Rebels and the Raj: 1857 Revolt and its Representations
Class 12 · History · 20 Questions
What does this conversation suggest about the ways in which plans were communicated and discussed by the rebels?
Why did the tahsildar regard Sisten as a potential rebel?
Read the section once more and explain the similarities and differences you notice in the ways in which leaders emerged during the revolt. For any two leaders, discuss why ordinary people were drawn to them.
Read the entire section and discuss why people mourned the departure of Wajid Ali Shah.
What does this excerpt tell you about the attitude of the taluqdars? Who did Hanwant Singh mean by the people of the land? What reason does Hanwant Singh give for the anger of the people?
What are the issues against British rule highlighted in this proclamation? Read the section on each social group carefully. Notice the language in which the proclamation is formulated and the variety of sentiments it appeals to.
Compare the reasons for the mutiny as stated in the arzi with those mentioned by the taluqdar (Source 3).
What, according to this account, were the problems faced by the British in dealing with these villagers?
Examine the elements in each of the visuals in this section and discuss how they allow you to identify the perspective of the artist.
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
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.
Read a biography of any one of the leaders of the revolt of 1857. Check the sources used by the biographer. Do these include government reports, newspaper accounts, stories in regional languages, visual material, anything else? Do all the sources say the same thing, or are there differences? Prepare a report on your findings.
See a film made on the revolt of 1857 and write about the way it represents the revolt. How does it depict the British, the rebels, and those who remained loyal to the British? What does it say about peasants, city dwellers, tribals, zamindars and taluqdars? What kind of a response does the film seek to evoke?