Rukhsana, a researcher, studies a petition written late in 1857 by a rich grain trader of Bareilly. He complains that soon after the sepoys of the station rose, crowds of peasants from the nearby villages came into the town. They walked past many small shops, but broke into his house and the houses of several other rich traders, carried away their goods and set some of the houses on fire. In the same file she finds a poster that had been put up on a city wall. Written in Urdu, it calls for the firangis to be driven out.
Proclamations like the poster in Rukhsana's file were put up in many cities in 1857. Whom did they call upon to unite and rise?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Hindus and Muslims of the population
Option (1) Peasants and artisans of the villages — Incorrect. Peasants and artisans joined the revolt as it spread. The proclamations addressed all Hindus and Muslims of the cities.
Option (2) Sepoys and taluqdars of Awadh — Incorrect. Sepoys and taluqdars did take part in the revolt. The city proclamations spoke to the whole population of the cities.
Option (3) Hindus and Muslims of the population — Correct. The proclamations, in Hindi, Urdu and Persian, called on the whole population, both Hindus and Muslims, to unite and drive out the firangis, a word for foreigners.
Option (4) Zamindars and nobles of the Mughal court — Incorrect. Zamindars and nobles were among the leaders. The proclamations called on Hindus and Muslims together.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.1 How the mutinies began |