How has Indian imagery preserved Rani Laxmibai’s contribution during the Revolt of 1857? Explain.
Solution and Explanation
- Popular imagery presents her as a fearless warrior who fought the British while carrying her child on horseback.
- Folk songs, poems, and oral traditions depict her as “Durga” or “Jhansi ki Rani,” highlighting her divine bravery and patriotic zeal.
- Visuals and school textbooks often show her wielding a sword, symbolizing her role as a nationalist icon.
- Her martyrdom is celebrated as an example of female valor, inspiring freedom fighters during India’s independence movement.
Top Questions on The Great Revolt of 1857
- Choose the correct option from the following to fill in the blank regarding the leaders of the Revolt of 1857.
Arrah (Bihar) : Kunwar Singh; _______ : Birjis Qadr
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- History
- The Great Revolt of 1857
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Two rebels of 1857
Shah MalShah Mal lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a clan of Jat cultivators whose kinship ties extended over chaurasee des (eighty-four villages). The lands in the region were irrigated and fertile, with rich dark loam soil. Many of the villagers were prosperous and saw the British land revenue system as oppressive: the revenue demand was high and its collection inflexible. Consequently cultivators were losing land to outsiders, to traders and moneylenders who were coming into the area.
Shah Mal mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des, moving at night from village to village, urging people to rebel against the British. As in many other places, the revolt against the British turned into a general rebellion against all signs of oppression and injustice. Cultivators left their fields and plundered the houses of moneylenders and traders. Displaced proprietors took possession of the lands they had lost. Shah Mal’s men attacked government buildings, destroyed the bridge over the river, and dug up metalled roads – partly to prevent government forces from coming into the area, and partly because bridges and roads were seen as symbols of British rule. They sent supplies to the sepoys who had mutinied in Delhi and stopped all official communication between British headquarters and Meerut. Locally acknowledged as the Raja, Shah Mal took over the bungalow of an English officer, turned it into a “hall of justice”, settling disputes and dispensing judgments. He also set up an amazingly effective network of intelligence. For a period the people of the area felt that firangi raj was over, and their raj had come.
Shah Mal was killed in battle in July 1857.
How did the rebellion led by Shah Mal challenge the authority of the British?
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- History
- The Great Revolt of 1857
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Two rebels of 1857
Shah MalShah Mal lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a clan of Jat cultivators whose kinship ties extended over chaurasee des (eighty-four villages). The lands in the region were irrigated and fertile, with rich dark loam soil. Many of the villagers were prosperous and saw the British land revenue system as oppressive: the revenue demand was high and its collection inflexible. Consequently cultivators were losing land to outsiders, to traders and moneylenders who were coming into the area.
Shah Mal mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des, moving at night from village to village, urging people to rebel against the British. As in many other places, the revolt against the British turned into a general rebellion against all signs of oppression and injustice. Cultivators left their fields and plundered the houses of moneylenders and traders. Displaced proprietors took possession of the lands they had lost. Shah Mal’s men attacked government buildings, destroyed the bridge over the river, and dug up metalled roads – partly to prevent government forces from coming into the area, and partly because bridges and roads were seen as symbols of British rule. They sent supplies to the sepoys who had mutinied in Delhi and stopped all official communication between British headquarters and Meerut. Locally acknowledged as the Raja, Shah Mal took over the bungalow of an English officer, turned it into a “hall of justice”, settling disputes and dispensing judgments. He also set up an amazingly effective network of intelligence. For a period the people of the area felt that firangi raj was over, and their raj had come.
Shah Mal was killed in battle in July 1857.
How did Shah Mal’s leadership contribute to the spread of the rebellion?
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- History
- The Great Revolt of 1857
- Which one of the following policies by the British led to discontent among Indian soldiers, contributing to the Revolt of 1857?
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- History
- The Great Revolt of 1857
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an important part in the revolt of 1857. Educated in Hyderabad, he became a preacher when young. In 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. He moved in a palanquin, with drumbeaters in front and followers at the rear. He was therefore popularly called Danka Shah – the maulvi with the drum danka. British officials panicked as thousands began following the maulwi and many Muslims began seeing him as an inspired prophet. When he reached Lucknow in 1856, he was stopped by the police from preaching in the city. Subsequently, in 1857, he was jailed in Faizabad. When released, he was elected by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader. He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat in which the British forces under Henry Lawrence were defeated. He came to be known for his courage and power. Many people in fact believed that he was invincible, had magical powers, and could not be killed by the British. It was this belief that partly formed the basis of his authority.
- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- History
- The Great Revolt of 1857
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- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
- Reading Comprehension
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(i) Phenol is treated with conc. HNO3.
(ii) Propene is treated with B2H6 followed by oxidation by H2O2/OH−.
(iii) Sodium t-butoxide is treated with CH3Cl.- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
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- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
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- CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
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