The left-out lines also name a group whose activities made this perce…

The rumours in 1857 begin to make sense when seen in the context of the policies the British pursued from the late 1820s. On a variety of pleas, like misgovernment and the refusal to recognise adoption, the British annexed not only Awadh, but many other kingdoms and principalities like Jhansi and Satara. Once these territories were annexed, the British introduced their own system of administration, their own laws and their own methods of land settlement and land revenue collection. The cumulative impact of all this on the people of North India was profound. In such a situation of uncertainty, rumours spread with remarkable swiftness.

The left-out lines also name a group whose activities made this perception of the people worse. Identify the group.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Christian missionaries

Option (1) Christian missionaries — Correct. The feeling that sacred customs were being destroyed was <strong>aggravated by Christian missionaries</strong>, whose work people saw as a threat to their faith.

Option (2) British Residents at Indian courts — Incorrect. Residents lived at the courts of states not under direct British rule and advised the rulers for the Governor General.

Option (3) Teachers of the new English-medium schools — Incorrect. English-medium schools were part of the reform policies begun under Lord William Bentinck from the late 1820s.

Option (4) Indian social reformers working with the British — Incorrect. Sections of Indian society cooperated with the British in setting up schools, colleges and universities.

NCERT (2026-27): “1.5 Why did people believe in the rumours? …
On a variety of pleas, like misgovernment and the refusal to recognise adoption, the British annexed not only Awadh, but many other kingdoms and principalities like Jhansi and Satara. Once these territories were annexed, the British introduced their own system of administration, their own laws and their own methods of land settlement and land revenue collection. The cumulative impact of all this on the people of North India was profound.”

“It seemed to the people that all that they cherished and held sacred – from kings and socio-religious customs to patterns of landholding and revenue payment – was being destroyed and replaced by a system that was more impersonal, alien and oppressive. This perception was aggravated by the activities of Christian missionaries. In such a situation of uncertainty, rumours spread with remarkable swiftness.”