Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
The rebellion was not abrupt and sporadic but to a great extent Following are the major reasons to explain why the rebellious soldiers turned to native rulers for leadership:
1.East India company defeated native rulers to grab power in India. Many believed that the native Indian rulers had the legal and legitimate authority to regain power in the respective kingdoms. Therefore, it was natural that they became the leaders of the rebels and regain the lost status of rulers.
2.The erstwhile rulers had substantial resources at their command. They had wealth and private armies too. The rebels waited to get the support of resources from them, and by declaring them the leaders it was natural outcome.
3.Most of the erstwhile Indian rulers were popular at the local level. Their subjects often sympathised with them as they believed that the latter were unlawfully thrown out of power and even suffered humiliation. Choosing these native rulers was done with planning and care.
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?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
What did the rebels want? To what extent did the vision of different social groups differ?
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?
How did ordinary people view Partition?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?
Why was the charkha chosen as a symbol of nationalism?
What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?