Which of the following statements about the rebel proclamations of 18…

Which of the following statements about the rebel proclamations of 1857 are correct?

(A) The proclamations expressed the fear that the British were bent on converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity.
(B) The fear of conversion led people to believe many of the rumours of the time.
(C) The proclamations presented the fight as one for the glory of the Mughal emperor.
(D) The proclamations sought to unify all social groups in the fight against firangi raj.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → A, B and D only

(A) The proclamations expressed the fear that the British were bent on converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity. — Correct. The proclamations spoke of a widespread fear that the British would destroy the caste and religions of Hindus and Muslims and convert them to Christianity.

(B) The fear of conversion led people to believe many of the rumours of the time. — Correct. This fear made people ready to believe many of the rumours that went round at the time.

(C) The proclamations presented the fight as one for the glory of the Mughal emperor. — Incorrect. The fight was presented as one for the greater public good: to save people's livelihood, faith, honour and identity.

(D) The proclamations sought to unify all social groups in the fight against firangi raj. — Correct. The proclamations aimed to unify all social groups against firangi raj, so they did not voice the more equal society some rebels hoped for.

NCERT (2026-27): “3.2 Against the symbols of oppression …
The proclamations expressed the widespread fear that the British were bent on destroying the caste and religions of Hindus and Muslims and converting them to Christianity – a fear that led people to believe many of the rumours that circulated at the time. …”

“As noted earlier, in many places the rebellion against the British widened into an attack on all those who were seen as allies of the British or local oppressors. Often the rebels deliberately sought to humiliate the elites of a city. In the villages they burnt account books and ransacked moneylenders’ houses. This reflected an attempt to overturn traditional hierarchies, rebel against all oppressors. It presents a glimpse of an alternative vision, perhaps of a more egalitarian society. Such visions were not articulated in the proclamations which sought to unify all social groups in the fight against firangi raj.”