A student at a museum in north India stands before the portrait of a leader of 1857. The label records that the sepoys and townspeople of his town had pressed him to head the rising, though he had not planned to lead it. It adds that he lived to see the rebellion collapse at the end of 1858 and was never captured. He slipped away across the border, and the tale of his flight made people speak of his courage and bravery for many years afterwards.
Which leader of 1857 is the portrait most likely to show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Nana Sahib
Option (1) Nana Sahib — Correct. Nana Sahib, the successor to Peshwa Baji Rao II, was made leader by the sepoys and the people of Kanpur. When the rebellion collapsed at the end of 1858, he escaped to Nepal, and the story of his escape built his legend of courage.
Option (2) Kunwar Singh — Incorrect. Kunwar Singh was a local zamindar of Arrah in Bihar. He too was pushed into leadership by popular pressure, but he did not escape to Nepal at the end of 1858.
Option (3) Bahadur Shah — Incorrect. Bahadur Shah, the old Mughal emperor, agreed to be the nominal leader only after sepoys entered the Red Fort. He stayed in Delhi, and the escape to Nepal belongs to another leader.
Option (4) Shah Mal — Incorrect. Shah Mal mobilised the villagers of pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He led peasants in the countryside, and the escape across the border after 1858 is not told of him.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.3 Leaders and followers … “At the end of 1858, when the rebellion collapsed, Nana Sahib escaped to Nepal. The story of his escape added to the legend of Nana Sahib’s courage and valour.” |