A historian studies an arzi written by rebel sepoys in 1857 to find out why they fought. Which reason for making war on the British does the arzi itself give?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → To keep their faith and religion from being polluted
Option (1) To bring back the rule of the Mughal emperor at Delhi — Incorrect. Rebel leaders in Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur looked back to the Mughal world. The arzi, however, gives faith as its reason.
Option (2) To win back the lands lost under British land revenue settlements — Incorrect. Loss of land under the revenue settlements was a grievance in the rebel proclamations. The sepoys' arzi does not speak of land.
Option (3) To keep their faith and religion from being polluted — Correct. The sepoys say they fought for two years so that their faith and religion may not be polluted. For them, losing religion meant losing everything.
Option (4) To protest against the ruin of artisans and weavers by foreign commerce — Incorrect. The ruin of artisans and weavers by foreign commerce was a charge in the proclamations. The sepoys' arzi speaks of faith instead.
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