WHEN PEOPLE REBEL-CLASS-8-SST

CHAPTER- WHEN PEOPLE REBEL
CLASS-8
SUBJECT - SOCIAL SCIENCE(HISTORY)

*************************************************

Q1. What was the demand of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi that was refused by the British?

Answer: Rani Lakshmibai requested the British to recognize her adopted son as the heir to the throne of Jhansi after her husband’s death.

Q2. What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?

Answer:  

In 1850, the British passed a law that allowed Indian converts to Christianity to inherit their ancestral property.

This law aimed to encourage conversions and protect the rights of Christian converts​.

Q 3. What objections did the sepoys have to the new cartridges that they were asked to use?

Answer: Objections the sepoys had to the new cartridges were:

• The cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.
• The sepoys had to use mouth to remove the covering of the cartridges.
• They termed the cartridges to be a violation of the religious sentiments.
• Hence, they rebelled.

Q4. How did the last Mughal emperor live the last years of his life?

Answer: The last Mughal emperor lived a very pathetic life during the last years of his life.

               He was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. 

                He and his wife were sent to prison in Rangoon. 

               He died there after four years.

Q5. What could be the reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in                 India before May 1857?

Answer: 

Reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857:

1. The traditional rulers failed to develop independent leadership.
2. They also failed to have independent social, economic, and political aims of their own.
3. They fought among themselves and could not present a united front against the foreign rule.
4. A section of the people practiced inhuman social practices. They did not rise in revolt against the Britishers.

Q6. What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have on the people and the            ruling families?

Answer:
1. Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion boosted the morale of the people and the ruling families. They became united to fight the British authority with double spirit.

2. People of the towns and villages rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs. 

3. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao, who lived near Kanpur, gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa.

4.  In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. 

5. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the general of Nana Saheb.

Q7. How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?

Answer:   British succeeded in securing the submissions of the rebel landowners of Awadh:

• They provided inheritance rights to the landowners (who would enjoy traditional rights over their land).
• They were exempted from taxes.
• They were rewarded.
• They would be safe and their rights and claims would not be denied to them.

Q8. In what ways did the British change their policies as a result of the rebellion of 1857?

Answer:

Some important changes brought by the British after the revolt were:
1. According to the Act of 1858 powers of the East India Company were transferred to the British Crown in India.

2. Secretary of State was appointed for governance and Governor-General was given the title of Viceroy.

3. Secretary of State was to be assisted by a council of 15 members. It was only an advisory body. Governor-General was answerable to the Secretary of State.

4. The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced. More soldiers were taken from Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans.

 5. Muslims were seen held responsible for rebellion and their land was confiscated. Social and religious practices were given respect.

6. Zamindars and landlords were given protection and rights over their lands.

*******************************************************

9. Find out stories and songs remembered by people in your area or your family about San Sattavan ki Ladaai.

• Many regions in India have folk songs and stories about the bravery of local heroes during the 1857 uprising, like Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, and Kunwar Singh.
• Stories often celebrate their courage and sacrifice in resisting British oppression.

---

10. Find out more about Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. In what ways would she have been an unusual woman for her times?

• Rani Lakshmibai defied societal norms by leading her army in battle, a role rare for women of her time.
• She was known for her exceptional bravery, strategic acumen, and determination to protect Jhansi from British annexation​.