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The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was a large-scale rebellion against the domination
of the British East India Company. This revolt is regarded as the first
organized resistance by Indians against the company. Prominent writers of
the time, like V.D Savarkar, also consider it the First War of Independence.
The direct trigger for this Sepoy Mutiny was the rumour of greased cartridges.
A word about cartridges of the new rifles being greased with cow and pig’s fat
spread like wildfire among the sepoys. The sepoys needed to bite off the
paper on them to use the cartridges. The news humiliated both Muslims and
Hindus as Hindus worshipped cows, and the Muslims regarded pigs as dirty.
After hearing it, sepoys of both religious groups refused to use the rifles. It
wasn’t long before the revolt spread over from Patna’s neighbourhood to
Rajasthan’s frontiers. The major centres of the revolt were Lucknow, Kanpur,
Jhansi, Bareilly, Arrah in Bihar, and Gwalior. It was from these centres that
various figures emerged. These included Begum Hazrat Mahal, Nana Saheb,
Rani Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope, and many others who led the revolt.
During the 1857 Revolt, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the
First War of Independence, several prominent leaders emerged from different
regions of India. Here is a detailed overview of these leaders and their
contributions:
1. Mangal Pandey (Barrackpore)
Mangal Pandey was a young soldier in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry. He
became a symbol of rebellion when he attacked Lieutenant Baugh, the
adjutant of his regiment, on March 29, 1857. His act of defiance against the
use of cartridges greased with animal fat sparked a widespread revolt among
sepoys.
2. General Bakht Khan (Delhi) 
In Delhi, the rebellion was led by Bakht Khan. He arrived in Delhi on July 3,
1857, and assumed the role of the commander-in-chief. Bakht Khan formed a
court of soldiers and civilians to govern the rebellion in the name of the
nominal leader, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
3. Nana Saheb (Kanpur)
 Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the exiled Peshwa Baji Rao II, played a
significant role in the revolt in Kanpur. On June 6, 1857, he led an attack on

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British soldiers of the 53rd Native Infantry. He later besieged and captured the
British entrenchment under General Sir Hugh Wheeler. Nana Saheb
proclaimed himself as the Peshwa, the ruler of Kanpur.
4. Begum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow)
 Begum Hazrat Mahal, wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh, led the
rebellion in Lucknow. After the British imprisoned her husband and annexed
Awadh, she rallied the people to resist British rule. She declared her son,
Birjis Khadir, as the Nawab of Awadh and ruled on his behalf, challenging
British troops and encouraging patriotism among the people.
5. Rani Lakshmibai (Jhansi)
 Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was a courageous queen who fiercely resisted
British rule. After her husband’s death and the annexation of Jhansi, she took
up arms and led the rebels in Bundelkhand. Despite facing overwhelming
odds, she valiantly defended Jhansi against British forces led by Hugh Rose.
She later fought alongside Tatya Tope in Gwalior.
6. Kunwar Singh (Bihar)
 Kunwar Singh, an elderly zamindar (landowner) from Bihar’s Arrah region,
played a significant role in organizing resistance against the British. At the
age of 80, he led a distinct band of soldiers against the East India Company’s
troops in Bihar, merging civil and military rebellions to challenge British rule.
7. Tatya Tope (Kanpur/Gwalior)
 Tatya Tope was an influential rebel leader who actively participated in the
revolt at Kanpur and later in Gwalior. He employed guerrilla warfare tactics
and captured Kanpur, establishing Nana Saheb’s authority. After the British
forces’ retreat, he went to Gwalior but was betrayed by Raja Man Singh. Tope
was eventually captured and executed by the British.
8. Maulvi Liaquat Ali (Allahabad)
 Maulvi Liaquat Ali, who initially served in the British army, turned against
them and began spreading anti-British sentiments among Indian soldiers.
After being dismissed from the army, he continued his activities in his village
of Mahagaon. Ali led an attack on Allahabad, defeating the East India
Company’s forces and declaring himself the representative of Bahadur Shah
Zafar, the last Mughal emperor. However, he had to abandon the battlefield
Many peasants and tribal movements after 1857 played an immense role in
India’s struggle for freedom. The condition of the Indian peasant gradually
worsened during the 17th and 18th centuries. The main cause of Indian
peasants and the tribal uprising was the colonial economic policies which

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affect the transformation of the agrarian structure, the ruin of the handicrafts
leading to overcrowding of land, the new land revenue system; and the
colonial administrative and judicial system.
Peasants in zamindar areas faced high rents, illegal logging, arbitrary
evictions and unpaid work. In Ryotwari districts, the government collected
massive revenue from the land. Burdened farmers, who feared losing their
only source of livelihood, often turned to a local moneylender, taking full
advantage of the hardships of the past, charging high interest on the money
lent to them. Gradually, over large areas, the real peasants became volunteer,
proportional and landless workers, and the peasants often resisted
exploitation and soon realized that their real enemy was the colonial state.
Sometimes desperate peasants turned to criminals to escape unbearable
conditions.
Indigo Revolt(1859):
In Bengal, almost every European indigo planter has exploited local farmers
and forced them to grow indigo instead of more profitable crops such as rice.
The plantation owners forced the farmers to withdraw money in advance and
enter into fraudulent contracts, then used against the farmers. Peasants’
anger flared up in 1859 when they were led by Digambar Biswas and
Bishnu Biswas of the Nadia district of Bengal. They also organized
against the attacks of the planters. Plantation owners have also tried methods
such as eviction and rent escalation. 
The rioters started a rent strike, refused to pay more rent, and physically
resisted eviction attempts. Gradually, he learned to use the legal system and
was prosecuted with support to raise funds. Bengali intellectuals played an
essential role in supporting the interests of the farmers through newspaper
campaigns, organizing rallies, making notes of discontent among the
peasants, and supporting them in court battles. In order to investigate the
problem of indigo cultivation, the government has constituted the Indigo
Commission and in November 1860 the government issued a declaration
obliging the raiyat to cultivate indigo and resolve all disputes through
legal means. However, the planters have already closed their factories, and
indigo cultivation has almost stopped in Bengal by the end of the 1860s.
Pabna Revolt: 
In the 1870s and 1880s, agricultural riots occurred in much of East Bengal
due to the repressive methods of the landlords. The landlords appealed for an
increase in rent beyond legal limits and prevented tenants from acquiring
ownership under Act X of 1859. The league organized a rent strike – the
ryots sued the zamindars for refusing to pay the increased rent. The fighting

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spread to Pabna and other parts of East Bengal. The main form of conflict
was legal resistance. Although the discontent of the peasants continued until
1885, most cases were successful in partly explaining to the authorities and
the landlords’ concerns.
Deccan Riots:
The districts of the Deccan region of western India were heavily taxed under
the Ryotwari system. These moneylenders were mostly Marwaris or Gujaratis
and the conditions worsened with the fall of cotton prices after the end of the
American Civil War (1865), Secondly, the government’s decision to increase
land revenue by 50 per cent in 1867, and thirdly, a series of crop failures. 
This social boycott quickly spread to the villages of Pune, Ahmednagar,
Sholapur and Satara. The movement continued for 2 months and spread in
30 villages. The social boycott quickly turned into an agrarian rebellion, with
systematic attacks on the homes and shops of moneylenders. As a remedial
measure, the Deccan Agricultural relief Act was passed in 1879. Moreover,
this time, the modern nationalist intellectuals of Maharashtra supported the
interests of the farmers. In 1879, the Farmers Relief Act was passed, which
ensured that farmers could not be arrested and imprisoned if they could not
pay their debts.
Kisan Sabha Movement:
After the revolt of 1857, the talukas of Awadh regained their land. This
increased the power of the peasants, that is, the large landowners, over the
agrarian society of the province. World War I raised the price of food and
other necessities and due to this, the condition of the farmers of UP
worsened.  The Integrated Kisan Sabha Provinces was founded in February
1918 by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi. Madan Mohan
Malaviya supported his efforts and the other prominent leaders were Jinguri
Singh, Durgapal Singh and Baba Ramchandra.
In October 1920, the Awadh Kisan Sabha was born because of differences in
nationalist ranks. The centre of activity was primarily in the districts of
Raebareli, Faizabad, and Sultanpur. 
Eka Movement:
 At the end of 1921, peasant discontent rekindled in certain districts in the
north of the United Provinces: Khardoi, Bahrain and Sitapur. The following
issues arose: High rent – 50% more than the recorded prices.
Meetings of the Eka or Unity Movement included a symbolic religious ritual in
which the gathered peasants made a vow that they would pay only the

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recorded rent but would pay it on time and not leave when evicted. They
refuse to do forced labour and give no help to criminals. The basic leadership
of the Eka Movement came from Madari Pasi and other low caste leaders
and many small zamindars.
Moplah Revolt:
 The revolt took place in the Moplah district of Malabar in 1921. The
increasing demand for income and shrinking land, as well as the repression
of the authorities, sparked a large-scale peasant revolt among the Malabar
Moplahs. Between 1836 and 1854, there were 22 rebellions. However, none
of them succeeded. ( However, Hindu Muslim differences distanced the
Congress and the Moplahs. By 1921, the Moplahs had been subdued.)
Ramosi Uprising:
Ramosi, who served in the lower ranks of the Marathi army and police,
instigated a rebellion in Satara. In 1822, under the leadership of Chittoor
Singh, to protest the high price of land. Rigorous methods of revenue and
their collection. Another rebellion broke out under his banner in 1825-1826.
Due to severe famine and shortage in Umaji Punia. They went bankrupt for
three years. Eventually, the British government not only forgave their sins but
subdued them. He also gave them plots of land and recruited them for the
mountain police.
Kuka Movement: 
This movement was founded in 1840 by Bhagat Jawahar Mal (also called
Sian Saheb) in west Punjab. There are two names associated with the start of
this movement i.e. Baba Balak Singh and Bhagat Jawar (or Jawahar) Mal.
Balak Singh was born in village Sarvala, in District Attock, in 1799. He started
preaching very early in his life and the objective of his preachings was to
uphold the religious purity of Sikhism. Some sources say that Balak Singh
himself was a disciple of Bhagat Jawahar Mal. When the British took control
of Punjab, the movement changed from a campaign of religious purification to
a political one. Its basic tenets were the abolition of caste and similar
discriminations among Sikhs, discouraging the eating of meat and intake of
alcohol and drugs, and encouraging women to step out of seclusion.

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The 1857 revolt against British rule in India began in which city?
a) Delhi
b) Kolkata
c) Lucknow
d) Meerut

Solution: d) Meerut

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Who was the last Mughal emperor who became a prominent figure during the
revolt of 1857?
a) Aurangzeb
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
c) Akbar II
d) Shah Alam II

Solution: b) Bahadur Shah Zafar

The revolt of 1857 is often considered a turning point in Indian history

because it marked the end of which era?
a) Mughal era
b) Gupta era
c) Maurya era
d) British era

Solution: a) Mughal era

The immediate cause of the 1857 revolt was the introduction of which
controversial rifle cartridge that required biting with the mouth?
a) Enfield cartridge
b) Springfield cartridge
c) Minie ball cartridge
d) Percussion cap cartridge

Solution: a) Enfield cartridge

Who was the British Governor-General of India during the 1857 revolt?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Curzon
d) Lord Canning

Solution: d) Lord Canning

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The revolt of 1857 began on May 10, 1857, with a mutiny by Indian soldiers in
which British-controlled regiment?
a) Bengal Army
b) Madras Army
c) Bombay Army
d) Gurkha Army

Solution: a) Bengal Army

Who was the leader of the rebel forces in Delhi during the 1857 revolt?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Bahadur Shah Zafar
d) Tantia Tope

Solution: c) Bahadur Shah Zafar

The siege of which British-held city became a significant event during the
1857 revolt?
a) Agra
b) Kanpur
c) Jhansi
d) Lucknow

Solution: b) Kanpur

Who led the rebellion in Lucknow during the 1857 revolt?

a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Bahadur Shah Zafar
d) Begum Hazrat Mahal

Solution: d) Begum Hazrat Mahal

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The massacre of British women and children during the 1857 revolt in Kanpur
is known as the _________.
a) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
b) Amritsar massacre
c) Bibighar massacre
d) Cawnpore massacre

Solution: d) Cawnpore massacre

Who was the British officer in charge of the British defense in Lucknow during
the 1857 revolt?
a) Sir Henry Lawrence
b) General Hugh Wheeler
c) Sir Colin Campbell
d) Sir John Nicholson

Solution: a) Sir Henry Lawrence

Who was the female leader who played a significant role in the defense of
Jhansi during the 1857 revolt?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Begum Hazrat Mahal
c) Rani Padmini
d) Rani Durgavati

Solution: a) Rani Lakshmibai

The rebellion in Jhansi was triggered by the refusal of the British to recognize
the adopted heir of which ruler?
a) Bahadur Shah Zafar
b) Nana Sahib
c) Raja Gangadhar Rao
d) Rani Padmini

Solution: c) Raja Gangadhar Rao

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Who led the revolt in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh during the 1857
uprising?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Kunwar Singh
d) Mangal Pandey

Solution: c) Kunwar Singh

The British forces regained control of Delhi in September 1857 after a fierce
battle. Who led the British forces during the recapture of Delhi?
a) Sir Henry Havelock
b) General Hugh Rose
c) General Colin Campbell
d) Major General James Neill

Solution: c) General Colin Campbell

The 1857 revolt witnessed a widespread rebellion against British rule in many
parts of India, including which present-day state?
a) Bihar
b) Gujarat
c) Punjab
d) Uttar Pradesh

Solution: d) Uttar Pradesh

Who was the Indian soldier considered a symbol of the revolt of 1857, known
for his involvement in the Barrackpore mutiny?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Mangal Pandey
d) Kunwar Singh

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Solution: c) Mangal Pandey

The rebellion in Awadh (Oudh) during the 1857 revolt was led by which ruler?
a) Bahadur Shah Zafar
b) Nana Sahib
c) Wajid Ali Shah
d) Rani Padmini

Solution: c) Wajid Ali Shah

The 1857 revolt had an impact on British policies in India, resulting in the
transfer of control from the East India Company to which entity?
a) British Crown
b) French Government
c) Dutch East India Company
d) Portuguese Crown

Solution: a) British Crown

The execution of which rebel leader on April 15, 1859, marked the official end
of the 1857 revolt?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Bahadur Shah Zafar
d) Tantia Tope

Solution: d) Tantia Tope

Which proclamation issued by Bahadur Shah Zafar during the revolt of 1857
stirred nationalist sentiments and became a rallying cry for the rebels?
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) Sepoy Manifesto
c) Quit India Proclamation
d) Kalpi Manifesto

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Solution: d) Kalpi Manifesto

Who was the British officer killed by Mangal Pandey in the Barrackpore
mutiny, considered one of the early sparks of the 1857 revolt?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Sir Henry Havelock
c) Captain William Gordon
d) General Hugh Rose

Solution: c) Captain William Gordon

The revolt of 1857 had an impact on subsequent movements for Indian

independence, with many revolutionaries drawing inspiration from the
rebellion. Who among the following revolutionaries was not associated with
the 1857 revolt?
a) Bhagat Singh
b) Chandrashekhar Azad
c) Ram Prasad Bismil
d) Ashfaqullah Khan

Solution: a) Bhagat Singh

Who was the British officer who led the British forces to suppress the rebellion
in Lucknow?
a) Sir Henry Lawrence
b) General Hugh Wheeler
c) Sir Colin Campbell
d) Sir John Nicholson

Solution: c) Sir Colin Campbell

The 1857 revolt inspired the establishment of the first organized armed
rebellion against British rule, known as the __________.
a) Indian National Army
b) Indian National Congress

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c) Ghadar Party
d) Hindustan Republican Association

Solution: c) Ghadar Party

The revolt of 1857 marked the beginning of the end of which trade company's
rule in India?
a) Dutch East India Company
b) British East India Company
c) French East India Company
d) Portuguese East India Company

Solution: b) British East India Company

Who among the following British officers played a significant role in the
suppression of the revolt of 1857 in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh?
a) Sir Henry Havelock
b) General Hugh Rose
c) Major General James Neill
d) Lord Canning

Solution: c) Major General James Neill

The revolt of 1857 had religious and social dimensions, with different sections
of society participating in the rebellion. Which religious group played a
significant role in the uprising?
a) Sikhs
b) Hindus
c) Muslims
d) Christians

Solution: c) Muslims

Who was the rebel leader who fought against the British in the region of
Rohilkhand during the 1857 revolt?

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a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Nana Sahib
c) Khan Bahadur Khan
d) Rani Padmini

Solution: c) Khan Bahadur Khan

The 1857 revolt resulted in significant changes in British policies towards

India, including the policy of ________, which sought to respect Indian
traditions and religions.
a) Indianization
b) Indian Nationalism
c) Indian Renaissance
d) Indian Princely States

Solution: a) Indianization

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