Question

Who called the Revolt of 1857 as 'India's Freedom Struggle'?

• A. Disraili
• B. Marx
• C. Tilak
• D. Savarkar

Hint:

Savarkar popularized the idea of the 1857 revolt as India’s “First War of Independence,” shifting its image from a mutiny to a national struggle.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Background.
The Revolt of 1857 was described differently by historians and political leaders — as a "sepoy mutiny" by British officials and as the “First War of Indian Independence” by Indian nationalists.
Step 2: Contribution of Savarkar.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, in his book “The First War of Indian Independence, 1857”, published in 1909, was the one who termed the revolt as a struggle for India’s freedom.
Step 3: Elimination.
- (A) Disraili: British politician, described it as a military mutiny.
- (B) Marx: Saw it as a revolt with socio-economic causes but not explicitly a freedom struggle.
- (C) Tilak: Nationalist leader, but he did not coin this specific term.
- (D) Savarkar: Correct, he called it India’s first freedom struggle.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, the Revolt of 1857 was termed as “India’s Freedom Struggle” by Savarkar.