Question

____________ was the adopted son of Peshwa Bajirao II.
$A)$ Tatya Tope
$B)$ Nana Saheb
$C)$ Mangal Pandey
$D)$ Bahadur Shah Zafar

Answer 1

Hint: The East India Company had exiled Peshwa Bajirao II to Bithoor near Kanpur after the Maratha defeat in the Third Maratha War, where he maintained a large establishment partially funded by a British pension.

Complete answer:
Nana Saheb Peshwa II, also known as Dhondup Pant, was a Maratha Peshwa, aristocrat, and warrior who led the Indian Revolt of $1857$ in Kanpur (Kanpur). Nana Saheb claimed he was entitled to a pension from the East India Company because he was the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Bajirao II, but the underlying contractual issues are murky.

The Company's failure to continue his father's pension after his death, as well as what he saw as oppressive policies, drove him to revolt and pursue freedom in India from company rule. He compelled the British garrison in Kanpur to surrender, then executed the survivors, allowing him to take possession of the city for a few days. After his forces were defeated by a British army that recaptured Kanpur, he vanished. In $1859$, he travelled to the Nepal Hills, where he is believed to have died.

Tatya Tope, Azimullah Khan, and Manikarnika Tambe, later known as Rani Lakshmibai, were some of Nana Saheb's childhood friends. Tatya Tope was the son of Pandurang Rao Tope, a powerful nobleman in Peshwa Baji Rao II's court.

Let us also know about other options:
- Tatya Tope was the son of Pandurang Rao Tope.
- Mangal Pandey was the son of Diwakar Pandey
- Bahadur Shah Zafar was the son of Akbar II.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’ i.e, Nana Saheb. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of Peshwa Bajirao II

Note: Pandurang Rao and his family relocated to Bithoor after Baji Rao II was expelled. Nana Saheb's fencing master as Tatya Tope. After the death of Baji Rao II in $1851$, Azimullah Khan became Secretary in Nana Saheb's court. He rose through the ranks of Nana Saheb's court to become the dewan.