A research scholar is studying the revolt of 1857 in North India. She has collected many reports of rumours that spread among sepoys and villagers in the months before the rising, such as stories that the British were plotting to destroy the religion of the people. A colleague points out that most of these stories can never be proved and asks why she keeps them in her notes at all. She also plans to take up one region in detail to explore the basis of the revolt.
For her detailed study, the scholar wants a kingdom where British annexation created more disaffection than anywhere else and which became one of the major centres of 1857. Which region should she choose?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Awadh
Option (1) The Carnatic — Incorrect. The Carnatic was also among the major areas conquered before the early 1850s, long before the takeover of Awadh.
Option (2) Bengal — Incorrect. Bengal was conquered almost a century earlier. Its conquest began the process that the takeover of Awadh was to complete.
Option (3) The Punjab — Incorrect. The Punjab was among the major areas already conquered by the early 1850s, before Awadh was taken over.
Option (4) Awadh — Correct. Dalhousie's annexations caused disaffection everywhere, but <strong>nowhere more than in Awadh</strong>, in the heart of North India. It was one of the <strong>major centres of 1857</strong>.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.5 Why did people believe in the rumours? … “Lord Dalhousie’s annexations created disaffection in all the areas and principalities that were annexed but nowhere more so than in the kingdom of Awadh in the heart of North India. …” |