Question

The sepoy mutiny broke out on 10th May 1857, at ________.
a. Meerut
b. Jhansi
c. Gwalior
d. Agra

Answer 1

Hint: The sepoy mutiny which started on 10th May 1857 was a major uprising against the British rule in India. It was very popular but remained restricted to Northern India.

Complete answer:
(i)In march 1857 a sepoy called Mangal Pandey attacked British officers in Barrackpore, he was arrested and later executed in early April.
(ii)In Meerut, during April, the sepoys refused to use the Enfield cartridges, as a punishment the sepoys were sent to jail. This attitude of the British officials angered and enraged the fellow soldier, who on 10th May 1857 shot their British officers and marched to Delhi.
(iii)Bahadur Shah I was restored to the throne by the rebelling soldiers and he was forced to give his permission for the mutiny. Doing this they got the legitimization of their rebellion from the ruler of Mughal India.
(iv)Mutineers seized Delhi, this led to a frenzy where British officials were struggling to take back control of the city.
(v)Mutineers started shooting their British officials and were responsible for massacres in Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. The British were enraged by the murders of even women and children.
The British government took severe measures against the rebels, by the end of the rebellion 100s of sepoys were killed and executed in frenzied revenge of the British, the government officially declared peace on 8th July 1859.
Thus, the correct option is (a).

Note: Sepoys had refused to use the Enfield rifles because using the rifle required tearing open the greased cartridges with one’s teeth. Rumours had spread that the cartilage was made of cow and pig fat, this enraged sepoys as it would hurt both Hindu and Muslim sentiments.