Identify the correct statements regarding the Revolt of 1857.
A. Response to call for action in revolt was reinforced by prophecy of end of British.
B. 'Bell of arms' was a honor received after revolt.
C. British used military power on a gigantic scale in suppression of the revolt.
D. Rebels sepoys from Meerut went to Shah Mal to assume leadership of revolt.
E. Rebellion was seen as a war between both Hindus and Muslims.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A, C only
A. Response to call for action in revolt was reinforced by prophecy of end of British. Correct statement. The response to the call for action was reinforced by the prophecy that British rule would come to an end on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey, on 23 June 1857.
B. ‘Bell of arms’ was a honor received after revolt. Incorrect statement. The bell of arms was a storeroom in which weapons were kept. At Meerut the sepoys captured the bell of arms, where the arms and ammunition were kept.
C. British used military power on a gigantic scale in suppression of the revolt. Correct statement. To suppress the revolt, the British used military power on a gigantic scale, though this was not the only instrument they used.
D. Rebels sepoys from Meerut went to Shah Mal to assume leadership of revolt. Incorrect statement. The sepoys from Meerut rode off to Delhi and demanded that the old Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah, give them his blessings. Shah Mal was a rebel who mobilised the villagers of pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh.
E. Rebellion was seen as a war between both Hindus and Muslims. Incorrect statement. The rebellion was not a war between the two communities. It was seen as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equally to lose or gain, and the rebel proclamations appealed to all sections, irrespective of caste and creed.
NCERT (2026-27): “Late in the afternoon of 10 May 1857, the sepoys in the cantonment of Meerut broke out in mutiny. It began in the lines of the native infantry, spread very swiftly to the cavalry and then to the city. The ordinary people of the town and surrounding villages joined the sepoys. The sepoys captured the bell of arms where the arms and ammunition were kept and proceeded to attack white people, and to ransack and burn their bungalows and property. Government buildings – the record office, jail, court, post office, treasury, etc. – were destroyed and plundered. The telegraph line to Delhi was cut. As darkness descended, a group of sepoys rode off towards Delhi.… 1.4 Rumours and prophecies … The response to the call for action was reinforced by the prophecy that British rule would come to an end on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey, on 23 June 1857.… 3.1 The vision of unity … The rebel proclamations in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population, irrespective of their caste and creed. Many of the proclamations were issued by Muslim princes or in their names but even these took care to address the sentiments of Hindus. The rebellion was seen as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equally to lose or gain.… 4. Repression … The area was brought under control only in March 1858 after protracted fighting. The British used military power on a gigantic scale. But this was not the only instrument they used.…” |