Rebels and the Raj Class 12 NCERT Solutions, PYQs & Notes

Ans: The sepoys turned to traditional leaders for several reasons:
1. Legitimacy: Leaders like Bahadur Shah Zafar represented the symbol of Indian sovereignty. Without him, the revolt lacked political standing.
2. Experience: These rulers had administrative and military experience which the common sepoys lacked.
3. Unity: Traditional rulers could bring together different sections of society under one banner.
4. Examples: Nana Sahib in Kanpur, Rani Lakshmi Bai in Jhansi, and Kunwar Singh in Bihar became natural choices as they had their own grievances against the British.

Ans: The British used a combination of military force and legal changes:
1. Martial Law: Martial law was declared in North India. Military officers and even ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion.
2. Military Reinforcements: Massive troops were called in from Britain and also diverted from the war in China.
3. Divide and Rule: They tried to break the unity by promising to return lands to "loyal" landholders (Zamindars) while hanging the rebels.
4. Two-Pronged Attack: One force moved from Calcutta towards North India, while another moved from Punjab to recover Delhi.

Ans: Rebels' Wants: Through proclamations like the Azamgarh Proclamation, it's clear they wanted to restore the pre-British order, protect their religions (Din and Dharma), and free themselves from the economic exploitation of the Firangi.
Visual Representations: British paintings reflected a sense of 'vengeance' and 'triumph':
1. Relief of Lucknow: Painted by Thomas Jones Barker, it celebrated British heroes like Campbell and Havelock as saviors.
2. In Memoriam: Painted by Joseph Noel Paton, it depicted British women and children in a state of helplessness to provoke anger and demand for revenge in Britain.
3. Justice: Cartoons showed the "Spirit of Justice" trampling upon Indian rebels, reflecting an attitude that rebels deserved no mercy.

Ans: The revolt started on the afternoon of 10 May 1857, in the cantonment of Meerut, when sepoys of the 3rd Native Cavalry refused to touch the greased cartridges.

Ans: Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal Emperor. Initially reluctant, he eventually agreed to lead the revolt after sepoys from Meerut arrived in Delhi. His name gave the rebellion a pan-Indian legitimacy.

Ans: It was a rebel proclamation that appealed to all sections of society—Zemindars, Merchants, Public Servants, Artisans, and Pundits/Maulvis—to unite and fight the British to protect their respective interests and religion.

Ans: Lord Dalhousie claimed that Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was misgoverning the state. However, the real reason was that Awadh's soil was excellent for growing indigo and cotton, and its market was ideal for British goods.

Ans: Shah Mal was a resident of a large village in the Barout pargana of Uttar Pradesh. He mobilized the cultivators of 84 villages (Chaurassee Des) against the British, turned a bungalow into a "hall of justice," and organized a highly effective intelligence network.

Ans: Actually, Satyagraha was not a term used in 1857. It was developed much later by Mahatma Gandhi. In 1857, the struggle was violent and armed, referred to as 'Ghadar' or 'Hul'.

Ans: Under the 'Summary Settlement' of 1856, the British removed the Taluqdars from their lands, claiming they had no legal rights. This destroyed the centuries-old power structure and forced Taluqdars to join the 1857 revolt to regain their status.

Ans: Painted by Joseph Noel Paton, it shows English women and children huddled in a circle, looking helpless and innocent, with the shadow of rebel sepoys approaching them. It was meant to stir emotions of pity and demand for revenge in the British public.

Ans: Through paintings like 'Relief of Lucknow' by Thomas Jones Barker. It depicts the moment when British forces under Campbell rescued the besieged British garrison, celebrating British heroism and resilience.

Ans: Moneylenders were seen as collaborators of the British. Under British law, they could easily seize peasants' land for unpaid debts. Rebels burnt their account books and looted their houses to end their exploitation.

Ans: Kunwar Singh was an elderly Zamindar of Jagdispur in Bihar. Despite his age, he led a brilliant guerrilla war against the British and remained undefeated until his death.

Ans: Since the rebels left very few written records, oral traditions—folk songs, stories, and family legends—are crucial. They reflect the perspective of the common people and how they remembered their struggle for freedom.

Ans: There was a widespread prophecy that British rule would come to an end exactly one hundred years after the Battle of Plassey (1757), i.e., in 1857. This gave the rebels psychological strength and a sense of destiny.

Ans: The British press, especially magazines like 'Punch', portrayed Indian rebels as savages, demons, or sub-humans who were incapable of civilization and deserved only brutal execution.

Ans: She was a famous Hindi poet who wrote the legendary poem "Khoob Lari Mardani Woh Toh Jhansi Wali Rani Thi." This poem helped immortalize Rani Lakshmi Bai as a symbol of Indian resistance against the British.