally could enter into agreement with other rulers or engage in warfare only with permission of the british.
Q4 How did the rebels in 1857 try to materialise their vision of unity? Explain briefly.
Ans 4 The revolt tried to garner the support of all sections of the society irrespective of their case and creed. The rebellion was viewed as a war in which both the communities as Hindus and Muslims stood quality to gain and lose. The amicable realtions which existed between the two communities were emphasised. The ishtehars brought to the forefont memories of the pre - British Hindu - Muslim past and glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire.
Thus, religious difference were not visible between the two communities in 1857 despite British attempts to create a wedge between them. Through this way, they tried to materialise their vision of unity.
Q5 "The rumours in 1857 began to make sense when seen in the context of the policies pursed by the british from late 1820s".Support your answer with evidence.
Ans5 The rumors in 1857 that made sense in context of the policies pursued by the British from late 1820s were as follows :
(i) During the Governor - Generalship of Lord William Bentick Some specific - policies were adopted in order to reform Indian society by the introduction of Western eduaction, Western ideas and Western institutions.
(ii) Reforms like the abolition of Sati System.
(iii) Annexation of Jhansi and Satara - British refuse to recognise adoption.
(iv) Reforms socio - religious customs like land holding, inheritance, etc.
(v) Reforming socio - religious customs like handling, inheritance, etc.
(vi) Rumors had an impact on the minds of people under these uncertain times.
The common Indians looked at all these steps with apprehension and suspicion.
Q6 "Visual images and literature as much as the writing of history have helped in keeping alive the memory of the revolt of 1857." Assess this statement.
Ans6 The writing of history, art and literature contributed remarkably to immortalise the sacred memory of the struggle of 1857. The leaders of revolt were presented as heroes taking the country towards the battlefield. They were depicted as heroes inspiring the common masses to begin struggle against the oppressive colonial power.
Many heroic poems were composed narrating the bravery of laxami Bai, holding a sword in one hand and the reins of the horses in the other, fought for the independence of her motherland. She was usuallly portrayed in battle armour with a sword in hand and riding a horses symbolising the determinaiton to resist injustice and alien rule.
Thus, it becomes clear that visual representation produced various images of the revolt. We should know that these images were not a mere expression of contemporary ideas and sentiments, but they also reflected the contemporary sensibilities.
Q7 "Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving the people into action during the revolt of 1857." Examine the statement with rumors and reasons for its belief.
Ans 7. It is true that rumors and prophecies played a part in moving people to action during the revolt of 1857
These rumours were as follows :
(i) During 1857 revolt, there was an apparent rumour that the Indian sepoys were intentionally given the enfield rifles, and its bullets were coated with the fat of cows and pigs and biting those bullets would corrupt their caste and religion.
(ii) The British tried to explain to the sepoys that this was not the case but the sepoys that this was not the case but the rumors that the new cartridges were greased with the fat of crows and pigs which spread like wildfire across the sepoy lines of North India.
(iii) This is one rumour whose origin can be traced. Captain wright, commandant of the Rifle Instruction depot, reported that in the third week of january 1857 a "low caste" khalasi who worked in the magazine in Dum Dum asked a Brahmin sepoy for a drink of water from his lota. The sepoy had refused saying that "lower caste" touch would defile the lota. The Khalasi had reportedly retorted. "You will lose your caste, as ere long you will have to bite cartridges covered with the fast of cows and pigs."
(iv) The truthfulnness of the report nah not identified but once this rumor started no amount of assurance from british officers could stop its circulation and the fear of it spread among the sepoys
These were -
(i) On 13th february, 1856 Awadh was annexed to the british empire on the grounds of maladministration.
(ii) Nawab wazid ali sahib was sent to calcutta with an annual pension of Rs 12 lakh. With the dissolution of the royal administration, number of courtiers, official and taluqdars became jobless.
(iii) Jagirs of taluqdars were confiscated. This upheavel was aggravated by immediate material losses.
(iv)The British were not willing to tolerate the power of the taluqdars.
(v)With the removal of Nawab, all taluqdars of the awadh were also dispossessed, taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were destroyed.
Q2 With the help of specific examples examine the nature of Indian leadership that emerged against British in the revolt of 1857.
Ans 2 During the revolt few leaders participated very enthusitically while some other participated because they had no choice. They had to participate in the revolt for the sake of their reputation.
For e.g. Bahadur shah was reluctant to join the rebellion but due to demands of sepoys, he joined the revolt and it was fought under his name. Similarly, sepoys and peopele of kanpur choose.
Nana Sahib as their leaders and he joined the revolt.
Rana Lakshmibai of jhansi participated because her kingdom had been annexed to empire by "Doctrine of Lapse" and there was also popular pressure on her take the leadership. In Awadh, their was deep resentment against annexation, dispossession of nawab and oppressive rule of British, People of Awadh declared Birjis Qadar, The young son of dispossessed Nawab as their leader.
Apart from the royal families, local leaders also emerged during the revolt like Kuwar singh in Arrah, fakir in lucknow, shah mal in Barout and Gonoo, a tribal cultivator in singhbhum. Although the leaders of 1857 revolt participated in this war, but they had separate goals which made the revolt unsuccessful against British.
Q3 Explain the provision of "Subsidiary Alliance System" devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798 for Indian.
Ans3 The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by lord wellesley in 1798. All those who entered into such as alliance with the British had to accept certain terms and conditions.
These were :
(i) The British would be responsible for protecting their ally from external and internal threats to their power.
(ii) In the territory of the ally, a British armed contingent would be stationed.
(iii) The ally would have to provide the resources for maintaining the contingent.
(iv) The ally could enter into agreement with other rulers or engage in warfare only with permission of the british.
Q4 How did the rebels in 1857 try to materialise their vision of unity? Explain briefly.
Ans 4 The revolt tried to garner the support of all sections of the society irrespective of their case and creed. The rebellion was viewed as a war in which both the communities as Hindus and Muslims stood quality to gain and lose. The amicable realtions which existed between the two communities were emphasised. The ishtehars brought to the forefont memories of the pre - British Hindu - Muslim past and glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire.
Thus, religious difference were not visible between the two communities in 1857 despite British attempts to create a wedge between them. Through this way, they tried to materialise their vision of unity.
Q5 "The rumours in 1857 began to make sense when seen in the context of the policies pursed by the british from late 1820s".Support your answer with evidence.
Ans5 The rumors in 1857 that made sense in context of the policies pursued by the British from late 1820s were as follows :
(i) During the Governor - Generalship of Lord William Bentick Some specific - policies were adopted in order to reform Indian society by the introduction of Western eduaction, Western ideas and Western institutions.
(ii) Reforms like the abolition of Sati System.
(iii) Annexation of Jhansi and Satara - British refuse to recognise adoption.
(iv) Reforms socio - religious customs like land holding, inheritance, etc.
(v) Reforming socio - religious customs like handling, inheritance, etc.
(vi) Rumors had an impact on the minds of people under these uncertain times.
The common Indians looked at all these steps with apprehension and suspicion.
Q6 "Visual images and literature as much as the writing of history have helped in keeping alive the memory of the revolt of 1857." Assess this statement.
Ans6 The writing of history, art and literature contributed remarkably to immortalise the sacred memory of the struggle of 1857. The leaders of revolt were presented as heroes taking the country towards the battlefield. They were depicted as heroes inspiring the common masses to begin struggle against the oppressive colonial power.
Many heroic poems were composed narrating the bravery of laxami Bai, holding a sword in one hand and the reins of the horses in the other, fought for the independence of her motherland. She was usuallly portrayed in battle armour with a sword in hand and riding a horses symbolising the determinaiton to resist injustice and alien rule.
Thus, it becomes clear that visual representation produced various images of the revolt. We should know that these images were not a mere expression of contemporary ideas and sentiments, but they also reflected the contemporary sensibilities.
Q7 "Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving the people into action during the revolt of 1857." Examine the statement with rumors and reasons for its belief.
Ans 7. It is true that rumors and prophecies played a part in moving people to action during the revolt of 1857
These rumours were as follows :
(i) During 1857 revolt, there was an apparent rumour that the Indian sepoys were intentionally given the enfield rifles, and its bullets were coated with the fat of cows and pigs and biting those bullets would corrupt their caste and religion.
(ii) The British tried to explain to the sepoys that this was not the case but the sepoys that this was not the case but the rumors that the new cartridges were greased with the fat of crows and pigs which spread like wildfire across the sepoy lines of North India.
(iii) This is one rumour whose origin can be traced. Captain wright, commandant of the Rifle Instruction depot, reported that in the third week of january 1857 a "low caste" khalasi who worked in the magazine in Dum Dum asked a Brahmin sepoy for a drink of water from his lota. The sepoy had refused saying that "lower caste" touch would defile the lota. The Khalasi had reportedly retorted. "You will lose your caste, as ere long you will have to bite cartridges covered with the fast of cows and pigs."
(iv) The truthfulnness of the report nah not identified but once this rumor started no amount of assurance from british officers could stop its circulation and the fear of it spread among the sepoys
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