Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
This is brought out by the following points:
1.The rebels decided to strike when the large part of the British army was in Burma.
2.The time chosen for the rebellion was summer that is very hostile weather condition for the British. Summer was also the season when the entire countryside would be easy to navigate.
3.To spread the message of rebellion, the rebels used symbols bread and lotus from village to village.
4.Efforts were made to maintain Hindu-Moslem unity. Whenever an area would fail under rebel control, cow slaughter was banned.
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
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?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?
What were the measures taken to ensure unity among the rebels?
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.
Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?
What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?
Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
What connection did some of the members of the Constituent Assembly make between the political situation of the time and the need for a strong Centre?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
To what extent were social relations transformed in the new cities?
Why was British India partitioned?