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The Revolt of 1857 and Its Representations
Why was the revolt in Awadh so extensive?
Awadh was one of the major centres of the Revolt of 1857. It was because of the following reasons:
(i) Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the beloved and popular leader of the people. But the British dethroned him. They accused him of misgovernance and sent him on exile to Calcutta. It increased discontentment among the people.
(ii) The British army recruited a large number of sepoys from the villages of Awadh. These sepoys were given low wages. They also faced difficulty in getting leave. So they felt discontent and unhappy at the events that happened in Awadh.
(iii) The sepoys of Awadh were also enraged because of the greased cartridges.
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Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
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?
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