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The Revolt of 1857 and Its Representations
“The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.” Critically examine the statement.
The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.
(i) The ties of loyalty and patronage that had bound the peasant to the taluqdar were disrupted.
(ii) In pre-British times, the taluqdars were oppressors but many of them also appeared to be generous father figures. They extracted a variety of dues from the peasants but were often considerated in times of need.
(iii) Under British the peasants were directly exposed to over assessment of revenue and inflexible methods of collection. There was no longer any guarantee that in times of hardship or crop failure the revenue demand of the state would be reduced or collection postponed; or that in times of festivities the peasants would get the loan and support that the taluqdar had earlier provided.
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What were the measures taken to ensure unity among the rebels?
What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants, taluqdars and zamindars to join the revolt?
What did the rebels want? To what extent did the vision of different social groups differ?
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
Examine any two sources presented in the chapter, choosing one visual and one text, and discuss how these represent the point of view of the victor and the vanquished.
Why did the moneylenders and the rich people become victims of the wrath of mutineers in the Revolt of 1857?
Who led the Revolt of 1857 in following places–Kanpur, Jhansi, Bihar and Lucknow (Awadh).
Which people propagated the Revolt of 1857?
Give any two social reasons for the Revolt of 1857.
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