Revolt of 1857 (Part-I)

1. When was the new Enfield Rifle with greased cartridges introduced in the British Indian Army? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

(a) November, 1856
(b) December, 1856
(c) January, 1857
(d) February, 1857

Correct Answer: (b) December, 1856

Solution:The company decided to use new Enfield Rifle instead of old Brown gun in December, 1856. The training for the use of this rifle was organized in Dum Dum, Ambala, and Sialkot. The rifle needed an extraordinary kind of loading of a cartridge in magazine and hence the soldiers while in the ensuing fight, had bite off the outer covering of the cartridge was rumoured ot have been greased with animal fat (Pig fat and Cow fat.) Army Commanders refused rumours without any cross-checking, but the soldiers were of the view that this was an intentional act of the British to besmirch their religion. This became the immediate cause first Independence Struggle of India in 1857.

2. The immediate cause of India's first war of independence was: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]

(a) Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie
(b) Suspicion about British interference in religion
(c) Military discontent
(d) Economic exploitation of India

Correct Answer: (b) Suspicion about British interference in religion

Solution:The company decided to use new Enfield Rifle instead of old Brown gun in December, 1856. The training for the use of this rifle was organized in Dum Dum, Ambala, and Sialkot. The rifle needed an extraordinary kind of loading of a cartridge in magazine and hence the soldiers while in the ensuing fight, had bite off the outer covering of the cartridge was rumoured ot have been greased with animal fat (Pig fat and Cow fat.) Army Commanders refused rumours without any cross-checking, but the soldiers were of the view that this was an intentional act of the British to besmirch their religion. This became the immediate cause first Independence Struggle of India in 1857.

3. Mangal Pandey incident took place at: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]

(a) Meerut
(b) Barrackpore
(c) Ambala
(d) Lucknow

Correct Answer: (b) Barrackpore

Solution:Soldiers denied to use cartridge of animal fat in Barrackpore 29 March, 1857 and Mangal Pandey murdered his Sergeant Major's adjutant. British dissolved 34th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment and punished the culprits.

4. With which uprising is Mangal Pandey associated? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre ) 201o]

(a) Barrackpur
(b) Meerut
(c) Delhi
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (a) Barrackpur

Solution:Soldiers denied to use cartridge of animal fat in Barrackpore 29 March, 1857 and Mangal Pandey murdered his Sergeant Major's adjutant. British dissolved 34th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment an punished the culprits.

5. Mangal Pandey was the sepoy of- [U.P.P.C.S. (R.I) 2014]

Correct Answer: (e) 34th Bengal Native Infantry

Solution:Mangal Pandey was a sepoy of 34th Bengal Native Infantry. Mangal Pandey played a crucial role in India's first rebellion against British rule in 1857. He is considered the hero of the first war of Independence, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. He was born on July 19, 1827near Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh. In 1849, Pandey joined the army of the British East India Company and served as a sepoy in the 6th Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry in Barrackpore. He revolted against the East India Company for introducing cartridges that were greased with animal fat as it hurt the religious sentiments of the soldiers. This movement of rebels reached other parts of India and led to a mass revolt against the colonial rulers. Common people too came out and opposed anti-India laws. On March 29, 1857, Pandey mutinied and fired at his Senior Sergeant Major. He was overpowered and hanged on April 8, 1857, by the order of a Court Martial at Lal Bagan in Barrackpore. His regiment was disbanded, like the 19th infantry at Behrampore, for showing resentment.

6. Who among the following was bestowed with the tittle of Saheb-e-Alam Bahadur by Bahadur Shah during the uprising of 1857? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Azimullah
(b) Birjis Qadr
(c) Bakht Khan
(d) Hasan Khan

Correct Answer: (c) Bakht Khan

Solution:Bhakt Khan's superior abilities quickly became evident and the emperor Bahardur Shah Zafar gave him actual authority and tittle of Saheb-e-Alam-Bahadur.

7. What was the main cause of 1857 revolt? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

(a) Public Outrage
(b) Military discontent
(c) Management of Christian Missionaries
(d) Policy of the British Empire

Correct Answer: (d) Policy of the British Empire

Solution:The Indian Rebellion of 1857 had diverse political, economic, military, religious and social causes.

The sepoys, a generic term used for native Indian soldiers of the Bengal Army, had their own list grievances against the British East India Company administration. The spark that led to the mutiny was the issue of new gunpowder cartridges contained cow or pig fat. This insulted both the Hindu and Muslim religious practices. Underlying grievances like taxation and within weeks dozens of units of Indians army joined the peasant army in widespread rebellion. The old aristocracy, both Muslim and Hindu, who were seeing their power being steadily eroded by the East India company also rebelled against British rule.

8. Who was the Correspondent of the Newspaper' Times' published from London in 1857 wrote that "Nobody in the North India looks at white man's car with friendly view"? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

(a) W.H Russel
(b) Robert Peel
(c) Gladoston
(d) Palmerston

Correct Answer: (a) W.H Russel

Solution:Sir William Howard Russel was the correspondent of the newspaper." The published from London in 1857 which wrote that" Nobody in the North India looks at white man's car with friendly view" Russel was an Irish reporter with the Times who was sent to India by The Times to report on the 1857 mutiny.

9. The first war of Independence (1857) started from: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990, 1994]

(a) Lucknow
(b) Jhansi
(c) Meerut
(d) Kanpur

Correct Answer: (c) Meerut

Solution:The first war of Independence was started from Meerut. Sepoys refused to use to the new rifle cartridges and revolted openly. They left Meerut an moved to Delhi. Major General William Hewitt had not tried to stop this rebellion. Lieutenant General George Dobson Precival Willoughby resisted, but he was defeated. Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared Emperor of India. The success of Delhi revolt sensitized many parts of India and revolt spread over the area of Oudh, Rohillkhand, Western Bihar, etc.

10. Where from the Revolution of 1857 Started first? [66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (d) Meerut

Solution:The first war of Independence was started from Meerut. Sepoys refused to use to the new rifle cartridges and revolted openly. They left Meerut an moved to Delhi. Major General William Hewitt had not tried to stop this rebellion. Lieutenant General George Dobson Precival Willoughby resisted, but he was defeated. Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared Emperor of India. The success of Delhi revolt sensitized many parts of India and revolt spread over the area of Oudh, Rohillkhand, Western Bihar, etc.